Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Curcuma
Species: C. aromatica
Curcuma aromatica (common name- wild turmeric,yellow cedary) is a member of the Curcuma genus belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. Botanically close to Curcuma australasica, wild turmeric has been widely used as a cosmetic herbal in South Asia and nearby regions.
This aromatic and pretty ginger is probably the most useful among the gingers. It is recognized as a medical herb with strong antibiotic properties. Increasingly, its values to prevent and cure cancer are recognized.In an effort to remove cell accumulations such as a tumors, curcuma is often utilized. There are two species commonly used in cancer therapy that, like ginger, have a spicy taste.
Curcuma aromatica is one of them called yujin by the Chinese, after its affect on stagnation (yu means stagnation; jin refers to the golden color and to its ability to treat the lungs, the organ system associated with the metal element, for which gold is a symbol). It contains aromatic volatile oils that help to remove excessive lipids from the blood, reduce aggregation of platelets (sticking of the blood cells to form masses), and reduce inflammation.
In addition, the herb’s oily components enhance fibrinolysis (the process that breaks down fibrous proteins, such as those that protect tumors from the immune system), and promote secretion of bile, which helps to clear congestion of the liver, promote digestion of fats, and aid intestinal peristalsis (intestinal movements that help evacuation). Thus, these essential oils help to get rid of many types of accumulation.
Wild turmeric has rhizomes with a peculiar fragrance and attractive deep yellow color. The rhizomes are often used in cosmetic herbal medicines and as a culinary ingredient in limited quantities as a food flavor. Leaves are broad and very decorative, elliptic with a leaf stem running as long to the tip of the blade. A fresh stalk with flowers and leaves, cut to proper size and shape, can be used as a floral indoor decoration in vase for up to 10 days.
Wild turmeric is recognised as a medical herb with strong antibiotic properties. It is believed to play a role in preventing and curing cancer in Chinese medicine. In an effort to remove cell accumulations such as a tumors, Curcuma aromatica is often used. There are two species commonly used in cancer therapy that, like ginger, have a spicy taste.

Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Vitex
Species: V. negundo
Synonyms
Vitex cannabifolia Siebold & Zucc.
Vitex incisa Lam.
Vitex incisa var. heterophylla Franch.
Vitex negundo var. heterophylla (Franch.) Rehder
Vitex negundo, commonly known as the five-leaved cheste tree, is a large aromatic shrub with quadrangular, densely whitish, tomentose branchlets. It is widely used in folk medicine, particularly in South and Southeast Asia.
It is known under a variety of names in different languages: Tamil: nochhi; Hindi: nirgundi; Sanskrit: sindhuvara; Filipino: lagundî; Sinhala: nika; and Bengali: Nishinda
Vitex negundo is an erect shrub or small tree growing from 2 to 8 m (6.6 to 26 ft) in height. The bark is reddish-brown. It leaves are digitate, with five lanceolate leaflets, sometimes three. Each leaflet is around 4 to 10 cm (1.6 to 3.9 in) in length, with the central leaflet being the largest and possessing a stalk. The leaf edges are toothed or serrated and the bottom surface is covered in hair.The numerous flowers are borne in panicles 10 to 20 cm (3.9 to 7.9 in) in length. Each is around 6 to 7 cm (2.4 to 2.8 in) long and are white to blue in color. The petals are of different lengths, with the middle lower lobe being the longest. Both the corolla and calyx are covered in dense hairs.The fruit is a succulent drupe, 4 mm (0.16 in) in diameter, rounded to egg-shaped. It is black or purple when ripe.Vitex negundo is native to tropical Eastern and Southern Africa and Asia. It is widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere.Countries it is indigenous to include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Vitex negundo are commonly found near bodies of water, recently disturbed land, grasslands, and mixed open forests.
Uses
Medicinal Importance
Folk medicine
The leaves of V. negundo possess discutient properties and are applied to rheumatic swellings of the joints and in sprains. They may be applied locally to swellings from rheumatic arthritis and sprain.
The juice of the leaves is used for the treatment of fetid discharges. The principal constituents the leaf juice are casticin, isoorientin, chrysophenol D, luteolin, p–hydroxybenzoic acid and D-fructose. The plant has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial antifungal and analgesic activities. These properties are useful in the treatment of superficial bruises, injuries, sores and skin infections.
The essential oil of V. negundo has been used to reduce inflammation and swelling of joints due to rheumatism and injuries.The main constituents of the oil are sabinene, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, β-caryophyllene, α-guaiene and globulol constituting 61.8% of the oil.
Vitex negunda is used for treating stored garlic against pests in the Philippines.
Herbal medicine, rather than merely curing a particular disease, aims at returning the body back to its natural state of
health. The phytochemical components of medicinal plants often act individually, additively or synergistically
in improvement of health . After having analyzed the various chemical components present in different parts of
Vn, it is imperative that focus shifts to the medicinal applications of the plant. Myriad medicinal properties have
been ascribed to Vn and the plant has also been extensively used in treatment of a plethora of ailments. These
properties have been categorized under three heads – traditional medicine, folk medicine and pharmacological
evidence.
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine mainly comprises of Indian Ayurveda, Arabic Unani medicine and traditional Chinese
medicine. In Asia and Latin America, populations continue to use traditional medicine as a result of historical
circumstances and cultural beliefs. Traditional medicine accounts for around 40% of all health care delivered in
China. Up to 80% of the population in Africa uses traditional medicine to help meet their health care needs.
Ayurveda
The plant finds mention in the verses of the Charaka Samhita which is unarguably the most ancient and
authoritative textbook of Indian Ayurveda. Vn has been designated as an anthelminthic and is
prescribed as a vermifuge in the exposition on the Charaka Samhita by Sharma.
Other Ayurvedic uses of Vn are described by Tirtha. People sleep on pillows stuffed with Vn leaves to dispel
catarrh and headache and smoke the leaves for relief. Crushed leaf poultice is applied to cure headaches, neck gland
sores, tubercular neck swellings and sinusitis. Essential oil of the leaves is also effective in treatment of venereal
diseases and other syphilitic skin disorders. A leaf decoction with Piper nigrum is used in catarrhal fever with
heaviness of head and dull hearing. A tincture of the root-bark provides relief from irritability of bladder and rheumatism.
Jadhav and Bhutani report the Ayurvedic use of Vn in dysmenorrhea. Patkar refers to the formulations
described in Anubhoga Vaidya Bhaga, a compendium of formulations in cosmetology, in outlining the use of Vn
leaves along with those of Azadirachta indica, Eclipta alba, Sphaeranthus indicus and Carum copticum in a notable
rejuvenation treatment known as Kayakalpa.
Unani medicine
Khare outlines the applications of Vn, commonly known as Nisinda in Unani medicine. The seeds are
administered internally with sugarcane vinegar for removal of swellings. Powdered seeds are used in spermatorrhoea
and serve as an aphrodisiac when dispensed along with dry Zingiber officinale and milk.
Chinese medicine
The Chinese Pharmacopoeia prescribes the fruit of Vn in the treatment of reddened, painful, and puffy eyes;
headache and arthritic joints.
Folk medicine
Folklore systems of medicine continue to serve a large segment of population, especially those in rural and tribal
areas, regardless of the advent of modern medicine.The entries regarding the multifarious applications of Vn in
folk medicine have been grouped regionally to emphasize the ethnobotanical diversity and ubiquity of the plant.
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity
Yunos et al. and Jana et al. established anti-inflammatory properties of Vn extracts in acute and subacute inflammation. Anti-inflammatory and pain suppressing activities of fresh leaves of Vn are attributed to
prostaglandin synthesis inhibition, antihistamine, membrane stabilising and antioxidant activities
Effect on oxidative stress
Leaf extracts of Vn were determined to possess anti-oxidant potential by. The extracts were useful in
decreasing levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in Freund’s adjuvant induced
arthritic-rats . The extracts also possess the ability to combat oxidative stress by reducing lipid peroxidation
owing to the presence of flavones, vitamin C and carotene. Rooban et al.evaluated the antioxidant and
therapeutic potential of Vn flavonoids in modulating solenoid-induced cataract and found it to be effective.
Enzyme-inhibitory activity
Root extracts of Vn showed inhibitory activity against enzymes such as lipoxygenase and butyryl-cholinesterase
; α-chymotrypsin; xanthine-oxidase and tyrosinase . Woradulayapinij et al. reported the
HIV type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory activity of the water extract of the aerial parts of Vn.
Effect on reproductive potential
The flavonoid rich fraction of seeds of Vn caused disruption of the latter stages of spermatogenesis in dogs
and interfered with male reproductive function in rats. It must however be noted that these findings are in
sharp contrast with the traditional use of Vn as aphrodisiac. Hu et al.determined that ethanolic extracts
of Vn showed estrogen-like activity and propounded its use in hormone replacement therapy.
Histomorphological and cytotoxic effects
Tandon and Gupta studied the histomorphological effect of Vn extracts in rats and found the stomach tissue
to be unaffected even by toxic doses; while dose-dependent changes were observed in the heart, liver and lung
tissues. Cytotoxic effect of leaf extracts of Vn was tested and affirmed using COLO-320 tumour cells. On
one hand, Diaz et al.found the chloroform extracts of Vn leaves to be toxic to a human cancer cell line
panel while on the other; Yunos et al.reported that Vn extracts were non-cytotoxic on mammary and
genito-urinary cells of mice.
Drug potentiating ability
Administration of Vn extracts potentiated the effect of commonly used anti-inflammatory drugs such as
ibuprofen and phenylbutazone; analgesics such as meperidine, aspirin, morphine and pethidine;
sedative-hypnotic drugs like pentobarbitone, diazepam and chlorpromazine; anti-convulsive agents
such diphenylhydantoin and valporic acid.

Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Commelinales
Family: Pontederiaceae
Genus: Monochoria
Species: M. vaginalis
Synonyms: Pontederia auct. mal.
Common names: M. hastata (L.) Solms: Trakiet, chrach (Khmer); Pak top noy, ‘ il hin (Laos); Pak top, phakpong (Thai); Rau mac (Viet.). M. vaginalis (Burm. f.) J. Presl: Chrach (Khmer); Rau mac la thon, rau choc, rau mac la thon (Viet.); Kae kied, phak-khiat, nin labon (Thai).karinguvalam(tamil),water hyacinth(english),neelolthpalam(sanskrit)
Monochoria vaginalis is a species of flowering plant in the water hyacinth family known by several common names, including heartleaf false pickerelweed and oval-leafed pondweed. It is native to much of Asia and across many of the Pacific Islands, and it is known in other areas as an introduced species and often a noxious weed. An aquatic plant, it is invasive in rice paddies and other water bodies. This is an annual or perennial herb growing in water from a small rhizome. It is quite variable in morphology. The shiny green leaves are up to about 12 centimeters long and 10 wide and are borne on rigid, hollow petioles. The inflorescence bears 3 to 25 flowers which open underwater and all around the same time. Each has six purple-blue tepals just over a centimeter long. The fruit is a capsule about a centimeter long which contains many tiny winged seeds.
Annual or perhaps sometimes perennial, erect, aquatic herbs about 600-750 mm tall. Stems are short and corm-like. Juvenile leaves are submerged, extremely variable in size and shape, scale-like to linear. Adult leaves emergent, differentiated into petiole and blade; blade elliptic to ovate, up to ± 85 ´ 100 mm; petiole erect, ± 500 mm long.
Inflorescence elongated, spike-like, with (20-)25-30(-40) ± equally spaced, blue flowers, and the inflorescence’s peduncle is erect, 20-40 mm long. Petals 6, blue, 10.0-14.5 ´ 3.5-4.5 mm, persistent and enveloping ripe fruit. Stamens 6, of 2 kinds; 5 with simple, up to 5 mm long filaments, and yellow, (1.8-)2-4 mm long anthers. The sixth anther is blue, at least one quarter longer than the yellow ones with a longer filament (up to 5.5 mm long) and has an appendage attached to the filament that curls up along the side of the large blue anther. All six anthers arise from the perianth, opening by an apical pore, which later splits downwards. Capsules ellipsoid to ovoid, ± 9 mm long; style 1.5-2.5 mm in fruit, opening by 3 valves but normally released as a unit and opening later. Seeds numerous, ellipsoid to barrel-shaped, ± 0.75 mm long, with 10, narrow, longitudinal ribs or wings, dispersed in mud and by water.
Very little is known about Monochoria africana, it occurs sporadically in a localized area in South Africa as well as a few localized areas beyond our borders. The lack of information rather hampers an accurate assessment of this rare plant. According to Wendy Fowden, Manager of the Threatened Species Project, SANBI, M. africana is listed as ‘Least Concern’ at the moment.
Monochoria africana has a fairly limited distribution in Mpumalanga Province, in the Kruger National Park of South Africa. The young plants are submerged in the water at the edge of the pan. As the plant grows, the water level drops and the adults grow along the marshy area of the pan. In 1997 while on holiday in the Kruger National Park, we were privileged in spotting this plant in a small pan in the vicinity of Ngumulu Pan. At first glance its habitat and the shape of the leaves resembled that of our common arum lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica. Realizing it had no white flowers, we stopped and studied the plant. To our delight we realized we were looking at Monochoria africana- partly the reason for coming to the Kruger Park! Sadly fellow tourists did not share our excitement; those that stopped behind us were annoyed when we told them it was a plant we were admiring. Also, that evening when asked by a fellow camper at Maroela campsite whether I had seen anything interesting, he was rather annoyed that I could get excited about finding a special plant.
