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| Latin Name |
English Name |
Sanskrit Name |
Hindi Name |
Achyranthes aspera
Linn. (Amaranthaceae)
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Prickly-Chaff
Flower |
Apamarga |
Latjira |
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| History |
 The
plant has been mentioned in manuscripts of Ayurveda and Chinese
medicines. In Ayurveda, two varieties, red and white are mentioned.
In Sanskrit, synonyms describe this as a rough flowered stalk.
It is described in 'Nighantas' as purgative, pungent, digestive,
a remedy for inflammation of the internal organs, piles, itch,
abdominal enlargements and enlarged cervical glands. Hindus
used ashes for preparing caustic alkaline preparations. The
diuretic properties of the plant are well known to the natives
of India and European physicians. Different parts of the plant
form ingredients in many native prescriptions in combination
with more active remedies.
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| Habitat |
Found throughout
tropical Asia, Africa, Australia and America. An abundant weed
in dry places and wastelands, from the seashore to 2,100 m high.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
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It is an annual or perennial herb. Stem erect, 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.
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| Principal
Constituents |
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 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.
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| Pharmacology |
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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.
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| Clinical
studies |
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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.
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| Indications |
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It has pungent, astringent, diuretic, alterative, antiperiodic
and purgative properties. Plant is used in piles, skin eruptions,
opthalmia, dysentery, eye and liver complaints, rheumatism, scabies,
bronchial affections and in leprosy. 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.
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| Product
Range |
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Cystone (UriCare), Nefrotec.
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| References |
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Kapoor & Singh, Indian J. Chem. 4, 461, 1966.
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Basu et. al., Indian J. Pharm. 32, 43.
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Hariharan and Rangaswamy, Phytochem. 9, 404, 1970.
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Gambir et. al., Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 9, 185,
1965.
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Kopoor and Singh, Indian J. Pharm. 29, 285, 1967.
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Neogi et. al., Indian J. Pharm. 32, 43, 1970.
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Dhar, Indian J. Exptl. Biol. 6, 232, 1968.
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Gupta et. al., Indian J. Med. Res. 60, 462, 1972.
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Ram et. al., Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 14, 47, 1970;
15, 6, 1971; 15, 107, 1971.
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Ram and Gupta Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol.
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Ojha, Lep. Rev. 39, 23, 1968; 37,115, 1966.
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