Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Amaranthus spinosus L.


English Name : Prickly Amaranth, Spiny pigweed, Spiny amaranth

Family : Amaranthaceae

Origin : Tropical America

Description
An erect, branched annual or perennial herb. Leaves long petioled, oblong, ovate-elliptic or lanceolate, base cuneate. Flowers minute, greyish-green, borne in axillary clusters or terminal spikes. Bracts and bracteoles narrowly ovate-lanceolate. Seeds oblong, black compressed.

Habitat
Wastelands and fields throughout India

Parts Used : Root, leaf, stem and plant

Herb Effects
Antidote, astringent, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, emollient, febrifuge, emmenagogue, galactogogue, alleviates spasms and antagonistic to hyperactive effects of amphetamines (plant); laxative (root and leaf).

Active Ingredients
Ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, niacin, nicotinic acid, riboflavin, rutin, stigmasterol, thiamin (leaf).

Medicinal Use
Menorrhagia and gonorrhea (root decoction); colic (root); laxative (leaf and root); leucorrhea.

Reference

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