Derivation of name and historical aspects
The genus Monochoria belongs to the family Pontederiaceae that consists of nine genera and 33 species. Five genera are from the New World (Pontederia, Reussia, Eurystemon, Hydrothrix and Zosterella) two (Eichhornia and Heteranthera) from the New and Old World. Monochoria and Scolleropsis are the only two genera from the Old World.
Monochoria is derived from two Greek words, mono, one, and choria, on its own or separate. The name could refer to the fact that when this genus was described; it was the only genus to occur in the Old World ( Asia and Africa ). The genus Scolleropsis from Africa was described later (Cook 1998) and it was therefore on its own in Asia and Africa. More likely it refers to the single large, blue anther. The specific name refers to where the plant was collected, namely Africa.
The first Monochoria species to be collected in Africa was collected by Schweinfurth in 1869 in the Sudan and described by Solms-Laubach as M. vaginalis var. africana. Further researched showed that it differed sufficiently from the Asian species of M. vaginalis and was renamed M. africana ( Verdcourt 1961).
The first plant collected in South Africa was in 1937 by Stevenson-Hamilton, first warden of the Park, at Gomonwane between Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge. Since then it has been collected five times: four times in the Kruger National Park in different pans between Lower Sabie and Olifants and Letaba camps in the Lebombo Mountains; and there is one record from outside the Park in Timbavati Private Game Reserve bordering the Kruger Park.

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Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Strobilanthes
Species: S. kunthiana
Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana)is a shrub that used to grow abundantly in the shola grasslands of the Western Ghats in South India above 1800 metres. The Nilgiri Hills, which literally means the blue mountains, got their name from the purplish blue flowers of Neelakurinji that blossoms gregariously only once in 12 years. The Paliyan tribal people apparently used it to calculate their age.
This plant belongs to the genus Strobilanthes which was first scientifically described by Nees in the 19th century. The genus has around 250 species, of which at least 46 are found in India. Most of these species show an unusual flowering behaviour, varying from annual to 16-year blooming cycles, on the national scale there is often confusion about which plant is flowering.
Plants that bloom at long intervals like Strobilanthes kunthiana are known as plietesials, the term plietesial has been used in reference to perennial monocarpic plants “of the kind most often met with in the Strobilanthinae” (a subtribe of Acanthaceae containing Strobilanthes and allied genera) that usually grow gregariously, flower simultaneously following a long interval, set seed, and die. Other commonly used expressions or terms which apply to part or all of the plietesial life history include gregarious flowering, mast seeding, and supra-annual synchronized semelparity (semelparity = monocarpy).
Neelakurinji, the flower of the blue mountain is a shrub that used to grow abundantly in the shola grasslands of Western Ghats in India. The Nilgiris, which literally means the blue mountains, got its name from the purplish blue flowers of Neelakurinji that blossoms gregariously once in 12 years.
Once they used to cover the entire Nilgiris like a carpet during its flowering season. However, now plantations and dwellings occupy much of their habitat.
Neelakurinji is the best known of a genus that has flowering cycles ranging from one to 16 years. There has been record of its flowering every 12 years since 1826. The next flowering is expected to place in September 2006. Stray flowerings do occur in between. What triggers the massive flowering every 12 years is not known.
Neelakurinji belongs to the family of Acanthaceae. The genus has more than 500 species, of which about 50 occur in India. Besides the Western Ghats, Neelakurinji is seen in the Shevroys in the Eastern Ghats. It occurs at an altitude of 1300 to 2400 metres. Flowering takes places between April and December, peaking towards September.
The plant is usually 30 to 60 cms high on the hills. They can, however, grow well beyond 180 cm under congenial conditions at lower elevations. Plants that bloom at long intervals like kurinji are called plietesials.
Neelakurinji (also spelled neelakkurinji) have been referred in the past by names such as Strobilanthes kunthianum, Nilgirianthus kunthianus, Strobilanthus nilgirianthus (nilgirianthes) and Phlebophyllum kunthianum.
Strobilanthes sessilis flowers every year.
In 2006, Kurinji (neelakurinji) bloomed gregariously at several places near Kodaikanal (India) and Munnar. The biggest flowering was at the Eravikulam National Park.
At the National park, carpets of flowers formed at the Turner’s Valley (about 16 km inside the park), Poovar and on the hills near the Lakkom Muthuvakudy besides the tourist zone at Rajamala..
It also bloomed gregariously on the hills between Klavarai in Tamil Nadu and Koviloor in Kerala, especially in the Kadavari area. These areas are now within the newly formed Kurinjimala Sanctuary.
Patches of kurinji occur in the remaining sholas near Koviloor. Koviloor is a few hours drive from Munnar in Kerala. A jeep road connects Koviloor to Klavarai and Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu). The road need not be motorable all the time (especially during monsoon).
Trekkers could spot kurinji by the sides of the old Munnar Kodaikanal road. Trekking would require permission from the Forest Department. The plants can also be located at places such as Yellapetty and Kanthalloor outside the protected areas. At Yellappetty, you have to trek to the hills south of the Yellapetty estate.
Some areas of the Mukurthi National Park near Ootty and adjoining areas of Silent Valley National Park also have the plant. Besides, blooms have been reported from Attappady and Mangaladevi. Flowerings occur at Shevroys in the Eastern Ghats also.
Gregarious flowering of neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) takes place once in 12 years between July and December. The peak season will be between August and September. Local variations are possible. (It flowers earlier in some areas of Kodaikanal.)
As there are different species of kurinjis with different flowering cycles, blooms are seen at varying intervals. P. K. Uthaman (then field publicity officer of Government of India) has reported seeing eight species of Strobilanthes bloom at Eravikulam National Park in 1988. It is also possible that the same species in different localities may complete their flowering cycles in different years. However, the flowering cycle for a particular species remains the same, but for variations of a few months triggered possibly by local weather.
Thus, after the 2006 flowering, another mass flowering can be expected to take place near Munnar in 2014– there is a group of plants in the locality whose flowering cycle is four years ahead of the rest of the community in the region. However, one could not be sure whether these plants would survive for the next season. The next massive flowering in the Nilgiris-Palanis-Munnar belt is expected only in 2018.
In August 2008, a group of plants at Thalakkulam, about 35 km from Munnar, flowered on a hill by the side of the Kochi-Madurai National Highway. The next flowering here will be in 2020 if the seedlings survive the onslaught of human interference.
Stray flowerings of kurinji do occur annually towards the end of the 12-year flowering cycle. A few plants here and there may throw up an inflorescence while the other plants remain without flowers. What triggers the massive flowering every 12 years is not known. However, here is an explanation for why they flower only once in 12 years.
Gregarious flowering of kurinji has been documented for 180 years. The first records of ten consecutive flowerings from 1826 to 1934 were published in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History (Vol. 38) by Mrs. Morrison.However, references in the Tamil Sangham literature (200 B. C.-300 A. D.) suggest that kurinji used to flower for hundreds of years.
Kurinji has this wonderful mechanism of flowering massively once in 12 years to save a substantial portion of its seeds. It will survive on its own if its habitat remains.
