Punarnava

Synonym                                              :           Hog weed.

Biological Source                                  :           Either fresh or dried plant of Boerhaavia diffusa

Scientific Name                                    :           Boerhaavia diffusa.

Family                                                  :           Myctaginaceae

Geographical Distribution                      :           India ,   Srilanka etc

Organoleptic / Morphological Characters :

   

  ( a )  Plant – The plant is a pubescent or nearly glabrous .

   ( b )  Root -  Root stock is stout . Te tap-root is long , fusiform and tapering .

   ( c )  Stem – Stem is prostate or ascending . It is slender , cylindrical and thickened at nodes .

   ( d)   Leaves – They occur in unequal pairs . The leaves are ovate and rounded both at apex and base

   (e)     Flowers -  They are small,  pinkish red and occur in number of 4 to 10 .

           

Chemical constituents – Alkaloids :-  Punarnavine .

                                  Sterols which include alpha and beta sitosterol .

Uses :

i)                    It is diuretic , so it is ised in the treatment of edema .

Ethylactate and menthol extracts have anti-inflammatory activity