Botanical Name
Vigna cylindrica (L.) Skeels
Family
Fabaceae / Leguminoceae.
Synonyms
Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. , Vigna unguiculata subsp. cylindrica (L.) Verdc.
Regional Name
English : Blackeyed Bean, Cowpea, Blackeyed Pea, Hindi : Chola, Lobiya, Soonth, Sanskrit : Mahamasah, Rajamasah, Kannada : Alasabde, Alasande, Alasandi, Alasandige, Alasundi, Kursandi, Marathi : Alasunda, Chavali, Telugu : Alasandalu, Kaaraamanulu, Bengali: Ghangra, Tamil : Karamani, Thattapayir.
Part Used
Seeds
Discription
An annual or perennial herbaceous vine, native to Africa and Asia. It is found in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean (Barbados, Leeward and Windward Islands), China. It is varying in habit from erect and bushy to prostrate and scrambling. It produces glabrous, green stems from 15 - 80cm long and up to 5mm across. Leaves are arranged alternately, compound with 3 ovate leaflets; petioles up to 10cm long without pubescence, thickened at the base. The stipules (0.6-1.5cm) are lanceolate, peltate, and narrow at the attachment point.
Phytoconstituents
It contains proteins, fatty acids and minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc and iron.
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa : Kasaya, Guna : Guru, Ruksa, Virya : Sita, Vipaka : Katu, Karma : Varnya.
Ayurvedic Applications
Pachana, Depana Medhya, Antrasula, Pilahayakritroga, Jwara, Apasmara.
Medicinal Uses
It is used for treat neuritis, insomnia, weakness of memory, indigestion, dyspepsia, dysmenorrhea, periodic palpitation, congestive cardiac failure etc. It is also used for stomatitis, corneal ulcers, coleic diseases, kwasiorkar and marasmus. Parasitic Infections, Dropsy, Swellings, Oedema, Gout, paralysis, rheumatism, Stomach ailments, epilepsy, Pains, fevers and liver ailments. headaches, constipation, chest pains and bilharzia.