|
Botany:
· A coarse, rambling or erect, distantly
branched annual herb, 0.5 to 2 m high.
· Leaves are oblong-ovate to elliptic or obovate, 6 to
15 cm long, pointed at both ends, more or less hairy, though
often nearly smooth.
· Flowers are green and about 5 cm in length. Sepals 4
or 5, filaments connate at the base, the stamens and staminodes
square toothed or fimbricate, pale purplish. Ovary oblong, 1-ovuled;
flowers unisexual. The spikes are rigid, elongated and 10 to
15 cm long. Buds point upwards but when the flowers open, they
spread out from the sides.
· Seeds oblong, brown and 2 to 3 mm long. Fruits utricles,
oblong or ovoid, indehiscent.
Distribution
Weed found throughout the Philippines
at low and medium altitudes.
Parts
utilized
Entire plant.
Collect from May to October.
Rinse, macerate, sun-dry.
Chemical constituents
and properties
• According to Ayurveda, bitter,
pungent, heating laxative, stomachic, carminative.
• Considered slightly cooling, antipyretic-diuretic.
• Aids lymphatic circulation, strengthens musculatured, improves
blood circulation.
• Contains triterpenoid and saponins.
• Seeds contain saponins A and B, glycosides of oleanolic acid.
Uses
Culinary
Leaves and seeds are edible.
Leaf used as potherb.
Seeds rich in protein.
Folkloric
• Cold with fever, heat stoke
with headache, malaria, dysentery.
• Urinary tract lithiasis, chronic nephritis, edema.
• Rheumatic arthralgia (joint pain)
• Dosage: use 30 to 60 gms dried material in decoction.
• In Ayurveda, used for treatming vomiting, bronchitis, heart
problems, hemorrhoids, itching, abdominal pains, ascites, etc.
• In India, used
as abortifacient
• Decoction of leaves used in treatment of diarrhea and dysentery.
• Poultice of leaves used for rabies, hysteria, insect and snake
bites.
Others
• Ash from burnt plant, mixed
with mustard oil and pinch of salt, and used as powder for cleaning
teeth.
• Dried twigs or fresh piece of root used as toothbrush.
• Ash is a rich source of potash. Used for washing clothes.
Studies
• OB-Gyn
Uses: ETHNOMEDICINAL USES OF ACHYRANTHES
ASPERA L. (AMARANTHACEAE) IN MANAGEMENT OF GYNAECOLOGICAL DISORDERS
IN WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH (INDIA):
The study records the ethno-medicinal
use of A. aspera in rural areas in India: abortion, inducing labor pains,
expel dead fetus, expel placental remains, stopping excessive bleeding,
dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, etc.
• Antifertility / Abortifacient:
Methanolic leaves extract of AA showed significant abortifacient activity and increased, pituitary and uterine weights in ovariectimized rats. Its anti-fertility activity presents
a potential option for population explosion.
• Nephroprotective: Study evaluatin the nephroprotective role of the methanolic extract of A aspera against lead acetate-induced nephrotoxicity in rats showed complete amelioration of the lead-induced renal damage.
• Antiinflammatory: Effect
of alcohol extract of Achyranthes aspera Linn. on acute and subacute
inflammation: Alcohol extract of
Achyranthes aspera showed inhibition of carrageenin-induced rat paw
edema,
• Post-coital antifertility activity
of Achyranthes aspera Linn. root: Study suggests the
ethanol extract possess both anti-implantation and abortifacient activity.
It also exhibited estrogenic activity,
• Larvicidal activity:
All extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects against A aegypti and
C quinquefasciatus. It investigates the potential of crude extracts
of medicinal herbs as a measure to control the vector of dengue and
lymphatic filariasis.
• Immunomodulatory Activity: Extract
of AA was found to enhance the induction of ovalbumin-specific humoral
antibody response in mice on intraperitoneal extract injection along
with OVA. Results confirm the immunostimulatory
properties of A aspera.
• Anti-Inflammatory activity: Study results demonstrate promising anti-inflammatory activity against both acute and chornic inflammation. Also, inhibition of prostaglandins and bradykinins may play a role.
• Wound Healing / Antioxidant: Study showed the ethanol and aqueous extracts of Achyranthes aspera showed wound healing activity in the wound models used and also exhibited good antioxidant effect by the prevention of free radicals. Results justify the inclusion of the plant in the management of cuts and wound healing.
• Antimicrobial / Anti-Inflammatory: Study showed inhibition of S aureus, B subtilis, E coli and Aspergillus terreus.
• Antiviral / Anti-carcinogenic: Study showed significant inhibitory effects on the Epstein-Barr virus antigen induced by a tumor-promoter in Raji cells. In the in vivo two stage mouse skin carcinogenesis test, the methanolic extract exhibited a pronounced anticarcinogenic effect.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
|
