''Hygrophila auriculata'' (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

: ,

Bangla (বাংলা নাম) Bangla () may refer to: *Bengali language, an eastern Indo-Aryan language *The endonym of Bengal, a geographical and ethno-linguistic region in South Asia *''Bangla-'', a prefix indicating Bangladesh *West Bengal, a state in eastern India, also kn ...

: (কুলেখাড়া) ''kokilākṣa'') is a herbaceous, medicinal plant in the acanthus family that grows in marshy places and is native to tropical Asia and Africa. In India it is commonly known as ''kokilaksha'' or ''gokulakanta'', in Sri Lanka as ''neeramulli''. In

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

and

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...

it is called ''vayalchulli'' (വയൽച്ചുളളി) and (நீர்முள்ளி) respectively, and in the

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...

states, it is known as (గొడుగుగడ్డి) or (గ్రుడ్డికామంచి). Introduction - hygrophila or marsh barbel (English) It is commonly called in Tamil ''nirmuli''. An annual herbal plant growing up to 60 cm in height. The stem of the plant is tetragonal, hairy and stiff at the nodes. The bark is dark brown, although the leaves are elliptic-lanceolate and herpid. The flowers are purple and to a lesser extent violet blue. The fruit resembles a four-sided shape, linear, glabrous and about 1 cm long with seeds that are hairy and brown in color.

Medicinal usage in Ayurveda

ayurveda Ayurveda (; ) is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is heavily practised throughout India and Nepal, where as much as 80% of the population report using ayurveda. The theory and practice of ayur ...

, its seeds, roots and panchanga (pancha = five and anga = parts, i.e. root, flowers, stem, fruits and leaves as ash burnt together) are used as a medication.सुश्रुत संहिता (sushrut samhita ) An English translation of the Sushruta samhita, based on original Sanskrit text. Edited and published by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna. With a full and comprehensive introd., translation of different readings, notes, comparative views, index, glossary and plates (1907

/ref> It has hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity and can reduce toxic accumulation from certain therapies.

References

*J.S. Gamble, 1921. ''Flora of the Presidency of Madras'' Vol.2

External links

Hygrophila (plant), auriculata Taxa named by Heinrich Christian Friedrich Schumacher Plants described in 1963 Flora of Africa {{Acanthaceae-stub