[4] One study has suggested that excessive consumption of uncooked and juiced katuk leaves can cause lung damage due to its high concentrations of the alkaloid papaverine.

[7] In Indonesia, the flowers, leaves, and small purplish fruits of Breynia androgyna has been consumed and used traditionally since ancient times by the Javanese and Sundanese ethnic groups as the alternative medicine in a form of Jamu (traditional concoction native to Java island, originally formulated by the Javanese) to improve the circulation of blocked breast milk for breastfeeding mothers.

[8] Interestingly, according to modern research findings on the efficacy of this herb, indicates that the extract of the Breynia androgyna leaf increases the expression of prolactin and oxytocin genes 15 to 25 times in breastfeeding mice.

In Vietnam, the shoot tips have been sold in cuisine and used similarly like the asparagus; the locals usually cook it with crab meat, minced pork or dried shrimp to make a soup.

[10] Although the exact cause is unknown, an association with bronchiolitis obliterans and the consumption of large quantities of uncooked Breynia androgyna leaves or raw juice leading to lung failure has been reported.