Hyptis suaveolens

Hyptis suaveolens
Hyptis suaveolens (Vilayti Tulsi) in Hyderabad
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Hyptis Jacq.
Species:	H. suaveolens
Binomial name
Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. 1806

Hyptis suaveolens,^[1] (pignut or chan) is a very well known pseudo-cereal plant in the Latin American region, being approximately 2 meters high, having branches and long, white piliferous stems. Its flowers are purple or white, its leaves oval, wrinkled and pointed. It is native to the American continent, in warm and semi-warm regions.

Uses

Hyptis suaveolens essential oil in a clear glass vial

Chan is commonly used as a refreshing healthy drink, by leaving the seeds to soak in water and refrigerating the mix. Some people add lemon or other citrus fruit to achieve a better taste. Chan has also traditionally been used and continues to be used as a treatment for diarrhea.

Studies have found it is effective as an insecticide. Its dried leaves and seeds are ground to a powder which is spread on the grains to be conserved.

References

See also

Salvia hispanica

External links

• Making Chan drink (spanish)
• Using Chan as insecticide (spanish)
• Evaluation as Alternative Crop for Food and Drugs (spanish)
• Protein value of Chan (spanish)
• Chan used as diarrhea treatment (spanish)

• Hyptis suaveolens in West African plants – A Photo Guide.