Botanical Name

Cyperus scariosus R.Br.

Family

Cyperaceae.

Regional Name

English : Umbrella Sedge, Nutgrass, Hindi :  Nagarmotha, Sanskrit : Bhadramusta, Chakranksha, Charukesara, Kachharuha, Nagarmusta, Urdu : Nagar motha, Nagaramotha, Nagarmontha, Nagarmotha, Nagarmotha, Kannada : Konnarigadda, Nagarmusthe, Malayalam : Korakizhanna, Marathi : Lawala, Tamil : Koraikkilangu, Nakamuttakkacu, Telugu :  Kolathungamste, Kolatungamuste, Thungagaddaaveru.

Part Used

Root & Rhizome.

Description

It is globally distributed in Madagascar, Indo-Malesia and Australia. Within India, it has been recorded in the damp places in West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and East and southern parts of India. It is one of the most invasive weeds known, having spread out to a world-wide distribution in tropical and temperate regions. In India, it is common in open, disturbed habitats to an elevation of about 1800 m. It is a perennial slender herb, stem at base nodosely thickened and suddenly constricted into a wiry rhizome, sub solitary, triquetrous at top. Leaves long, often over lapping stem. Flowers borne in compound umbel, spikes loosely spicate of 3-8 spixelets. Seeds in the form of trigonous nuts.

Phytoconstituents

It contains essential oils, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, mono and sesquiterpenes, hydrocarbons14, steroids, saponin, ketones15,1,8-cineole, 4α,5α-oxidoeudesm-11-en-3-α-ol, alkaloids, α-cyperone, cyperene, α -copaene  and  caryophyllene oxide. It also contains α-cyperone, α-rotunol, beta-cyperone, beta-pinene, beta-rotunol, beta-selinene, camphene, cyperenone, cyperol, cyperolone, retundene, rotundenol, Gamma-cymene, isocyperol, isokobusone, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, mustakone, myristic acid, oleic acid, P-cymol, polyphenols, sitosterol, patchoulenone, sugenol, kobusone and isokobusone.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya, Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Virya : Sita, Vipaka : Katu, Karma : Sothahara, Dipana, Grahi, Krmighna, Pacana, Visaghna, Pittakaphahara, Sthoulyahara, Trsnanigrahana,Tvakadosahara, Jvaraghna.

Ayurvedic Applications

Agnimandya, Ajerna, Trsna, Jvara, Sangrahani, Svasa, Kasa, Mutrakrcchra, Vamana, Atisara, Amavata, Krimiroga.

Medicinal Uses

It is used for the treatment of fever, inflammation, pain, nausea, digestive system disorders, diarrhea, indigestion, chronic dysentery, dysmenorrhea and other maladies. It is also used as muscle relaxation and many other disorders. It used for kills intestinal worms, binds stool, controls nausea, treats dysurea, irritation of the bowel and soothes upset stomach. It is also used for reducing respiratory congestion, cough, bronco-pulmonary congestion, bronchitis, loosening the mucus and phlegm deposits and comforts the digestive system. relieves menstrual pain and discomfort, reduces rheumatic pain and treats inflammation and anorexia.