Achyranthes aspera
| Achyranthes aspera | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Achyranthes |
| Species: | A. aspera |
| Binomial name | |
| Achyranthes aspera L. | |
Achyranthes aspera (common name: prickly chaff flower,[1] devil's horsewhip,[2] Sanskrit: अपामार्ग apamarga) is a species of plant in the Amaranthaceae family. It is distributed throughout the tropical world.[3] It can be found in many places growing as an introduced species and a common weed.[4] It is an invasive species in some areas, including many Pacific Islands environments.[5]
It is one of the 21 leaves used in the Ganesh Patra Pooja done regularly on Ganesh Chaturthi day. In Uttar Pradesh the plant is used for a great many medicinal purposes, especially in obstetrics and gynecology, including abortion, induction of labor, and cessation of postpartum bleeding.[6] The Maasai people of Kenya use the plant medicinally to ease the symptoms of malaria.[7]
Chemical constituents
Achyranthes aspera contains triterpenoid saponins which possess oleanolic acid as the aglycone. Ecdysterone, an insect moulting hormone, and long chain alcohols are also found in Achyranthes aspera.[8]
Pharmacology
The plant shows significant abortifacient activity in mice and rabbits.[9] An n-butanol extract has been found to possess contraceptive efficiency in rats which might be assigned to its potent estrogenicity.[9]. In Bastar, India, the root is inserted into the vagina for inducing abortion.
Names
Achyranthes aspera has different names in various Indian languages.[10]
- Sanskrit : Aghata; Khara-manjari; Apamarga
- Hindi : Chirchira; Latjira, Onga[11]
- Bengali : Apang
- Gujarati : Safed Aghedo, "Anghadi", "Andhedi", "Agado"
- Kannada : Uttaranee
- Malayalam : Kadaladi; Katalati
- Malagasy : Mahabaka;
- Marathi : Aghada; Pandhara-aghada
- Punjabi : Kutri
- Tamil : Nayuruvi; Shiru-kadaladi
- Telugu : Antisha; Apamargamu; Uttaraene (ఉత్తరేణి)
- Sinhala : "Karal heba"; "කරල් හැබ"
- Indonesia : Jarong
In Afrikaans it is called grootklits and langklitskafblom.[4] In French, herbe à Bengalis, herbe sergen, and queue de rat.[5] Spanish common names include cadillo chichoborugo, cadillo de mazorca, and mazotillo.[5]
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References
- ↑ Flowers of India
- ↑ USDA Plants Profile
- ↑ Flora of North America
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 GRIN Species Profile
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk
- ↑ Khan, A. V. and A. A. Khan. Ethnomedicinal uses of Achyranthes aspera L. (Amaranthaceae) in management of gynaecological disorders in western Uttar Pradesh (India). Ethnoleaflets.
- ↑ Bussmann, R. W., et al. (2006). Plant use of the Maasai of Sekenani Valley, Maasai Mara, Kenya. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2 22.
- ↑ Indian Herbal Pharmacopia Vol. II, Page-5.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia (2002)page-18
- ↑ Dr. K. M. Nadkarni's Indian Materia Medica, Volume 1, Edited by A. K. Nadkarni, Popular Prakashan, Bombay, 1976, pp. 21-2.
- ↑ Chirchita or Onga (Achyranthes aspera var. perphyristachya Hook. F.) Purdue Horticulture.