Linn.
Family: Malvaceae.
Habitat: Throughout India, in moist places.
English: Common Bala.
Ayurvedic: Mahaabalaa, Mahaa- samangaa, Sahadevaa, Kshetrabalaa.
Unani: Bariyaara (red-flowered var.).
Siddha/Tamil: Athi Bala-chedi, Chitrmutti, Tennacham.
Action: Plant—used as a supporting drug in pulmonary tuberculosis, nervous diseases and rheumatism. Leaves—applied to swelling as paste. Stem-mucilage—demulcent and emollient. Used internally in skin diseases and as a diuretic and febrifuge.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the root in deficient spermatogensis and oedema.Alkaloids, ephedrine, si-ephedrine and cryptolepine, are reported from aerial parts. The root contains 0.054% alkaloids, beta-phenethylamine, N- methyl-beta-phenethylamine, vasici- nol, vasicinone, vasicine, choline and betaine. These alkaloids are also present in the aerial parts.Alcoholic extract of the root exhibited antibacterial and antipyretic activities.Proteins, linoleic, malvlic and ster- culic acids have been reported from seeds.
Dosage: Root—3-6 g powder. (API, Vol. III.)
Linn. var. rhomboidea (Roxb.) Mast
Family: Malvaceae.
Habitat: West Bengal.
Ayurvedic: Mahaabalaa (white- flowered var.).
Action: Plant—spasmolytic, anti- inflammatory. Root—sedative, CNS depressant.
Alkaloids from the plant exhibit antibacterial, antifungal and an- thelmintic properties. See S. rhombifolia.
Linn.
Family: Malvaceae.
Habitat: Throughout India in moist places.
English: Country Mallow.
Ayurvedic: Balaa (yellow-flowered var.), Sumanganaa, Khara- yashtikaa, Balini, Bhadrabalaa, Bhadraudani, Vaatyaalikaa.
Unani: Bariyaara, Khirhati, Khireti, Kunayi.
Siddha/Tamil: Nilatutti.
Action: Juice of the plant— invigorating, spermatopoietic, used in spermatorrhoea. Seeds— nervine tonic. Root—(official part in Indian medicine) used for the treatment of rheumatism; neurological disorders (hemiplegia, facial paralysis, sciatica); polyuria, dysuria, cystitis, strangury and hematuria; leucorrhoea and other uterine disorders; fevers and general debility. Leaves—demulcent, febrifuge; used in dysentery.
Ephedrine and si-ephedrine are the major alkaloids in the aerial parts. The total alkaloid content is reported to be 0.085%, the seeds contain the maximum amount. In addition to alkaloids, the seeds contain a fatty oil (3.23%), steroids, phytosterols, resin, resin acids, mucin and potassium nitrate.The root contains alkaloids—ephed- rine, si-ephedrine, beta-phenethyl- amine, carboxylated tryptamines and hypaphorine, quinazoline alkaloids— vasicinone, vasicine and vasicinol. Choline and betaine have also been isolated.A sitoindoside, isolated from the plant, has been reported to exhibit adaptogenic and immunostimulatory activities. Alcoholic extract of the plant possesses antibacterial and antipyretic propeptide. Ethanolic extract of the plant depresses blood pressure in cats and dogs.... sida cordifolia
Health Encyclopedia