Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Mollugo pentaphylla L


Family : Molluginaceae

Origin : Australia

Description
A slender, decumbent to erect, much branched, usually annual herb up to 30 cm tall with an angular stem; roots fragrant. Leaves in whorls of 2 to 9 , linear lanceolate to obovate, apex obtuse, acute or apiculate, narrowed at the base; petioles obscure. Flowers white, greenish, orange or pink in lax, corymbose, terminal cymes; peduncles and pedicels filiform; bracts lanceolate. Fruit (capsule) subglobose, about as long as sepals, with thin walls; seeds numerous, dark reddish-brown, covered with raised points.

Habitat
Forests and fields of India.

Parts Used : Plant , leaves

Herb Effects
Antiseptic and induces immobility of sperm; bitter, stomachic, antiperiodic and aperient (leaves); emmenagogue (plant infusion).

Active Ingredients
Mollugogenols A, B and D

Medicinal Use
For eye sores, as an antiseptic and stimulating the secretion of gastric juices; promotes digestion; also promotes menses and suppressed lochia (leaves); to relieve sore legs (poultice); applied to relieve earache (oil).

Reference

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