Linn.Family: Scrophulariaceae.
Habitat: Indigenous to tropical America; introduced into India, commonly found as a weed in Bengal and Tamil Nadu, and in many parts of India.
English: Sweet Broomweed.Folk: Jastimadhu, Madhukam, Ghodaa-tulasi.Action: Plant—decoction is used for gravel and other renal affections. Leaves—infusion used in fever, cough and bronchitis. Root— febrifuge. Stem and leaves—used in anemia, albuminaria, ketonuria and other complications associated with diabetes mellitus.
An antidiabetic compound, amellin, occurs in the leaves and stems of the green plant.According to some researchers, hy- poglycaemic compounds were not present in the extracts obtained from dry plant material.The leaves contain the flavonoids, scutellarein and 7-O-methylscutella rein. Whole plant gave the triterpe- noids, dulcitol, friedelin, scopadol, be- tulinic acid, dulcitolic acid and dulci- olone. Benzoxazolinone, beta-sitoster- ol, D-mannitol, hexacosanol and tri- triacontane were also obtained from the plant.