Man’s excessive curiosity can defeat the evolutionary objective of massive flowering. However, gregarious flowering definitely can accommodate some interference from men.
The Kerala Government has written to the Central Government urging it to include kurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) in the Sixth Schedule of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This is hardly needed. What is required is the protection of plant’s habitat.
Kurinji is a plant that grows like a weed at high altitudes on the Western Ghats, provided that there is open space. It is endemic to the Ghats, but no way rare or endangered at the moment. Though it is said to have medicinal properties, there is no trade or exports that would lead to its extinction. (Medicinal properties are actually associated with a black stalked variety of kurinji). The real threat to kurinji and several other endemic species on the Western Ghats is the destruction of their habitat and it is the habitat that needs to be protected.
Chemicals present
The leaf has a lot of amount of pottassium and root has lupiyol.
Medicinal Uses
kurinji prevent all types of rhumatism.it purifies blood.it has the capacity to prevent against the sexual weakness and increases sperm count.the whole plant is used as medicine.
Kurinji and culture
In some temples in Tamil Nadu, kurinji flowers are offered to Lord Murukan. There is little justification of breaking the cultural ties of the people with kurinji. The plant also occurs in some cultivated areas. Its inclusion in the Schedule could lead to even the farmers being booked for violation. Some forest officials may use it an excuse for collecting bribes.
The Government decision to recommend inclusion of the plant in the Schedule may be prompted by fears that visitors to Munnar and other places during the current season would pluck the flowers and uproot plants in large numbers. The inclusion of the plant in the Schedule, however, may not materialise before the season is over. Besides, general provisions of the Wildlife Act and other forest laws are enough to check wanton destruction of the plants. The Government has already taken an informal decision to impose a fine of Rs. 1000 on visitors destroying the plant or its blossoms.
We have a tendency to over-legislation. Our statute books are full of laws, many of them unnecessary. Proliferation of such laws lead to large-scale law breaking, and the people lose their inhibition to break law. So, excessive restrictions should always be avoided.
People have emotional attachment towards gardens and flowers. Most do not develop such attachments towards forests or individuals species there. This is an occasion for the Forest Department to show the people the beauty of kurinji, the wonder of its flowering, and imbibe love for nature.
As the plant occurs widely in a geographical location, it need not be isolated from people. It would not be wrong to offer visitors a flower or two (in limited numbers and possibly at a price) as part of a memento. The tribals could be engaged to make something interesting and sell them. Of course, they can also offer kurinjithen (sweet honey from the kurinji habitat in season). Why not price it a little bit high?
There would be three types of visitors to the kurinji hills this season. Some would be satisfied with just a glimpse of the flowers. Others may want to trek. They may include nature lovers and people bent on vandalism. The Forest Department has to be vigilant against the latter. It is to be remembered that the main threat to kurinji is not people but the spreading plantations including that of the Forest Department.
Shola grasslands– the life giver
Shola grasslands are the habitat of kurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) and the habitat is more important than the plant itself. They occur in the Nilgiris, Pulneys (Palani) and Anamalai hills of Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas of Kerala at an altitude of more than 1700 metres. Sholas are found at lower altitudes (1300 metres and above) at agastyakoodam and its enviorns. They help to sustain life in the valleys and plains.
In Kerala, the most expansive and protected shola forests are in the Eravikulam National Park in Idukki district. Agastya hills in Thiruvananthapuram district, Brahmagiri hills in Waynad district and Sispara ghat in Palakkad district also harbour shola forests. The New Amarambalam Reserve forests in Malappuram district also have some sholas. This is an extension of sholas in the Nilgiris.
Conservation of sholas is important not only for the protection of the biodiversity of these regions but also the water security of the plains. Many rivers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu originate from the shola grasslands. They arrest surface runoffs from the hills during rains. Held by the foliage, grasses and the humus layers, this water is released gradually. Rains occur in these areas for up to nine months a year. Besides, precipitation occurs in the form of mist condensing on the plants. Watercourses originate from areas covered with trees and join with others on the grasslands. Thus the shola grassland system acts as perennial source of water for the rivers downstream.
Shola forests usually have three layers of plants, many of them endemic. New species have been discovered in shola grasslands even a decade ago. There is high concentration of lichen, mosses, ferns and orchids in these areas. Many plants in these forests have medicinal properties. However, potential of several species are yet to be studied.
Fauna of shola forests
Like in the case of flora, shola forests and grasslands are rich in fauna. The famous among them is the Nilgiri tahr, an endangered species protected at the Eravikulam National Park. Other species include Nilgiri langur, slender loris, giant squirrels, leopards, bears, sambar deer, elephants and jungle fowls. Jungle fowls congregate on the shola grasslands when kurinjis bloom.
Sholas harbour specialised animals such as tree frogs, burrowing snakes and geccos. They have developed or have not faced extinction because sholas are like islands cut off from the mainland. A variety of insects and butterflies also occur on the sholas.
Besides, several species of bees, wasps and ants are found in shola forests. Resident and migrant birds and cold water fishes also add to the faunal diversity of the sholas. The avifauna includes better known species such as black and orange flycatcher and grey-breasted laughingthrush.
Shola grasslands of Munnar, Kodaikanal and the Nilgiris
The kurinji habitats in Munnar, Kodaikanal and the Nilgris are under threat. From the British planters of the Nineteenth century to the present day encroachers, many have converted the habitat of kurinji into plantations. Even the Forest Departments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu share the blame for destruction of the shola forests.
The Britishers had cleared the kurinji habitat mostly for tea plantations. However, they were careful in retaining some of those forests for gaming purposes. Some of them also recognised the importance of having the sholas to maintain the climate.
So, we now have vestiges of the shola vegetation such as that in the Eravikulam National Park. The park area was a gaming sanctuary patronised by the managers of the erstwhile Kannan Devan Hill Produce Company. The early documentation of the plants has also come from people such as Robert Wight and Captain Beddome.
The destruction of the shola forests in later years was more devastating. The Kerala Forest Department raised wattle in large areas to feed the tanning industry. Tamil Nadu raised pine forests on the Eastern slopes of Palani hills. Eucalyptus plantations were raised to meet the needs of wood based industries such as the Hindustan Newsprint Limited and the tea factories (which used wood as fuel). Much revenue and forest lands were encroached upon by planters and settlers. Fires caused further damage. The destruction of kurinji habitat was the most on the Tamil Nadu side between Kodaikanal and Munnar in the latter part of the 20th century.

Shola forests are rich storehouses of biodiversity. The flora show special characteristics, as they have to adapt to extreme climates and winds. As the high altitude sholas are like islands, disconnected from other regions, endemicity is high. Even branches of shola trees are colonised by a variety of species, many of them getting their water supply from the condensing mist. They will include mosses, ferns and other epiphytes besides woody climbers.
Predominant species in the shola forests include Measa indica, Microtropis ramiflora and Rhododendron arboreum. The grasslands will have a number of grass species, Chrysopogon zeylanicus and Eulalia phaeothrix being two of the predominant species in places such as Eravikulam National Park. More than 60 of the grasses here are endemic to Western Ghats.
