Botanical name : Corchorus capsularis Linn.
Family : Tiliaceae.
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Chunchu, Chinchaa, Kalasaaka.
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya
Guna : Lakhu.
Virya : Seeta
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : White jute
Hindi : Jute
Malayalam : Chanam.
Distribution – Throughout the warmer parts of India, cultivated.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A small weed grows up to 1 meter in height. Leaves are simple alternate, serrate or dentate, ovate, acute or obtuse. Flowers small yellowish, and axillary. Fruits are small elongated pods.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, pitta, inflammation, burning sensation, gastric problems, cough, asthma urinary retention, kidney disease, and constipation.
Useful part : Whole plant.
CHEMICAL CONTENTS.
Seeds contain cardiac glycosides. These include two monosides, helveticoside helveticoside and corchoroside A and two polar glycosides, erysimoside and olitoriside. Leaves contain beta-sitosterolglucoside. Corchoroside A exhibited cardiotonic properties. The aqueous / alcoholic extracts, containing polysaccharides, may be used in preparations of skin cosmetics or hair preparations for their moisturizing effect.