Botanical Name
Baccharoides anthelmintica (L.) Moench,
Family
Asteraceae.
Synonyms
Centratherum anthelminticum (L.) Benth., Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) Gamble; Conyza anthelmintica L.
Regional Name
English : Purple Flebane, Worm Seed Fleabane, Iron weed, Hindi : Kaalijeeree, Karajiri, Soharaai, Sanskrit : Aranyajirakah, Bohatpali, Somaraji, Vanajirakah, Urdu : kalyzeery, Bengali : Somaraaj, Gujrati : Kaaleejeeree, Kadavijeeree, Kannada : Kaadujeerage, Kaarijirige, Malayalam : Krimishatru, Kattujirakam, Marathi : Kadujire, Tamil : Kaattuchirakam, Chittilai, Telugu : Adavijilakaroa, Garetikamma.
Part Used
Seeds.
Description
Kali jeeri is found throughout India at an altitude from 1700 to 2000 m. It is growing in the Himalayas range, khasi hills and often cultivated in villages. It is a small annual herb 60-100 cm in height. Stem is robust, erect, leafy with velvety branches. Alternately arranged leaves, 5-8 cm long, are obovate to lance-shaped, with base narrowing into the stalk. Flower-heads are borne at the end of branches in 10-20 cm clusters. Flowers are tubular, 5-lobed. Roundish fruits, each of which contains a very small black seed. Seeds are 4-6 cm long, 10 ribbed, oblong. The entire plant has a strong, disagreeable odour due to present of the volatile oil.
Phytoconstituents
It is contains Sterols, avenasterol, vernosterol, demanolide, centratherin, germacranolide and asbisic acid, essential oil, resins and fixed oil consisting of myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and vernolic acids.
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya, Guna : Laghu, Tiksana, Vipaka : Katu, Virya : Usna, Karma : Dipana, Kaphahara, Mutrala, Stambhana, Vatahara, Jantunasaka, Netrya.
Ayurvedic Applications
Gulma, Hikka, Jvara, Kandu, Kasa, Krmi, Kustha, Mutraghata, Raktavikara, Sula, Sopha, Svasa, Vrana, Svitrakustha.
Medicinal Uses
Kali Jeeri seeds are used in worm infestation, bloating, belching & intestinal Gas, diarrhoea, dysentery, vomiting, improves digestion strength, weight loss, pruritus, weeping eczema, leucoderma, diabetes mellitus, chronic stages of fever, skin disorders, natural aphrodisiac, improves strength and immunity, abdominal disorders, abdominal tumor, urinary tract infection, inflammatory conditions.