Botanical Name
Althaea officinalis L.
Family
Malvaceae.
Synonyms
Althaea kragujevacensis Pancic, Althaea kragujevacensis Pancic ex Diklic & Stevan., Althaea micrantha Borbas, Althaea multiflora Rchb. ex Regel, Althaea sublobata Stokes, Althaea taurinensis DC., Althaea vulgaris Bubani, Malva althaea E.H.L. Krause, Malva maritima Salisb.
Regional Name
English : Marsh Mallow, Hindi : Khatmi bija, Sanskrit : Khatmi, Marathi : Khatmi, Tamil : Khatmi, Telugu : Khatmi, Urdu : Bajrul Khitmi, Khatmee, Tukhma-e-Khatmee.
Part Used
Seed.
Description
Khatmi is a perennial, uniformly downy herb occurring in Kashmir region. The seeds are small to moderate size, approximately 6 mm, usually brownish black, reniform, rugose, hairy at margins; become mucilagenous when soaked in water.
Phytoconstituents
Glucose, sucrose, galactose & mannose, linoleic acid; isobutylalcohol, limonene, phellandrene, γ- toluerldehyde, citral, terpeneol, β- sitosterol.
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa : Madhura, Guna : Guru, Picchila, Snigdha, Virya : Sita, Vipaka : Madhura, Karma : Mutrala, Pittahara, Vatahara, Vedanasth¡pana, Slesma Kala Snehakara, Slesma Saraka.
Ayurvedic Applications
Kasa, Mutrakrcchra, Pratisyaya, Mutradaha, Kantharoga.
Medicinal Uses
It is useful in pain and inflammation in the respiratory tract. They are also used for dry cough, bronchial asthma, bronchial catarrh and pleurisy, inflammation of the lining of the stomach, diarrhoea, stomach ulcers, constipation, urinary tract inflammation, and stones in the urinary tract. It is also used in stomach acid, peptic ulceration, gastritis, colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.