Botanical Name

Alhagi maurorum Medik

Family

Fabaceae / Leguminosae.

Synonyms

Alhagi pseudalhagi (M.Bieb.) Fisch., Alhagi camelorum DC., Alhagi camelorum Fisch. , Alhagi persarum Boiss. & Buhse., Hedysarum alhagi L.

Regional Name

English : Persian Manna Plant, Hindi :Javasa, Sanskrit :Yavasa, Yasa, Yavasaka, Assamese :Bhatuashak, Gujrati :Javaso, Kannada :Turuchanagida, Javasa, Neladangara, ballidurabi, Duralabha, Malayalam :Venkatithura, ValiyaKotithuva, Marathi :Dhamasa, Tamil :Punaikanjuri, Kanchori, Telugu :Chinnadoolagondi, Dhanvayasamu, Urdu :Turanjabeen.

Part Used

Whole Plant.

Description

It is a small thorny shrub, mostly distributed from Mediterranean and Sahara to central Asia. In India it is grown in Himalayas, Ganges valley, Kashmir, Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan , Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. It is well developed, 20-30 cm long and 0.2-1 cm thick; gradually tapering, secondary and tertiary root absent; dark brown; fracture, short.

Phytoconstituents

It contains Sugars (Melizitose, Sucrose, Invert Sugars). It  also contains the B - Phenethylamine, N - Methyl - B - Phenethylamine, N - Methyl tyramine, Hordmine, 3,4 - Dihydroxy - B - phenethyl - trimethyl ammonium hydrozide., 3 methoxy - 4 - hydrozyl - B Phenethyltrimethyl ammonium hydroxide, N - methyl mescaline, Salsolidine and have small quantity of choline &Betaline.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya, Guna: Laghu, Sara, Virya : Sita, Vipaka :Madhura, Karma : Balakrt, Dipana, Kaphahara, Pittahara.

Ayurvedic Applications

Chardi, Jvara, Kasa, Raktapitta, Trsna, Vatarakta, Visarpa.

Medicinal Uses

It is used as a gastroprotective, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, used in asthma and respiratory conditions, as laxative. It is also used in diarrhoea, skin diseases, rheumatism, useful in gout, haemorrhoids, relieves excessive thirst, glandular tumors, nasal polyps, and ailments related to the bile ducts.