Morphological information

An erect, hairy, perennial herb. Leaves perennial compound. Lower leaves

10-18 cm, leaflets coarsely toothed, very unequal, larger ones 5-9, ovate, 1.3-3.8 cm, intermixed with a number of much smaller ones. Upper leaves gradually smaller and with fewer leaflets. Stipules adnate to the base of the leaf stalk. Flowers yellow, 6 mm diameter, in terminal, spike like racemes; each flowers in the axil of a small, 3-cleft bract and with 2 smaller 3-toothed bracteoles at the top of its stalk. Calyx-tube top shaped, grooved, bearing outside its mouth a ring of small, hooked bristles, limb 5-lobed. Petals 5, oblong. Stamens 15. Carpels 2, free, enclosed within the calyx- tube; style thread like, protruding; stigmas terminal, dilated; ovule solitary. Achenes 1 or 2 enclosed in the hardened, bristly calyx crowned with a ring of hooked bristles.

Flowering        : May-September

Fruiting           : August-November

History           :

Parts             : Root, leaves.

Status           : Low risk

 

Phytochemistry

Volatile oil found to contain ageratochromene, caryophyllene „ -cadinene and 6 demethoxyageratochromene (Perfume Essent oil. Rec 1969, 60, 303; Chem. Abstr.1970, 72, 51815p; Flavour Ind, 1973, 4, 77; Chem. Abstr. 1973, 79, 96835f; sci.1976,193,542); demethoxyagertochromene (60 66), , -caryophyllene (14.52), d-K-pinene (6.62), ocimene (5.3), d-cadinene (4.25), eugenol (4.42) and methyleugenol (1.82%) detected in essential oil by TLC (Riechst, Aronen, Koerperflegem 1973, 23, 209; Chem. Abstr. 1973, 79, 96837h); 7-methoxy-2, 2-dimethylchromene (6-demethoxyageratochromene) and ageratochromene dimer (6, 6' 7, 7’ -tetramethoxy-2, 2, 2’ 2'-tetramethyl-3' (4’-dehydro-3’, 45-bichroman) from essential oil* (Indian J. Chem 1973, 11, 91); saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons (n-C27-32), stigmasterol and K-spinasterol isolated (Tai-wan K’o Hseuch 1976, 30, 701; chem Abstr. 1977, 86, 52655n); stigmast-7-en-ol, quercitin, Kaempferol, fumaric and caffeic acids identified in leaves (Indian J.Pharm.1977, 39, 108); structure of a new chromene-conyzorigun (Chem.Commun 1978, 152); quercitin, Kaempferol-3 rhamnoglucoside, Kaempferol-3,7, digllucoside and unidentified quercitin derivative isolated (Acta Pol.Pharm.1978, 35, 241; Chem Abstr. 1978, 89, 176387h).

 

Medicinal

The herb has been used as an astringent, anthelmintic, diuretic and tonic and as a remedy for cough, simple diarrhea and relaxed bowels.

 

Traditional

The powdered root of 10-15 gm is prepared in solution and 100-150 gm taken early morning after breakfast in case of blood dysentery.

 

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