Habitat: Distributed throughout India. Common in waste places and road side.
English: Ash coloured Fleabane, Purple Fleabane.Ayurvedic: Sahadevi, Uttamkanya- ka, Dandotpalaa.Siddha/Tamil: Naichotte Poonde.Action: Plant—febrifuge, diaphoretic (infusion of herb, combined with quinine, is used against malaria). Used as a specific herb for leucor- rhoea, dysuria, spasm of bladder, strangury and for haematological disorders, as a blood purifier and styptic. Also used in asthma. Seeds—anthelmintic, antiflatulent, antispasmodic; used in dysuria, leucoderma, psoriasis and other skin diseases. Roots—anthelmintic; decoction used for colic.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the plant in inter mittent fever, filariasis, pityriasis versi- colour (tinea versicolor), blisters, boils, vaginal discharges and in cases of psy- choneurosis.Aerial parts gave luteolin-7-mono- beta-D-glucopyranoside. Whole plant gave triterpene compounds—beta- amyrin acetate, lupeol acetate, beta- amyrin and lupeol; sterols—beta-sito- sterol, stigmasterol and alpha-spinaste- rol; phenolic resin and potassium chloride.Dosage: Whole plant—10-20 ml juice; 5-10 g powder for external use. (API, Vol. III.)