A small, grey-pubescent or nearly glabrate perennial herb. Stem short, 30 cm long, rigid; leaves in fours at the nodes, upper pair 5 cm x 1 cm, oblong or narrow-elliptic, lower pair smaller; flowers blue, in strobilate inflorescence; capsules 5 cm or more long, 2-seeded.
Herb Effects
Diuretic (root); aphrodisiac, expectorant and deobstruent (seeds)
Chemistry
Active Ingredients
Benzoxazolone, blepharin (glucoside) and a saponin which breaks down to lupeol (seed)
Chemistry
of Active Ingredients
Name
CAS#
IUPAC Name
Formula
Structure
Benzoxazolone
59-49-4
3H-benzooxazol-2-one
C7H5NO2
Pharmacology
Medicinal Use
Impotency and rheumatism (plant); headache (leaf paste); in wounds, ulcers, nasal haemorrhage, asthma, throat inflammation, ascites, and disorders of liver and spleen, and as a purgative (leaves).
Reference
Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.
Health Remedies 
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