Description

A stout annual herb to 1.5 m high or more, quadrangular stem, leaves whorled with strong spines, of wet places, often brackish, littoral, estuarine, commonly from Senegal to W Cameroons and widespread in the Old World topics.The plant is used by the Pedi of southern Africa as a vegetable (17). It is grazed by cattle in Senegal (1), and a little by goats in Sudan (13), but its pungent spines limit its value, and in parts of Malawi it is considered a serious weed of pasture (16). The whole plant is recognized in Senegal to have diuretic properties, and the roots in particular are used for blennorrhoea, hydropsy and anuria (8). The whole plant, or its ashes, and the roots are similarly used in Sudan as a cooling medicine and diuretic in cases of hepatic obstruction, dropsy, rheumatism, etc., and the seeds as a demulcent and diuretic (2). H. salicifolia Nees in India is official as a diuretic made effective by the presence of a large amount of mucilage with potassium salts in it (8, 12, 14). A vegetable salt is commonly prepared from the ashes of H. auriculata and in parts of Ubangui (3, 15); in Sudan (11) it is specially grown for the purpose. The plant is also used in Senegal for catarrh (7) and with another plant identified only as kisâdor (Banyun) to induce menstruation, particularly in young mothers on weaning a baby (6, 8). A remarkable treatment with good result of a sting-ray’s sting on the sole of the foot by a decoction of the plant by alternation of bathing and steam fumigation is recorded (7, 8). In Ghana people with fever are bathed in water in which leaves have been boiled (4, 5). The plant is used in Lagos for stomachache (iku) (9) and elsewhere (3). Leaves, stems and flowers are burnt over a naked flame in Kenya and the ash is taken in tea for stomachache (10). The plant is occasionally used in N Nigeria for craw-craw (3).A number of alkaloids is recorded present in Indian plant material, also mineral salts, fixed oil and mucilage. The seeds contain a semi-drying oil, sugars and enzymes. The essential oil from the roots has been found to possess bacteristatic action against both Gram +ve and Gram –ve organisms. (8, 17).

Description

A stout annual herb to 1.5 m high or more, quadrangular stem, leaves whorled with strong spines, of wet places, often brackish, littoral, estuarine, commonly from Senegal to W Cameroons and widespread in the Old World topics.The plant is used by the Pedi of southern Africa as a vegetable (17). It is grazed by cattle in Senegal (1), and a little by goats in Sudan (13), but its pungent spines limit its value, and in parts of Malawi it is considered a serious weed of pasture (16). The whole plant is recognized in Senegal to have diuretic properties, and the roots in particular are used for blennorrhoea, hydropsy and anuria (8). The whole plant, or its ashes, and the roots are similarly used in Sudan as a cooling medicine and diuretic in cases of hepatic obstruction, dropsy, rheumatism, etc., and the seeds as a demulcent and diuretic (2). H. salicifolia Nees in India is official as a diuretic made effective by the presence of a large amount of mucilage with potassium salts in it (8, 12, 14). A vegetable salt is commonly prepared from the ashes of H. auriculata and in parts of Ubangui (3, 15); in Sudan (11) it is specially grown for the purpose. The plant is also used in Senegal for catarrh (7) and with another plant identified only as kisâdor (Banyun) to induce menstruation, particularly in young mothers on weaning a baby (6, 8). A remarkable treatment with good result of a sting-ray’s sting on the sole of the foot by a decoction of the plant by alternation of bathing and steam fumigation is recorded (7, 8). In Ghana people with fever are bathed in water in which leaves have been boiled (4, 5). The plant is used in Lagos for stomachache (iku) (9) and elsewhere (3). Leaves, stems and flowers are burnt over a naked flame in Kenya and the ash is taken in tea for stomachache (10). The plant is occasionally used in N Nigeria for craw-craw (3).A number of alkaloids is recorded present in Indian plant material, also mineral salts, fixed oil and mucilage. The seeds contain a semi-drying oil, sugars and enzymes. The essential oil from the roots has been found to possess bacteristatic action against both Gram +ve and Gram –ve organisms. (8, 17).