(Linn.) Beauv.Family: Gramineae; Poaceae.
Habitat: Cultivated in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
English: Italian Millet, Fox-tail Millet.Ayurvedic: Kangu, Kanguni, Kangunikaa, Priyangu Dhaanya (Millet). (Priyangu, aromatic flower buds or seed kernels, is a different drug. Callicarpa macrophylla and Prunus mahaleb are equated with Priyangu.)Action: Plant—used as a sedative to the gravid uterus. Grain—used for alleviating pain after parturition. Applied externally in rheumatism.
(The grain is reported injurious to horses. Overfeeding affects kidneys and causes swelling and inflammation of joints.)Analysis of a dehusked sample (79% of whole grain) gave following values: protein 12.3, fat 4.3, minerals 3.3, crude fibre 8.0, and other carbohydrates 60.9%. The principal protein of the millet is prolamin (48%), albumin and globulin together form 1314% of the total protein, and glutelin 37%. The oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, present in the grain, during the cold winter months is reported to yield toxic substances.
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