Botany
Erect, unarmed, branched shrub, 1 to 3 meters high. The branches are sparingly hairy. Leaves are oblong to elliptic, 4-10 cm long, pointed at the tip and hairy beneath. Flowers are borne singly or in pairs, and terminal in the upper axils of the leaves. The corolla is 6-7 cm long, slender-tubed, winged above; limb is 4 to 5 cm in diameter, violet or nearly white, or streaked with violet and white.

Distribution
Widely cultivated ornamental hedge plant.

Parts used
Roots, leaves, seeds.

Constituents and medicinal properties
Considered antibacterial.

Uses
Folkloric
Seeds used as antidote for snake bites.
Roots and leaves used to reduce swellings.
Infusion of roots and leaves used for coughs.
Elsewhere, used for toothaches, anemia and inflammatory disorders.

Studies
• Anti-Inflammatory: (1) Methanol extract of leaves of Barleria cristata was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity. The effect was compared to the activity of indomethacin and cyproheptadine as reference standard. Results revealed BC possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity. (2) Study of aqueous extract of BC leaves exhibited anti-inflammatory activity with significant dose-dependent inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema, prostaglandin activity, vascular permeability.
• Phytochemicals / Antioxidant Activity: Phytochemical screening yielded alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, phenols and tannins in the ethanol and aqueous extracts of BC. The 50 % ethanol extract of leaves showed significant antioxidant activity probably from the occurrence of secondary metabolities.

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of methanol extract of Barleria Cristata leaves by in vivo and in vitro methods / Manoh Gambhire M et al / The Internet Journal of Pharmacology. 2009 Volume 7 Number 1
(2)
Antiinflammatory activity of aqueous extract of Barleria cristata leaves / M N Gambhire et al / PHARMACOGNOSY, 2009 | Volume : 1 | Issue : 3 | Page : 220-224
(3)
In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Barleria cristata L. Leaves / K Amutha and Victor Arokia Doss /