Hygrophila auriculata (Sanskrit: gokaṇṭa, Bangla (বাংলা নাম): kulekhara (কুলেখাড়া)[2] kokilākṣa)[3][4] is a herbaceous, medicinal plant in the acanthus family that grows in marshy places and is native to tropical Asia and Africa.[5][6] In India it is commonly known as kokilaksha or gokulakanta, in Sri Lanka as neeramulli. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu it is called vayalchulli (വയൽച്ചുളളി) and Neermulli (நீர்முள்ளி) respectively, and in the Telugu states, it is known as Godugu-gaddi (గొడుగుగడ్డి) or Gruddi-kamanchi (గ్రుడ్డికామంచి).[7]
| Hygrophila auriculata | |
|---|---|
_in_Narshapur,_AP_W3_IMG_0926.jpg)
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Acanthaceae |
| Genus: | Hygrophila |
| Species: | H. auriculata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hygrophila auriculata | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
List
| |
Introduction - hygrophila or marsh barbel (English) It is commonly called in Tamil nirmuli. An annual herbal plant growing up to 60 cm in height. The stem of the plant is tetragonal, hairy and stiff at the nodes. The bark is dark brown, although the leaves are elliptic-lanceolate and herpid. The flowers are purple and to a lesser extent violet blue. The fruit resembles a four-sided shape, linear, glabrous and about 1 cm long with seeds that are hairy and brown in color.
Medicinal usage in Ayurveda
editIn ayurveda, its seeds, roots and panchanga (pancha = five and anga = parts, i.e. root, flowers, stem, fruits and leaves as ash burnt together) are used as a medication.[8][9] It has hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity and can reduce toxic accumulation from certain therapies.
References
edit- ^ "Hygrophila auriculata (Schumach.) Heine". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary s.v. gokaṇṭa at http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/monier/
- ^ "Sanskrit names". 1890.
- ^ amarakosh (1907). "section - forest medicinal plants".
- ^ Hygrophila auriculata in Flora of Pakistan, at Efloras.org at http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=242422930
- ^ Gupta, A.K. (2018). "Hygrophila auriculata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T168863A120119714. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T168863A120119714.en. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Andhra Bharati, ఆంధ్రభారతి - నిఘంటుశోధన = గ్రుడ్డికామంచి".
- ^ Medicinal Plants by Dr. M. Daniel
- ^ सुश्रुत संहिता (sushrut samhita ) An English translation of the Sushruta samhita, based on original Sanskrit text. Edited and published by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna. With a full and comprehensive introd., translation of different readings, notes, comparative views, index, glossary and plates (1907) [1]
- J.S. Gamble, 1921. Flora of the Presidency of Madras Vol.2
External links
edit
 | This Acanthaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |