Buch.-Ham ex G. Don.
Synonym: T. pentandra auct. non Linn.
Family: Aizoaceae.
Habitat: The plains from Punjab to Bihar, extending southwards to Karnataka.
Ayurvedic: Varshaabhu (related species).
Action: Plant—astringent in stomach diseases, deobstruent, abortifacient.
The root and stems contain hentri- acontane, hentriacontanol, beta-sitos- terol glucoside, stigmasterol glucoside and nonacos-1-en-4-one.
Linn.
Family: Aizoaceae.
Habitat: South India, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Ayurvedic: Varshaabhu (related species).
Siddha/Tamil: Vellai Sharunnai.
Folk: Bisakhaparaa.
Action: Root—deobstruent; used for asthma, hepatitis and amenorrhoea. The root, leaf and stem gave positive test for alkaloid. The plant is a good source of zinc (1.077 ± 0.188) and copper (0.416 ± 0.057) mg/100 g.
Synonym: T. monogyna Linn.
Family: Aizoaceae.
Habitat: Cultivated fields and wastelands.
English: Horse Purslane.
Ayurvedic: Varshaabhu, Vrshchira, Vishakharparikaa, Shilaatikaa, Shothaghni, Kshdra. Wrongly equated with Shveta-punarnavaa or Rakta-punarnavaa. Varshaabhu and Punarnavaa are two different herbs. T. portulacastrum is a rainy season annual. Rakta-punarnavaa is equated with Boerhavia diffusa, Shveta-punarnavaa with white- flowered species, B. erecta L. (B. punarnava).
Unani: Biskhaparaa.
Siddha: Sharunai.
Folk: Pathari, Bisakhaparaa.
Action: Root—antipyretic, analgesic, spasmolytic, deobstruent, cathartic, anti-inflammatory.
Leaves—diuretic; used in oedema and dropsy. A decoction of the herb is used as an antidote to alcoholic poison.The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the dried root in diseases of the liver and spleen, anaemia and oedema.Ethanolic extract of the aerial parts exhibited hepatoprotective activity in CCl4-induced intoxication in rats. The acetone-insoluble fraction of the extract is responsible for the activity.The red and white flowers contain an alkaloid trianthemine, also punaranavine. The plant also gave ecdysterone (0.01 g/kg), a potential chemosterilant; nicotinic acid and ascorbic acid. The plant is rich in phosphorus and iron but poor in calcium.The high content of oxalate affects the assimilation of calcium. Carotene (2.3 mg/100 g) has also been reported.Trianthema sp. are used as adulterant of the roots of Boerhavia diffusa.
Dosage: Root—2-5 g powder. (API, Vol. IV.)... trianthema portulacastrum
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