Morphological information

 A herbaceous, erect, glabrous or pubescent, strongly scented herb. Leaves ovate, toothed or entire. Flowers borne in verticillasters of simple racemes. Calyx ovoid or campanulate, deflexed fruit. Corolla tube short, not annual within. Stamens declinate, exerted. Style-lobes subulate or flattened. Fruits ellipsoid, black, smooth nutlets.

Flowering                              : September-November

Fruiting                                 : December-February

History                                 :

Parts                                    : Whole plant, seeds, flowers, leaves and roots.

Status                                   : Extinct in wild, survived only through cultivation.

Phytochemistry

Methylchavicol (70- 80%) and lkinalool (15- 25%) identified in oil by GLC (Int. Longs. Essent. Oils 1979, 7, 148; chem. Abstr. 1980, 92, 64520 b) oil contained about 70% citral (Tap Chi Hoa Hoc. 1980, 18 32; chem. Abstr. 1981, 94, 71197w); plant contained oil (0.28%) main components methylchavicol and linalool identified (Farmacia 1983, 31, 45; Chem. Abstr. 1984, 100, 12426q); oil contained estragole, linalool, eucalyptol, ocimene, linaoloo acetate, eugenol, 1-epibicyclosesquiphellandrene, menthol, menthane, cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, myrcenol and nerol (Yao Hseuh Tung Pao 1981, 16, 56; chem. Abstr. 1981, 95, 192191 u)

 

Medicinal

 They are a popular remedy for snake bite and are recommended by Charaka and Bapat. The flowers possess stimulant, diuretic and demulcent properties. The seeds are mucilaginous and cooling given in infusion in gonorrhea, diarrhea and chronic dysentery. A cold infusion is said to relieve the afterpains of parturition.

Ayurvedic

The plant is used in the diseases of the heart and blood, biliousness "Kapha" and "Vata", leucoderma, itch, causes burning sensation. The seeds allay thirst.

Unani

The plant is used in diseases of heart and brain, chronic pain in the joints, asthma, inflammations and enlarged spleen. The juice gives luster to the eye; good for toothache, earache, headache, mixed with camphor- it stops nasal hemorrhage.

Traditional

 The roots are useful in the treatment of cold and cough for which the juice warmed with honey is given. The juice of the leaves forms an excellent nostrum for the cure of ringworm and the bruised leaves for scorpion stings. The seeds washed and pounded are used in poultices for unhealthy sores and sinuses. They are also given internally with sherbet in cases of habitual constipation and in internal piles. The juice is dropped into the ear for the cure of earache and dullness of hearing.(C.S.)

 

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