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Phyllanthus niruri is an annual, herb; height varies between 30–60
cm. Stem is angular with numerous distichous, elliptic-oblong
leaves. Flowers are yellow and very numerous; monoecious with 1–3
staminate flowers and solitary pistillate flower borne axillary.
Fruits capsule, very small, globose, smooth, seeds 3-gonous,
longitudinally ribbed on the back. Seed to seed cycle occurs in two
or four weeks.
Medical use:Its root, leaves, fruits, milky juice, and whole plants
are used as medicine. It is considered acrid, cooling , alexipharmic
and useful in thirst, bronchitis, leprosy, anemia, urinary
discharge, anuria, biliousness, asthma, for hiccups, and as a
diuretic.Herb is stomachic and good for sores and useful in chronic
dysentery. Fruits useful for tubercular ulcers, wounds, sores,
scabies and ring worm. The fresh root is believed to be an excellent
remedy for jaundice. A poultice of the leaves with salt cures scabby
affection and without salt applied on bruise and wounds. The milky
juice is a good application to offensive sores. The bark yields a
bitter principle phyllanthin. The infusion of the root and leaves is
a good tonic and diuretic when taken cold in repeated doses. In many
parts of India, it is commonly used for the treatment of snake bite. |