The best of the grasslands have Dichanthium polyptychum according to studies done by Kerala Forest Research Institute. The Institute has separated several fungi belonging to Penicillium and other genuses from the shola grass lands of Idukki district.
However, it is to be noted that there could be considerable variations in the distribution and abundance of species in different localities. Some species grow only specific locations such as the edges of sholas or watercourses.
The shola grasslands habour several varieties of Strobilanthes species. Of more than 500 species belonging to the genus, more than 50 occur in India. Those reported from the shola grasslands between Kodaikanal and Munnar include Strobilanthes asperrium, Strobilanthes calycina, Strobilanthes cuspidatus, Strobilanthes foliosus, Strobilanthes gracilis, Strobilanthes homotropa, Strobilanthes luridus, Strobilanthes micranthus, Strobilanthes neilgherrensis, Strobilanthes papillosus, Strobilanthes perrottetiana, Strobilanthes pulneyensis, Strobilanthes tristis, Strobilanthes urceolaris, Strobilanthes violaceus, Strobilanthes wightianus and Strobilanthes cuspidatus. All except the first two are endemic to the Western Ghats.
Endemism and rarity in Tropical Montane Forests
Sholas come under the broad class of Tropical Montane Forests. Tropical Montane Forests are found in Central and South America, Africa and Asia.
The sholas that are found in South India above 1700 metres are often referred to as tropical upper montane rain forest and montane temperate forests.
Endemism and rarity are common among shola species as they cannot migrate and survive in different altitudinal and climatic conditions. The trees and smaller plants of the ecosystem colonise the depressions in expansive mountain ranges covered with high altitude grasses. These grasslands themselves harbour several rare and endemic species.
The biodiversity of shola grasslands holds great potential for use in biotechnology and related areas. The economic and ecological importance of these forests is tremendous. This calls for increased efforts for conservation.
Rare and Endangered shola species
Coelogyne mossiae
Cotoneaster buxifolia
Crotalaria kodaiensis
Crotalaria prietleyoides
Eleocarpus blascoi
Pimpinella pulneyensis
Sonerilla pulneyensis
Vernonia pulneyensis
Youngia nilgiriensis
The sholas, which cover only a small percentage of total forest area in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, are shrinking. This needed to be stemmed. Kerala has declared some patches of sholas in Idukki district as national parks in 2003. However, contiguity of these areas with other protected areas has not been ensured.
Scientists M. P. Nayar and A. R. K. Sastry (Red Data Book of Indian Plants) and K. M. Mathew and K. T. Mathew of the Rapinat Herbarium, Thiruchirapalli, have identified more than 75 shola species which are under threat in the Palani hills alone. There is need for protection of the remaining shola forests to conserve the biodiversity.
Ladies Slipper Orchid
The only plant from Kerala that has been included in the Schedule is the Paphiopedilum druryi, which comes under the general category of ladies slipper orchids included in the Schedule. This is a plant that is found only in a limited habitat at Agastyarkoodam and its environs. The plant was rediscovered after decades early in the nineties. It is definitely a plant requiring specific and special protection.
That, however, is not the case with kurinji. It grows on large areas spread from Nilgiris to Palanis and Munnar. (There are some reports that it also occurs at the northern end of the Western Ghats). It even occurs on roadsides. If its habitat is in Kerala and Tamil Nadu are protected as wildlife sanctuary, general protective provisions of the Wildlife Act would apply to kurinji and other species in the sanctuary. This would suffice for its protection (in fact, there are other species needing much more protection in the shola grasslands) and there would be no need to invoke stringent provisions of the Act that apply to Scheduled animals and plants.
Such stringent provisions will impair use of kurinji for medicinal, religious or other purposes and raising of the plant in a nursery (except under licence). You cannot possess or transport the plant, not to speak of any sale in the species.

Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Eclipta
Species: E. alba
Synonyms
Eclipta erecta
Eclipta prostrata
Verbesina alba
Verbesina prostrata
Guna (properties):- ruksha (dry),laghu (light)
Rasa (taste) :- .katu (pungent) , tikta (bitter)
Veerya :- ushna
Vipaka :- katu
KARMA (Action) pacifies Vata and Kapha, increases pitta. Heals wounds, works as anti inflammatory, improves appetite, digestion, stimulates bile secretion,reduces pain in joints, digests ama, Its seeds are aphrodesiac, reduces fever, makes hair black and lusturous.
Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. (syn. Eclipta prostrata L.), commonly known as False Daisy , yerba de tago, and bhringraj, is a plant belonging to the family Asteraceae. Root well developed, cylindrical, greyish. It is also named ‘kehraj’ in Assamese and karisalankanni in Tamil. Floral heads 6-8 mm in diameter, solitary, white, achene compressed and narrowly winged. It grows commonly in moist places as a weed all over the world. It is widely distributed throughout India, China, Thailand, and Brazil. In ayurvedic medicine, the leaf extract is considered a powerful liver tonic, rejuvenative, and especially good for the hair. A black dye obtained from Eclipta alba is used for dyeing hair and tattooing. Eclipta alba also has traditional external uses, like athlete foot, eczema and dermatitis, on the scalp to address hair loss and the leaves have been used in the treatment of scorpion stings. It is used as anti-venom against snakebite in China and Brazil (Mors, 1991). It is reported to improve hair growth and colour (Kritikar and Basu 1975 and Chopra et al. 1955).The herb Eclipta alba contains mainly coumestans i.e. wedelolactone (I) and demethylwedelolactone (II), polypeptides, polyacetylenes, thiophene-derivatives, steroids, triterpenes and flavonoids. Coumestans are known to possess estrogenic activity (Bickoff et al. 1969) Wedelolactone possesses a wide range of biological activities and is used for the treatment of hepatitis and cirrhosis (Wagner et al. 1986), as an antibacterial, anti-hemorrhagic (Kosuge et al. 1985). and for direct inhibition of IKK complex resulting in suppression of LPS-induced caspase-11 expression (Kobori et al. 2004).
Plant is bitter, hot, sharp, dry in taste and is used in ayurveda & “siddha” for the treatment of Kapha and Vata imbalances. In India, the plant is known as bhangra, “bhringaraj” or bhringraja. Another plant Widelia calendulacea is also known by the same name, but Eclipta has white flowers so called white bhangra and Widelia has yellow flower so it is called yellow Bhangra (Puri 2003).
Uses
The expressed leaf juice, applied along with honey, is a popular remedy for catarrh in infants. A preparation obtained from the leaf juice boiled with sesame or coconut oil is used for anointing the head to render the hair black and luxuriant. An oil prepared with amla, bhringraj and sometimes with brahmi is well known in India as Amla Bhringraj oil, which is said to blacken the hair. Plant is rubbed on the gums in toothache and applied with a little oil for relieving headache and with sesame oil in elephantiasis. Roots of Eclipta alba are emetic and purgative.
