Morphological information

A herb 0.3 - 1.2 m tall. Roots biennial tuberous, paired, whitish or green. Leaves ovate- cordate to rounded, the upper ones clasp the stem. Lowest leaves deeply lobed and long stalked. Flowers bright blue usually in lax spike like cluster with very variable bracts greenish purple conspicuously dark veined. Follicles 5, 16- 8 mm long, shortly hairy erect. Seeds obpyramidal, blackish brown.

Parts      :        Underground roots and stems

Status    :        Critically endangered

Phytochemistry

Roots of the plant yield several alkaloids-  heterophyllisine, heterophylline and heterophyllidin [4]; heteratisine, atisine, atidine, F- dihydroatisine, isolatisine, hestisine, hetidine and hetisinone have also been isolated [5].

 

Agrocultivation

It thrives well in cool climate and a well- drained loamy soil. Propagation is done either by divisions of roots or from seeds. If the roots are used for propagation then the roots are dug up after the stems have died down. The larger ones are used for drugs whereas smaller ones are used for propagation. If the seeds are used for propagation, they should be sown soon after harvesting. Plants have been obtained via somatic embryogenesis in Calli derived from in vitro raised leaf and petiole explants of A. heterophyllum (through Tissue culture). Complete plantlets are formed after 4 weeks and are transferred to the field.

 

Ayurvedic

The root forms an ingredient of a number of Ayurvedic formulations. Balchaturbhadra churna, Astivisachurna (fever and stomach troubles) Amritarishta, Chandraprabha Vati, Yograj Guggulu, Mahasudarsana Churn (in arthritis).

 

Unani

The roots are used as an astringent in bleeding piles, amenorrhea and leucorrhoea and are an ingredient of Sufuf Babis, Majun Bawasir, Majun Jograj Guggulu and Majun Murrawahul-Arwah.

Traditional

Half of 2 gm fine powder is given as bitter tonic in diarrhoea and mal-absorption syndrome. Two and half of 6 gm powder may be given in case of fever in divided dose.

 

Others

The tuberous roots are very much used in various ailments such as stomachache, bilious complaints, intermittent fevers, diarrhoea, dysentery, acute inflammatory infections, antiperiodic, aphrodisiac and as bitter tonic.