Description

Uttanjan is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is found in India, Pakistan and Iran as well as Egypt(including the Sinai Peninsula). It is a small plant, covered in soft, grey hairs. It has many serrated leaves, that have prickles attached to them. The flowers are a yellowish color. Its capsules contain two seeds, that are heart-shaped, smooth, shining, and brownish in color.

Characteristics:

Small gray pubescent or nearly glabrate perennial herb. Stem is short and approximately 30 cm length. Nature of stem is rigid.

The seeds, leaves, and roots of this plant are used for various medicinal purposes in India. The leaves are used for treating tridosha fevers, urinary discharges, leucoderma, nasal haemorrhage, asthma, cough and inflammation of throat, and mental derangements. They can also be used for treating ascites, liver, and spleen disorders. The leaves usually have beneficial effects on wounds and ulcers. The seeds can cure strangury, and are also beneficial in diseases of the blood, chest, lungs and liver. The roots regulate the menstruation in women.

Leaves: Appear in-group of fours at the nodes. Shape of leaf is upper pair 5cm x 1 cm and lower pair smaller with oblong or narrow elliptic.

Flowers: The flower appears in blue colour in storability inflorescence.

Fruits or seeds: The fruit capsules are 5 cm long and two seeded.

Medicinal uses:

Aphthae; Asthma; Conjunctivitis; Contraceptive; Dysmenorrhoea; Earache; Haemoptysis; Hepatopathy; Splenopathy; Strangury; Throat inflammation; Toothache; Ulcers; Wounds.

The leaves and seeds are reported to be eaten. The herb forms a good fodder for sheep and camels. In general, the entire plant had utility as animal fodder due to increase in milk production in cattle.