Action Pods and roots—used against ringworm.
Uraria crinita Desv.
Family Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.
Habitat Throughout Himalayas, up to an altitude of 2,700 m and in Khasi, Aka and Lushai hills.
Ayurvedic Prishniparni (related sp.).
Action Prescribed in dysentery, diarrhoea; enlarged spleen and liver; also for the treatment of pustules, tumours and fistula.
Uraria lagopoides DC.
Synonym U lagopodioides Desv. Family Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.
Habitat Grasslands of Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal and Palni Hills.
Ayurvedic Prishniparni. (Prishniparni and Shaaliparni are used together in Indian medicine. Both have been equated with Uraria sp., U lagopoides and U picta.
Siddha Moovilai.
Action Whole plant—anticatarrhal and alterative. Root—used in
prescriptions for intermittent fevers, pulmonary inflammation and as
a recuperating tonic. Leaves— prescribed in diarrhoea.
Flavonoids, including 5-hydroxy-7, 4’-dimethoxy flavonol, have been isolated from the plant.
The plant is mentioned as an abortifacient in ancient Ayurvedic texts. Hot aqueous extract of the shoots showed oxytocic activity on both gravid and non-gravid uteri of experimental animals. The aqueous extract of the plant shows anti-implantation activity on rats and spasmogenic effect on the guts of rabbits and uteri of rats.
Uraria picta Desv.
Synonym Hedysarum pictum Jacq.
Family Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.
Habitat Throughout India, in dry grasslands.
Ayurvedic Prishniparni, Prithakparni, Simhapushpi, Kalashi,
Dhaavani, Guhaa, Chitraparni.
Urginea indica (Roxb.) Kunth. 685
Siddha/Tamil Oripai.
Action Root—prescribed for cough, chills and fevers. Leaves—antiseptic, used for urinary discharges and
genitourinary infections.