In the Tamil tradition of Siddha medicine the plant is used for many diseases and according to Saint Vallalaar Eclipta alba (majal karisaalai in Tamil) is the number one herb according to hierarchy of herbs. The tonic Liv52 that is sold all over the world is based on Siddha formulation and are manufactured in Tamil naadu.
In Ayurveda the plant is considered a rasayana for longevity and rejuvenation. Recent studies have shown that it has a profound antihepatotoxic activity. A cardiodepressant activity was also observed in it when used for hepatic congestion. A complete symptomatic relief in epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting in ulcer patients has also been observed (Puri 2003). Also it is one among 10 flowers called as ‘Dasapushpam’ (Ten auspicious flowers) in Kerala, the southern state in India
In Taiwan, entire plant is used as a remedy for the treatment of bleeding, haemoptysis, haematuria and itching, hepatitis, diphtheria and diarrhoea; in China, as a cooling and restorative herb, which supports the mind, nerves, liver and eyes. The leaf extract is considered to be powerful liver tonic, rejuvenative, and especially good for the hair. A black dye obtained from Eclipta alba is also for dyeing hair and tattooing. Eclipta alba also has traditional external uses, like athlete foot, eczema and dermatitis, on the scalp to address alopecia (hair loss),and the leaves have been used in the treatment of scorpion strings. It is used as anti-venom against snakebite in China and Brazil (Mors, 1991).
Commonly known as False Daisy, yerba de tago, and bhringraj, Eclipta is a plant belonging to the family Asteraceae which grows abundantly in the tropics and is used with success in Ayurvedic medicine. The herb is also Yunani medicine. According to Ayurveda, Eclipta is bitter, hot fattening, alterative, anthelminticum, and alexipharmic. The Eclipta or bhringraj leaf extract is considered a powerful liver tonic, rejuvenative, and especially good for the hair. A mixture of Eclipta and mineral oil keeps the hair dark and lustrous; when applied to the scalp it promotes hair growth.
The herb Eclipta alba (bhringraj) contains mainly coumestans i.e. wedelolactone (I) and demethylwedelolactone (II), polypeptides, polyacetylenes, thiophene-derivatives, steroids, triterpenes and flavonoids. Eclipta alba (bhringraj) is also used against anemia, eye diseases, asthma and dysentery. It is believed that the juice of Eclipta when added with honey, can treat upper respiratory congestion in children.
Eclipta alba (bhringraj) is the best known herb for preventing balding and premature graying. The whole plant and seeds of bhringraj have great medicinal value. Bhrngaraja is equally useful both, internally as well as externally. A black dye obtained from Eclipta alba is also for dyeing hair and tattooing.
The Eclipta alba (bhringraj) leaf juice boiled with sesame or coconut oil for anointing the head to render the hair black and luxuriant has been practiced since ancient times. Oil prepared out of amla (Indian gooseberry) and Eclipta and sometimes with brahmi is very popular formula as hair oil and is used to blacken the hair.
Eclipta is also used to enhance the memory and has a reputation as an antiaging agent in Ayurveda. An herbal poultice is made with sesame oil and used over glandular swellings and various skin conditions. The leaf juice is also effective when applied externally to treat minor cuts, abrasions, and burns.
Eclipta alba (bhringraj) is one of the key ingredient of IHT 9 – Herbal Hair Shampoo. This shampoo arrests hair loss and promote hair growth.
This plant has a range of therapeutic properties such as promoting heart health by lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol levels; boosting immunity.
It is also an effective natural painkiller.
Eclipta is used against anemia, dysentery, eye diseases, asthma, insomnia, headaches and liver cirrhosis.
It rejuvenates the hair (external use).
The juice of Eclipta together with honey, is used to treat upper respiratory congestion in children.

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Solanum
Species: S. xanthocarpum Syn: S.surratens
Popular Name(s): Yellow-Berried Nightshade, Choti Katheri, Kantkari, Kateli
Parts Used: Fruits, Whole Plant
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Katu
Guna : Lakhu, Snigdha
Virya : Ushna
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Yellow berried nightshade.
Hindi : Remgani, Kateli, Kattaya
Malayalam : Kandakarichunda, Kandankattiri,kantakari
The plant occurs throughout India, often in waste places, on roadsides and in open scrublands. It is a prickly, usually spreading or diffused perennial, woody at base. The young branches are densely covered with minute star-shaped hairs. The branches zigzag, spread close to the ground are covered with yellow, sharp, shining prickles, about 1.5 cm long. The leaves are up to 10 cm in length, their midribs and other nerves with sharp yellow prickles. The flowers are purple, about 2 cm long, few together in small bunch opposite the leaves. The fruits are glabrous, globular drooping berries, 1.5-2 cm, yellow or pale with green veins.
The botanical name of kantakari is Solanum xanthocarpum, synonym Solanum surattense and it belongs to family Solanaceae. A glucoalkaloid termed solanocarpine is found in the fruits. A sterol known as carpesterol and solanocarpidine are also present. Potassium nitrate, a fatty acid, a resinous and phenolic substance, diosgenin and sitosterol are present. Dry fruits contain traces of isochlorogenic, neochronogenic, chronogenic and caffeic acids. Solasodine, solasonine, solamargine and solamargine are present in fruits of Nepalese plant. Quercetin isolated together with apigenin and sitosterol.
Fruits eaten as an anthelmintic and for indigestion. Root is an expectorant, used in Ayurvedic medicine for cough, asthma and chest pain. Also used for flatulence, sore throat, and toothache. Has high concentration of solasodine, a starting material for the manufacture of cortisone and sex hormones. It cures asthma, cough, bronchspasm, sore throat, constipation, an effective expectorant and diuretic.
Bhavamisra, an ancient physician, mentions it as promoting conception in females. Given with honey, tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), datura (Datura metal), and black pepper it can be effective in cases of bronchial asthma. Stem, flowers and fruits are bitter and carminative and are prescribed for relief in burning sensation in the feet. Leaves are applied locally to relieve pain.
Kantkari, (Solanum Xanthocarpum) is a very spiny diffused herb, with a height of up to 1.2 meters. The young branches are densely covered with minute star-shaped hair, while the mature branches are zigzag, covered with yellow, sharp shining prickles and spread close to the ground. The midribs and other nerves of the leaves have sharp yellow prickles and grow up to 10 cm in length. The purple flowers, that are 2 cm long with five petals, can be seen in small bunches, sometimes opposite to the leaves.
Kantkari plant bears glabrous, globular drooping berries as fruits, yellow or pale in color, with green veins. The plant is cultivated throughout India. The herb is also known as Kantakari and Nidigadhika in Sanskrit; Kateli, Katai and Ringani in Hindi; Kantakari in Bengali; Bhuiringani in Marwai; Bhoyaringani in Gujarati; Pinnamulaka, Nelamulaka and Vankuda in Telugu; Kandankattiri in Tamil and Malayalam; Bhejibegun and Ankranti in Oriya; Kandyali, Mahori and Warumba in Punjabi; and Rengnie, Bhat-khataya and Rangaini Janum in Bihar.
