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Botanical Name:Barleria prionitis
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Barleria
Species: B. prionitis
Common Name : Peetakorhanta, Sachar, Katsaraiya, Yellow naidye,Porcupine flower, Barleria, Vajradanti, Kundan, Mullu goranti, Pilikantashelio.
sanskrit : kuranta; Marathi : vjradanti
Habitat :Native of tropical E Africa and Asia and dispersed by man to other hot countries. It is a herb common in India and it is also found in many parts of the world, like USA, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Naharu.
Description:
A stiff bushy plant to 1.70 m high, spiny . It has attractive yellow or light buff-coloured flowers, and is cultivated here and there in the West African region as an ornamental. In Asia is often grown as a hedge and with clipping it strengthens and by reason of its spines becomes impenetrable.It branches freely above the nodes.They possesss 2-3 divaricated spines measuring 11mm long. The leaves are ovate-elliptic to ovate, measuring 4-10 cm x 2-6 cm tapering to base, mucronate., galbrous above with many cytolith. The petioles are 2.5 cm long.Flowers are large, solitary, becoming spicate in the upper axils. Bracts are liner-oblong 1.2-2.2cm x 0.2-0.8cm , abruptly acuminate and ciliated. Bracteoles are lines-lanceolate measuring 1.4 cm x 0.15 cm. spinous-tipped. Outer calyx -lobe ovate-oblong and measuring 1.5 x 0.4 cm. and is mucronate.The inner lobes are linear-lanceolate, 13 x 2 mm, also mucronate.The corolla is bright orange-yellow with the tube pilulose outside and 2.5 cm long . Limb is 3 cm across the lateral lobes, the lobes are oval-oblong to rounded and recurved.The anterior are exserted while the posterior stamens rudimentary. Single short staminoid. Capsule is oviod-oblong,1.2 -1.6 x 0.9-1.1 cm, seeds 2 oval-oblong, 8×5 am with adpressed, silky hairs.
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Constituents :B. prionitis is the larval host of the Phalanta phalantha and Junonia lemonias butterflies. Its leaves are known to contain 6-hydroxyflavone, a chemical compound, one of the noncompetitive inhibitors of cytochrome P450 2C9
Cultivation:
The plant is adapted to high rainfall areas.
Medicinal Uses:
The whole plant, leaves, and roots are used for a variety of purposes in traditional Indian medicine. Plant pacifies vitiated vata, pitta, gingivitis, stomatitis, burns, dental caries, inflammations ascites, edema, wounds, nocturnal ejaculation and cracking heel.
Barleria prionitis has numerous medicinal properties including treating fever, respiratory diseases, toothache, joint pains and a variety of other ailments; and it has several cosmetic uses.
A mouthwash made from root tissue is used to relieve toothache and treat bleeding gums.
The leaves are used to promote healing of wounds and to relieve joint pains and toothache.
Because of its antiseptic properties, extracts of the plant are incorporated into herbal cosmetics and hair products to promote skin and scalp health.
Leaf-sap is slightly acid and bitter. It is given with honey or sugar to children in India for catarrhal affections accompanied by fever and much phlegm. In the Philippines a bath using a decoction of leaves and leafy twigs is administered for febrile catarrh . Other Indian uses are for aphthae, intermittent fever, paralysis, rheumatism, liver diseases, jaundice and dropsy , whooping-cough, urinary troubles, bleeding gums, earache, and cracking and laceration of the feet in the rainy season . A root-decoction is taken as a mouth-wash in E Africa to relieve toothache .Tests for the plant’s antimalarial activity have proved negative on avian malaria .The plant is found to be rich in potassium and this is said to contribute to its diuretic action. Important organic principles appear to be absent.
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A study of the antidiabetic activity of Barleria prionitis Linn :
Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
http://www.bitterrootrestoration.com/medicinal-plants/barleria-or-porcupine-flower.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barleria_prionitis
http://plants.jstor.org/upwta/1_15
http://www.globinmed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79317:barleria-prionitis-linn&catid=704:b&Itemid=150
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