A spreading perennial herb, 0.5 m long. Leaves alternate, trifoliate, petioles 1.5 to 8 mm long; stipules ovate, 2.5 to 3.3 m long, emarginate apex, cuneate at base, margins entire, glabrous. Inflorescence sessile, leaf opposed fascicles of 2 to 4 flowers; bracts acuminate, 4 mm long, pedicels 5 to 8 mm long; calyx 5-lobed, corolla purplish, obovate, apex rounded. Fruit pod linear or oblong 1 to 1.5 cm long.
Herb Effects
Roots are considered carminative, tonic and diuretic and used in bilious complaints. Leaves are galactagogue, diuretic, potentiates barbiturates and in mice, influences the central nervous system (50% EtOH plant extract).
Hypathorine and tyramine (leaf); indole-3-alkyamines, trigonelline, beta-phenylethylamines, choline and indole-3-acetic acid (stem. root and leaf); from 50% EtOH plant extract.
Chemistry
of Active Ingredients
Name
CAS#
IUPAC Name
Formula
Structure
Trigonelline
6138-40-5
1-methylpyridine-5-c arboxylate
C7H7NO2
Tyramine
60-19-5
4-(2-aminoethyl)phen ol
C8H11NO
Choline
67-48-1
2-hydroxyethyl-trime thyl-ammonium
C5H14NO+
Pharmacology
Medicinal Use
In diarrhea, dysentery, to relieve burns, to promote healing of wounds and abscesses, convulsions and stimulating the flow and/or secretion of milk (leaf); to treat bilious complaints, diarrhoea and galactagogue (root)
Reference
Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.
Raj RK. Screening of indigenous plants for anthelmintic action against human Ascaris lumbricoides: Part--II. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1975 Jan-Mar;19(1).