Botanical Name
Adiantum lunulatum Burm.fFamily
Polypodiaceae.Synonyms
Adiantum arcuatum Sw., Adiantum lunatum Cav., Adiantum philippense L., Adiantum philippense var. lobatum C. Chr., Pteris lunulata Retz.Regional Name
English : Maiden Hair, Hindi : Hanspadee, Hansaraj, Sanskrit : Hamsapadi, Raktapadi, Kitamata, Tripadika, Assamese : Sharul Arj, Sharujeena, Parsiyav, Bengali : Kali Jhat, Gujrati : Hansaraja, Kannada : Hamsapadi, Marathi : Hamsaraj, Punjabi : Hamsaraj, Telgu : Hamsapadi.Part Used
Whole Plant.Description
Hansraj is found in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. Hansraj is a fern found throughout moist places, generally on the slopes of hills, ascending up to an elevation of about 1370 m. Root are very thin, fibrous, about 10-15 cm long, reddish-black in colour, soft and branched. Rhizome are long, upto 2 mm thick, glabrous, prostrate or erect, dark reddish-brown or a black in colour.Phytoconstituents
It contains higher carotenoids and chlorophyll-degradation products.Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya, Guna : Guru, Vipaka : Katu, Virya : Sita, Karma : Visaghna, Raktavikarahrta.Ayurvedic Applications
Visarpa, Vrana, Daha, Atisara, Luta Visa, Bhuta Graha, Kaksa Sphota, Rakta Vikara.Medicinal Uses
It is used in fever, cough, asthma, bronchitis dysentery, epilepsy, leprosy, ulcers, and erysipelas. It is also used in treatment of paralysis, blood diseases, epileptic fits, rabies, dysentery, elephantiasis, pimples, and wounds.Formulations