Linn.Family: Amaranthaceae.
Habitat: A common weed, occurring throughout India.
English: Wild Cock's Comb.Ayurvedic: Shitivaaraka, Vitunna.Siddha/Tamil: Pannaikeerai.Folk: Shveta-murga, Sarvari, Sarvali, Surali.Action: Flowers—used in menor- rhagia, blood-dysentery. Seeds— antidiarrhoeal, also used in stomatitis. Whole plant—antibacterial, antiscorbutic and cooling.
Tender leaves are rich in potassium and in B1 and B6. An alcoholic extract of the leaves and its flavonoids showed antibacterial activity, which was comparable to ampicillin and streptomycin.The seeds contain 11.6-17% of protein and 6.4-10.9% of a fatty oil. The seeds and roots yield triterpenoid sapo- nins. An alcoholic extract of the seeds possess significant diuretic activity.
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