Dronapushpi (Leucas cephalotes) is an annual, branched, erect stout plant which grows with a height of about15-60 cm. Leaves are narrow, ovate, and Yellowish-green in color and about 3-9cm long, 1-2.5cm wide, having, pungent taste; Roots are smooth, cylindrical, zigzag, along with various wiry, fine rootlets with variable size, fracture, fibrous and taste is Stem is quadrangular with rough, hairy surface and having Light greenish-yellow color whose taste is slightly bitter. Flowers are white, small sessile, in dense axillary whorls. Fruits: Schizocarpic carcerule, nutlets 3mm smooth, brown.
Dronapushpi (Leucas cephalotes) is a famous Ayurvedic medicinal herb that grows as a weed in India and many South East Asian countries. It is cultivated in fields as a weed, especially after a period of rain. It is collected for use as a leafy vegetable in rural areas as well as for its medicinal uses. The traditional use of this herb is for treating snake bite, cough, fever scorpion stings, etc. It is also used in treating liver disorders, jaundice, asthma, cough cold etc. Therapeutically, it has Properties of antimicrobial, insecticidal, fever reducing, larvicidal and inflammation reducing herb.
Chemical composition of this herb consists of Laballenic acid, B- Sitosterol and its glycoside, oleanolic acid, 7-oxositosterol, 7-oxostigmasterol, 7alpha-hydroxy stigmasterol, stigmasterol, 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxy flavone, pillion, gonzalitosin I, Tricin, cosmosin, apigenin-7-O-beta-D-(6-O-p-coumaryl) glucopyranoside, anisofolin A and luteolin.
Related species that is known as Dronapushpi is Leucas aspera.
This herb is commonly found throughout India and China. All through India, it is especially found as a weed in cultivated lands, road sides and on waste lands at an altitude of 30-100 m high and rising up to 1,800 meters in the Himalayas. Leucas cephalotes is as well found in the plains of Bangladesh, South-East Asian countries, Mauritius, java and Philippines, China, Malaysia. It is also commonly found in Nepal, Pakistan, and in East Asia it found at an elevation of 1,700 m in Afghanistan to Western China.
Hindi / Sanskrit |
English |
||
Rasa |
Katu |
Taste |
Pungent |
Guna |
Guru, Rooksha |
Physical Property |
Heavy, Dry |
Virya |
Ushna |
Potency |
Hot |
Vipaka |
Madhura, Katu |
Metabolic Property (After Digestion) |
Sweet, Pungent |
The Bhavprakash nighantu edition of 1998 verse - 272-273, page no-463-464.
The name and properties of Guma are Drona, Dronapushpi and Phalepuspa. The Guma is heavy, dryand hot in potency. It is piercing in nature so is effective for obstructive jaundice, inflammation and bronchial asthma.
The Bhavprakash nighantu with elaborated Hindi commentary by Padmashri prof. K.C. Chunekar, edited by Dr. G.S. Pandey: edition of 1998; verse - 272-273, page no-463-464.
Dronapushpi can balance Kapha and Vata.
This herbal Plant is found to be anthelmintic, antiseptic, insecticidal, anti- scabies, anticoagulant, antipyretic, stimulant, expectorant, diaphoretic, insecticidal, emmenagogue, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic. Cardiac depressant, hypotensive and exhibits potent anti-filarial activity against adult worms and the microfilaria.