Ethnobotanical Leaflets 10: 280. 2006.
Note on Trigonella cornicualta (L.) L.
Dr. Amrit Pal Singh, BAMS; PGDMB; MD (Alternative Medicine) Herbal Consultant, India –Swift Ltd, Chandigarh
Address for correspondence: Dr Amrit Pal SinghHouse No: 2101 Phase-7 Mohali-160062
Issued 14 November 2006
Syn: Trigonella esculenta Willd. Āyurvedic synonyms: Granthiparna, nīlapuspa, śukaspuspa and śukacchada. Family: Fabaceae. Hindi name: Kasur methi. English name: Cultivated fenugreek. Location: Europe - Mediterranean to W. Asia. Botany: Annual herb. Leaf pinnately trifoliolate, leaflets usually dentate; stipules adnate to petiole. Inflorescence solitary axillary or a head, or spike or short raceme. Bracts minute, bracteoles absent. Calyx teeth equal or unequal. Corolla yellow, blue or purplish, free from the staminal tube, deciduous. Stamens diadelphous, 9+1 or monadelphous, anthers uniform. Ovary sessile or stipitate, ovules numerous, style glabrous, stigma terminal. Fruit linear or oblong, straight or arcuate, dehiscing along one suture or indehiscent, continuous within, 1-many seeded. Chemical composition: Ethyl galactoside has been isolated from seeds (Varshney, et al., 1974) and diosgenin (Mahna, Raisinghani, et al.,1994). Actions: Astringent, bitter and styptic. As per Āyurevda it is appetizer and pacifies Vāta and Kapha. It is hot in potency. Therapeutics: Applied externally in swelling and bruises. Parts used: Whole plant and seeds. References: Atal, C.K.; Sood, S.P. 1964 J Pharm Pharmacol. 16:627-9. Varshney, I.P. et al., 1974 Planta Med. 26(1):26-32. Mahna, S. K., G. Raisinghani, et al. (1994). Fitoterapia 65(6): 515-516.
|