Dactyloctenium aegyptium Health Dictionary

Beauv.

Synonym: Eleusine aegyptiaca Desf.

Family: Gramineae, Poaceae.

Habitat: Common throughout the plains of India (a very variable grass).

Ayurvedic: Takraa, Takraahvaa, Panchaanguli, Nrityakaundaka. (Classical synonyms.) (Takra is the classical name of buttermilk.)

Folk: Makaraa, Makari (Bihar, Orissa), Timidaa (Tamil Nadu)

Action: Astringent, bitter tonic, anthelmintic. Used for polyurea; externally for wounds and ulcers.

The grass growing is New South Wales is reported to contain cyano- genetic glycosides.

In Indian medicine, the grass is used for imparting medicinial properties of Takra (buttermilk) in intestinal, biliary and urinary diseases.

Ayurvedic: Raktaniryaas, Khoon- kharaabaa, Heeraadokhi.

Unani: Damm-ul-Akhwain.

Action: Astringent. Used for diarrhoea, dysentery. Also used against malignant tumours.

The resin contains red tannin derivatives—drocoresinotannols, dracoresen and flavone quinones.

Dosage: Resin—1-3 g. (CCRAS.)