The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends a decoction of whole plant in alcoholism, insanity, psychosis; cough, bronchitis, dyspnoea; diseases due to vitiated blood; gout; bleeding piles; blood dysentery, acute diarrhoea.
The plant is credited with fracture- healing properties. Its total extract exhibits better and quicker healing of fractures in experimental animals due to early accumulation of phosphorus and more deposition of calcium.
Dosage Whole plant—20—50 g powder for decoction. (API, Vol. IV.)
Urena lobata Linn. Mast.
Family Malvaceae.
Habitat Throughout warmer parts of India, frequent in West Bengal.
Ayurvedic Naagabalaa (Grewia hirsuta and Sida veronicaefolia are also equated with Naagabalaa). Used as Balaa in Kerala.
Siddha/Tamil Ottatti.
Action Root—diuretic, emollient, antispasmodic (roots and stem used in severe windy colic), antirheumatic. Flowers—used as a pectoral and expectorant in dry and inveterate coughs. An infusion is used as a gargle for aphthae amd sore throat.
The aerial parts gave magniferin and quercetin. ALkanes, stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol are reported from the whole plant. The seeds contain protein, pentosan and mucilage.
Urena lobata Linn. var. sinuata King. Synonym U sin uata Linn.
Family Malvaceae.
Habitat Throughout the warmer parts of India.
Ayurvedic Used as a substitute for Balaa.
Siddha/Tamil Ottatti.
Folk Lot-loti, Kunjuyaa. Action Leaves—used in inflammation of intestines and bladder. Flowers—an infusion is used in bronchitis. Root—emollient and refrigerant. Used in external application for lumbago and rheumatism.
Urginea indica (Roxb.) Kunth.
Synonym Drimia indica Roxb. non-(Wt.) Baker.
Family Liliaceae.
Habitat Western Himalayas, Bihar, Konkan and along the Coromandel Coast. U maritima (L.) Baker is native to Mediterranean region.
English Indian Squill, Sea Onion (red and white varieties).
