Salvinia cucullata Health Dictionary

Roxb.

Family: Salviniaceae; Azollaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India in shallow, freshwater lakes, ponds, ditches.

Ayurvedic: Aakhukarni (Kerala). (Suggested by Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth.)

Action: Root—digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, anthelmintic. Used for epistasis, fever and colic. Also for dysuria, polyuria and skin diseases.

In Kerala, Merremia emarginata (Convolvulaceae) or Hemionitis arifo- lia (Cheilanthaceae) are used as Aakhu- karni.

Salvinia is an aquatic fern, rich in protein, minerals, chlorophyll and carotenoids. Its extract exhibited strong antifungal activity against Fusa- rium nivale.