संस्कृत नाम- रक्त पुनर्नवा
Botanical name - Boerhaavia diffusa
Description - Boerhaavia diffusa is a subscandent or diffuse, herbaceous. Stems divaricately branched, slender cylindric and pubescent, purplish. Opposite pairs of leaves at each nodes, very unequal green and glabrous and somewhat pink in colour. Small pink or purple flowers in umbels with long pedicels. Fruits glandular along the ribs, highly viscid and 1 seeded.
Chemical_Constituents- Root contains alkaloid punamavine, C-methylflavone, rotenoid analogues boeravinone A, B, C, D, E, F, anuno acids, fatty acids, hentriacontanes, beta-sitosterol. Plant contains crystalline acid.
Uses - The drug is a diuretic, laxative, expectorant and stomachic. It is useful in oedema. Anaemia, jaundice, ascites, anasarca, scanty urine and inflammation. The whole plant, particularly the roots, leaves and seeds. The active principle of the herb is the alkaloid Punarnavine. The plant is diuretic, aphrodisiac, Cardiac-Stimulant, and useful in all types of inflammations. The hot poultice made by the whole plant is applied to Ulcers, abscesses and skin diseases. It is recommended for asthma in small doses. Large dose brings vomiting.