Pedalium murex Health Dictionary

Linn.

Family: Pedaliaceae.

Habitat: Throughout the plains of India.

English: Caltrops (bigger var.).

Ayurvedic: Brihatgokshura, Kshouraka, Trikantaka, Gokantaka, Swaadukantaka, Bhakshantaka.

Unani: Khaar-e-khasak Kalaan, Gokharu Kalaan.

Siddha/Tamil: Peru-neranji, Annai- neringi.

Action: Fruit—used for spermatorrhoea, nocturnal emissions, menstrual irregularities, puerperal diseases, genitourinary disorders, difficult micturition, chronic cystitis, renal calculus. Root— antibilious.

The stem and fruits contain flavo- noids pedalitin and its glucoside (ped- aliin), diometin, dinatin and its derivatives. The fruits contain nonaco- sane, tritriacontane, triacontanoic acid, sitosterol-beta-D-glucoside, rubusic acid, luteolin as major constituents. Leaves and fruits yield phenolic acids which include caffeic, protocatechuic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids. Flowers gave dinatin, quercetin and quercetin- 7-glucoside.

Aqueous extract of the fruit is reported to produce in vitro inhibitory effect on crystallization in urinary lithi- asis. The solubility of uric acid in aqueous extract is reported to be 45% more than in water alone.

The plant extracts exhibit diuretic activity.

Dosage: Fruit, root—3-5 g powder; 50-100 ml. decoction. (CCRAS.)