A spiny shrub, 30-60 cm in height. Leaves oblong, obtuse, 1.25-3.25 cm long; flowers red in few-flowered, axillary racemes, forming panicles at the end of branches; pods 2.5-4.0 cm long, falcate or straight with 6-8 sub-reniform seeds.

Antiprotozoal, antiarrhythmic, anticancer, cooling and bitter, possesses anti-bilious, antiseptic properties, and is a laxative, diuretic, expectorant and alleviates spasms (plant); antibacterial (leaf); antibilious (plant decoction).

University of California
Plants for a Future

Rutin and quercetin (plant); alkaloids and ascorbic acids (stem and root).

Rheumatism (oil); for swellings and abscesses (root decoction); for fever (leaves); as a blood coagulant (flowers); for chest pain and headache (leaf infusion)

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.