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| Latin Name |
English Name |
Sanskrit Name |
Vernonia cinerea
Less. (Asteraceae)
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Purple Fleabane
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Sahadevi |
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| History |
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It was mentioned
in Sanskrit writings as being present in northern, western and
southern India. In the Nighantus it was described as cold, sweet
and astringent.
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| Habitat |
It is a common
weed found throughout India.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
The stem is slender,
grooved and ribbed. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly elliptic
or lanceolate, membranous or rather coriaceous. The flowers are pinkish
and purple, in minute heads in rounded or flat-topped corymbs. The
achenes are oblong, terete, & slightly narrowed at the base.
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| Principal
Constituents |
Triterpenes are
the major constituent of the herb1. 24-hydroxytaraxer-14-ene
was identified and the structure was elucidated2. b-amyrin
acetate, b-amyrin benzoate, lupeol and its acetate, b-sitosterol,
sigmasterol and a-spinasterol were isolated3.
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| Toxicology |
No adverse effect
was reported on usage of this plant as a drug.
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| Indications |
The juice of the
plant is given to children with urinary incontinence. The leaves are
eaten as a potherb. A decoction of it is also given in diarrhea, stomachache
and for cough and colic.
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| Product
Range |
Cystone (UriCare),
Nefrotec.
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| References |
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J. Nat. Prod. 1984, 47, 865; Planta medica, 1993, 59, 458.
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J. Nat. Prod. 1984, 47, 865.
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J. Indian Chem. Soc. 1962, 39, 749.
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