Plant Chemicals
(+)- solanocarpine, carpesterol, solanocarpidine, potassium nitrate, fatty acid, diosgenin, sitosterol, isochlorogenic acid, neochronogenic acid, chronogenic acid, caffeic acid, solasodine, solasonine, solamargine, quercetin, apigenin, histamine, acetylcholine.
Uses & Benefits of Kantakari
Kantkari is useful in treating worms, cold, hoarseness of voice, fever, dysuria, enlargement of the liver, muscular pain, spleen and stone in the urinary bladder.
Nasal administration of kantkari is beneficial in migraine, asthma and headache.
Its dried fruit is used in making cigarettes. The smoke from these cigarettes is held in the mouth cavity, to treat dental infections.
The juice of the berries is used in curing sore throat.
The fumigation of kantakari is helpful in piles.
The herb is made to a paste and applied on swollen and painful joints to reduce the pain and swelling in arthritis.
Roots and seeds are used as an expectorant in asthma, cough and pain in chest.
The decoction of the root is given with honey, to treat cough.
The root is ground to a paste and mixed with lemon to cure snake and scorpion bites.
Its stem, flowers and fruits, being bitter and carminative, are used for relieving burning sensation in the feet.
Kantakari fruits also facilitate seminal ejaculation, alleviate worms, itching, and fever and reduce fats.
The fruit works as an aphrodisiac in males.
Its seeds are helpful for treating irregular menstruation and dysmenorrheal in females.
The herb is beneficial in the treatment of cardiac diseases associated with edema, since it is a stimulant to the heart and a blood purifier.Kantkari should not be taken during pregnancy.
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, kapha, skin diseases, worm infestations, dental caries, inflammations, arthritis, colic, flatulence, rheumatoid arthritis, cough, fever, asthma, bronchitis, amenorrhea, low back pain, hemorrhoids, epilepsy and kidney stones.The roots, fruits and the whole plant are used for medicinal purpose. Externally, the instillation of vyaghri taila into nostrils is effective in chronic sinusitis. Also, nasal administration of kantakari is beneficial in migraine, asthma and headache. The dried fruits are smoked in the form of cigarette and the smoke held up in the mouth cavity for some time ameliorates the dental infections. The fumigation of kantakari is helpful in piles. The paste applied on swollen and painful joints in arthritis, reduces the pain and swelling effectively.
Internally, kantakari is useful in vast range of diseases. In respiratory ailments like colds, asthma, sore throat, hoarseness of voice etc, it is a valuable drug. The decoction of the roots works well in cough, when given with honey. In colds and cough associated with bronchospasm, the decoction of kantakari, sunthi, guduci and pippali is used with great benefit. In fever kiratatikta, sunthi and kantakari roots decoction is salutary. The combination of kantakari, jiraka and amalaki powders given along with honey effectively alleviates the acute bronco spasm. The fruit is useful as an aphrodisiac in males and the seeds, in women for irregular menstruation and dysmenorrheal. The white flowered variety of kantakari (Laksmana) helps to promote conception in females. As the herb is a stimulant to the heart and is a blood purifier, it is extremely beneficial in the treatment of cardiac diseases associated with edema.

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Family: Combretaceae
Genus: Terminalia
Species: T. chebula
Terminalia is a genus of large trees of the flowering plant family Combretaceae, comprising around 100 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. This genus gets it name from Latin terminus, referring to the fact that the leaves appear at the very tips of the shoots.
Trees of this genus are known especially as a source of secondary metabolites, e.g. cyclic triterpenes and their derivatives, flavonoids, tannins, and other aromatics. Some of these substances have antifungal, antibacterial, anti-cancer and hepatoprotective indications.
Terminalia chebula (Black Myrobalan or Chebulic Myrobalan) is a species of Terminalia, native to southern Asia from India and Nepal east to southwestern China (Yunnan), and south to Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Vietnam.
It is a deciduous tree growing to 30-metre (98 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 1-metre (3 ft 3 in) in diameter. The leaves are alternate to subopposite in arrangement, oval, 7–8-centimetre (2.8–3.1 in) long and 4.5–10-centimetre (1.8–3.9 in) broad with a 1–3-centimetre (0.39–1.2 in) petiole. The fruit is drupe-like, 2–4.5-centimetre (0.79–1.8 in) long and 1.2–2.5-centimetre (0.47–0.98 in) broad, blackish, with five longitudinal ridges.There are many varieties such as
Terminalia chebula var. chebula. Leaves and shoots hairless, or only hairy when very young.
Terminalia chebula var. tomentella (Kurz) C.B.Clarke. Leaves and shoots silvery to orange hairy.
This tree yields smallish, ribbed and nut-like fruits which are picked when still green and then pickled, boiled with a little added sugar in their own syrup or used in preserves. The seed of the fruit, which has an elliptical shape, is an abrasive seed enveloped by a fleshy and firm pulp. It is regarded as a universal panacea in the Ayur-Vedic Medicine and in the Traditional Tibetan medicine. It is reputed to cure blindness and it is believed to inhibit the growth of malignant tumours.
In Urdu and Hindi it is called Harad, Haritaki, or Harada, respectively ‘Inknut’. In Sri Lanka it is called Aralu. In Marathi it is called as ‘Hirada’, in Kannada it is called ‘Alalekaayi’ and in Tamil it is called ‘Kadukkai’. In Bengali it is called horitoky. In Assamese it is called Hilikha. In Telugu it is called ‘Karakkaya’. In the United States it is found in some Indian stores; it is known as ‘Harde Whole’.
The dry nut’s peel is used to cure cold-related nagging coughs. The bark/peel of the nut is placed in the cheek. Although the material does not dissolve, the resulting saliva, bitter in taste, is believed to have medicinal qualities to cure cold related coughs. Its fruit has digestive, anti-inflammatory, anthelmentic, cardiotonic, aphrodisiac and restorative properties and is additionally beneficial in flatulence, constipation, piles, cough and colds.
T. chebula contains terflavin B, a type of tannin while chebulinic acid is found in the fruits.
Haritaki is a rejuvenative, laxative (unripe), astringent (ripe), anthelmintic, nervine, expectorant, tonic, carminative, and appetite stimulant. It is used in people who have leprosy (including skin disorders), anemia, narcosis, piles, chronic, intermittent fever, heart disease, diarrhea, anorexia, cough and excessive secretion of mucus, and a range of other complaints and symptoms. According to the Bhavaprakasha, Haritaki was derived from a drop of nectar from Indra’s cup.Haritaki is use to mitigate Vata and eliminate ama (toxins), indicated by constipation, a thick greyish tongue coating, abdominal pain and distension, foul feces and breath, flatulence, weakness, and a slow pulse.The fresh fruit is dipana and the powdered dried fruit made into a paste and taken with jaggery is malashodhana, removing impurities and wastes from the body.Haritaki is an effective purgative when taken as a powder, but when the whole dried fruit is boiled the resulting decoction is grahi, useful in the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery.The fresh or reconstituted fruit taken before meals stimulates digestion, whereas if taken with meals it increases intelligence, nourishes the senses and purifies the digestive and genitourinary tract.Taken after meals Haritaki treats diseases caused by the aggravation of Vayu, Pitta and Kapha as a result of unwholesome food and drinks. Haritaki is a rasayana to Vata, increasing awareness, and has a nourishing, restorative effect on the central nervous system.Haritaki improves digestion, promotes the absorption of nutrients, and regulates colon function.

Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Achyranthes
Species: A. aspera
Achyranthes aspera (Common name: Prickly Chaff Flower, Devil’s Horsewhip, Sanskrit Apamarga) is a species of plant in the Amaranthaceae family. It is distributed throughout the tropical world.It can be found in many places growing as an introduced species and a common weed.It is an invasive species in some areas, including many Pacific Islands environments.
It is one of the 21 leaves used in the Ganesh Patra Pooja done regularly on Ganesh Chaturthi day. In Uttar Pradesh the plant is used for a great many medicinal purposes, especially in obstetrics and gynecology, including abortion, induction of labor, and cessation of postpartum bleeding.The Maasai people of Kenya use the plant medicinally to ease the symptoms of malaria.
Achyranthes aspera contains triterpenoid saponins which possess oleanolic acid as the aglycone. Ecdysterone, an insect moulting hormone, and long chain alcohols are also found in Achyranthes aspera.
Prickly Chaff-flower is an erect or prostrate, annual or perennial herb, often with a woody base, which grows as wasteland herb every where. Since time immemorial, it is in use as folk medicine. It holds a reputed position as medicinal herb in different systems of medicine in India. Stems 0.4-2 m, pilose or puberulent. Leaf blades elliptic, ovate, or broadly ovate to orbiculate, obovate-orbiculate, or broadly rhombate, 1-20 × 2-6 cm, adpressed-pubescent abaxially and adaxially. Inflorescences to 30 cm; bracts membranous; bracteoles long-aristate, spinose; wings attached at sides and base. Flowers: tepals 4 or 5, length 3-7 mm; pseudostaminodes with margins fimbriate at apex, often with dorsal scale. According to the Black Yajurveda, Indra, having killed Vritra and other demons was overcome by Namuchi and made peace with him, promising never to kill him with any solid or liquid, neither by day or by night. But Indra collected some foam, which is neither solid nor liquid, and killed Namuchi in the morning between night and daybreak. From the head of the demon sprung the herb Apamarga, with the assistance of which Indra was able to kill all demons. Hence this plant has the reputation of being a powerful talisman, and is now popularly supposed to act as a safeguard against scorpions and snakes by paralysing them.
Medicinal uses
Different parts of the plant are ingredients in many native prescriptions in combination with more active remedies. In Western India the juice is applied to relieve toothache. The ashes with honey are given to relieve cough; the root in dosed of one tola is given at bedtime for night blindness, and rubbed into a paste with water it is used as an anjan (eye salve) in opacities of the cornea. The seeds are often used as a famine food in India, especially in Rajputana, where the plant is called Bharotha (grass).

Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Zingiberaceae
Subfamily: Zingiberoideae
Tribe: Kaempferia
Genus: Kaempferia
Species: K. galanga
Kaempferia galanga, commonly known as kencur, aromatic ginger, sand ginger, cutcherry or resurrection lily, is a monocotyledonous plant in the ginger family. It is found primarily in open areas in southern China, Taiwan, Cambodia and India, but is also widely cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. The plant is used as a herb in cooking in Indonesia, where it is called kencur, and especially in Javanese and Balinese cuisines. Its leaves are used in the Malay rice dish, nasi ulam. Unlike Boesenbergia pandurata (grachai or Chinese key), K. galanga is not commonly used in Thai cuisine, but can be bought as a dried rhizome or in powder form at herbal medicine stalls. It is known in Thai as proh horm or waan horm. It is also used in Chinese cooking and Chinese medicine, and is sold in Chinese groceries under the name sha jiang, while the plant itself is referred to as shan nai Kaempferia galanga has a peppery camphorous taste. It is one of four plants known as galangal, and is differentiated from the others by the absence of stem and dark brown, rounded rhizomes, while the other varieties all have stems and pale rosebrown rhizomes.Lesser galangal properly refers to Alpinia officinarum. In common usage, however, it is also erroneously applied to Kaempferia galanga. K. galanga is also erroneously called zedoary.
The rhizomes of aromatic ginger have been reported to include cineol, borneol, 3-carene, camphene, kaempferol, kaempferide, cinnamaldehyde, p-methoxycinnamic acid, ethyl cinnamate and ethyl p-methoxycinnamate. Extracts of the plant using methanol have shown larvicidal activity against the second stage larvae of dog roundworms (Toxocara canis). It was also found to be effective as an amebicide in vitro against three species of Acanthamoeba, which cause granulomatous amebic encephalitis and amebic keratitis. In 1999, the rhizome extract was found to inhibit activity of Epstein-Barr virus. Further research has demonstrated the extract effectively kills larvae of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus and repels adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, both of which are serious disease vectors. As a result of these findings, research is underway to evaluate the plant extract’s use as an insect repellent, with preliminary findings suggesting that it is not an irritant to the skin of rats.
The rhizomes of the plant, which contains essential oils, have been used in Chinese medicine as a decoction or powder for treating indigestion, colds, pectoral and abdominal pains, headache and toothache. Its alcoholic maceration has also been applied as liniment for rheumatism.Some reports indicate that aside of its use as a medicinal plant against rheumatism and other inflammatory diseases (similar to ginger), and as a flavoring for rice dishes, the decoctions and the sap of the leaves have hallucinogenic properties, which is most likely due to yet unidentified components of the plant’s essential oil fraction.
A purified extract of Kaempferia galanga and polyester-8 stabilize the UV absorptive properties of sunscreen combinations containing avobenzone.
It has been reported recently that the rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga contains chemicals that are potent insecticides and may have potential in mosquito control.A similar finding was also revealed previously for Zingiber cassumunar and Kaempferia rotunda.
K. galanga possesses antioxidant antiinflammatory and analgesic activities.
Kaempferia galanga, yielded an anti-TB molecule, ethyl p-methoxycinnamat a potential anti-TB lead molecule.
Kaempferia galanga cantains up to 2.5% of ethyl p-methoxycinnamate.In an anticancer assay, it was found that ethyl p-methoxycinnamate could inhibit the proliferation of the human hepatocellular liver carcinoma HepG2 cell line.
Two major aromatic compounds found in Kaempferia galanga(compound 1: ethyl trans-p-methoxycinnamate and compound 2: ethyl cinnamate )had sedative effects on mice when inhaled.