History

Morphology Description (Habit)

It is an annual or perennial herb. Stem erect of procumbent, 0.5-2.0m in high, base woody, angular or ribbed, simple or branched, often tinged with pink colour; nodes bulged. Leaves opposite, petiolate, ovate-elliptic-obovate-rounded, in various sizes, apex usually rounded, finely or softly pubescent on both sides. Flowers are in an auxiliary or terminal spikes, which is more than 50 cm in long, greenish white, bracteate and bracteolate. Perianth lobes 4-6, glabrous, shining, ovate-oblong and pointed. Stamens 5 in number, staminodes are truncate, fimbriate, ovary oblong, sub-compressed and ovule solitary. Fruit easily disarticulate, oblong or ovoid and utricle. Seeds inverse, testa coriaceous, embryo annular and surrounded by floury albumin. Three varieties are identified; of which var. porphyristachya is found in moister climates in high altitudes.

Principal Constituents

Betaine¹ and Achyranthine² are the principal alkaloids, identified from the whole plant. Seeds contain Achyranthes saponin A and its ester, named as Aschyranthes saponin B3. The presence of ecdysterone is also reported. Shoots contain an essential oil, tannins and glycosides.

Pharmacology

Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the roots cause fall in blood pressure⁴ but the chloroform extract raised the blood pressure⁵ in dogs. Achyranthine produced hypertension and depression of the heart, dilation of blood vessels in dogs, spasmogenic effect in frog rectus muscle and diuretic and purgative effect in albino rats⁶. Alcoholic extract has hypoglycemic activity⁷. Seed saponins increased contraction of the isolated heart of frog, guinea pig & rabbit. The effect was quicker in onset and shorter in duration than that exerted by digoxin⁸. Saponins have phosphorylate activity in heart⁹. Saponins have diuretic activity in albino rats and in dogs¹⁰.

• high blood pressure (hypertension)

• Depression

Clinical studies

In leprosy patients, the deception of the whole plant along with DDS (Diamino diphenyl sulphone) showed definite improvement in the general health and bacterial index. It is useful in sub acute and mild type of leprosy¹¹.

Indications

It has pungent, astringent, diuretic, alterative, antiperiodic and purgative properties. Plant is used in piles, skin eruptions, opthalmia, dysentry eye and liver complaints, rheumatism, scabies, bronchial affections and in leprosy. Along with piper longum for mad dog bite. Leaves useful in gonorrhoea. Roots in cancer, stomach troubles and bladder stones. Seeds are useful in renal dropsy, bronchial affections and in leprosy. Branches and roots are useful as tooth brushes.

• cancer

• Liver Flush

Product Range

References

1.       Kapoor & Singh, Indian J. Chem. 4, 461, 1966.

2.       Basu et. al., Indian J. Pharm. 32, 43.

3.       Hariharan and Rangaswamy, Phytochem. 9, 404, 1970.

4.       Gambir et. al., Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 9, 185, 1965.

5.       Kopoor and Singh, Indian J. Pharm. 29, 285, 1967.

6.       Neogi et. al., Indian J. Pharm. 32, 43, 1970.

7.       Dhar, Indian J. Exptl. Biol. 6, 232, 1968.

8.       Gupta et. al., Indian J. Med. Res. 60, 462, 1972.

9.       Ram et. al., Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 14, 47, 1970; 15, 6, 1971; 15, 107, 1971.

10.    Ram and Gupta Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol.

11.    Ojha, Lep. Rev. 39, 23, 1968; 37,115, 1966.