aglycones (30 cardiac glycosides have been isolated); oil contains cherinine, a glucoside of the digitalis group.
In Unani medicine, the drug is used as a tonic to the male reproductive system, but recent findings do not validate its therapeutic use. The flavonoid, kaempferol, isolated from the young plant, inhibits spermatogenesis and alters leydig cell number and diameter, affecting the fertility.
Chenopodium album Linn. Family Chenopodiaceae.
Habitat A common herb. Its
leaves and tender twigs are used as vegetable and fodder.
English Fat Hen, Lamb’s Quarter, White Goosefoot, Wild Spinach, Pigweed.
Ayurvedic Vaastuuka.
Unani Bathuaa, Baathu.
Folk Bathuaa, Chilli, Chiili-shaak.
Action Laxative, anthelmintic against round-and hookworms, blood-purifier, antiscorbutic.
An infusion is used for hepatic disorders, spleen enlargement, biliousness, intestinal ulcers. Used for treating burns.
The leaves yield ascaridole, used for treating round-and hookworms. The oil also contain traces of ascaridole. Plant contains 8% saponins. Cryptomeridiol, isolated from the seeds, showed significant growth promoting activity.
Chenopodium ambrosioides
Linn.
Family Chenopodiaceae.
Habitat Native to West Indies and South America. Now distributed in South India, Bengal, Kashmir and Maharashtra in wet places with cultivated lands.
English Indian Wormseed, Sweet Pigweed, Mexican Tea.
Ayurvedic Sugandh-vaastuuka, Kshetra-vaastuuka.
Siddha/Tamil Kattasambadam. Folk Khatuaa.
Action Antispasmodic, pectoral, haemostatic, emmenagogue.
Employed in treating nervous affections, particularly chorea.
Dried herb—anthelmintic against
round and hookworms.
Siddha/Tamil Paruppukeerai.
142 Chenopodium botrys Linn.
