Botanical name : Gomphrena globosa Linn
Family : Amaranthaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Raktamallika
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Tikta
Guna : Lakhu.
Virya : Seeta.
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Bachelor’s button, stanfaste, globe amaranth, gomphrena
Hindi : Raktmalli
Malayalam : Chendumalli.
Distribution – Throughout India, cultivated in gardens.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A small tropical annual, growing up to a height of 30 centimeters. Leaves simple, opposite, oblong and acute Flowers are in terminal heads, either in purple, white or pink, flower head, consist of small inconspiciuos individual flowers, however the bracts are colorful. Seeds are small round and dark colored.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, cough, bronchitis, diarrhea, bacterial infections, malarial fever, urinary retention, wound, ulcer, diabetes, jaundice and hypercholestremia.
Useful part : Whole plant.
CHEMICAL CONTENTS
The plant has given positive tests for triterpenoids, and negative for alkaloids, bitters, volatile oils, hydrogencyanide and saponin
Photo : Dr. Eby Abraham MD