Nela Nelli
Botanical name - Phylanthus niruri (acidus)
Assamese Holpholi;
Poram-lokhi
Bengali Noar
Hindi Chalmeri; Harfarauri
Kannada Kirunelli
Konkani Bhuin-avalae
Malayalam Kizhanelli; Nellipuli; Arinelli
Mahrathi Ray avali
Oriya Narakoli
Sanskrit Bhoodatreo
Tamil Arunelli; Kilanelli
Telegu Ratsavusirike
The
annual herb Phyllanthus niruri is best known by the common names
stone-breaker, chanca piedra and quebra pedra, but has many
other common names in assorted languages, including dukong anak,
dukong-dukong anak, amin buah, rami buah, turi hutan, and
bhuiaonla. It is a widespread tropical plant commonly found in
coastal areas. It is a relative of the spurges, belonging to the
leafflower genus of Family Phyllanthaceae.
The plant has long been used as an herbal remedy for urinary
calculi, and has been shown in modern medical research studies
to reduce the risks of stones in individuals prone to the
condition. Research on the plant continues to determine if it
has any other beneficial effects. It may have antiviral
activity.
Its root, leaves, fruits, milky juice, and whole plants are used
as medicine. According to Ayurvedic system of medicine it is
considered acrid, cooling , alexipharmic and useful in thirst,
bronchitis, leprosy, anemia, urinary discharge, anuria,
biliousness, asthma, for hiccups, and as a diuretic. According
to Unani system of medicine herb is stomachic and good for sores
and useful in chronic dysentery. Fruits useful for tubercular
ulcers, wounds, sores, scabies and ring worm (Agharkar 1991;
Krishnamurty 1993). The fresh root is believed to be an
excellent remedy for jaundice. A poultice of the leaves with
salt cures scabby affection and without salt applied on bruise
and wounds. The milky juice is a good application to offensive
sores. The bark yields a bitter principle phyllanthin. The
infusion of the root and leaves is a good tonic and diuretic
when taken cold in repeated doses. In different parts of India,
specially, in Chhattisgarh state, there is a rich traditional
medicinal tradition concerning this weed (Caius 1986; Oudhia and
Tiwari 2001). In many parts of India, it is commonly used for
the treatment of snake bite. The active compounds phyllanthin
and hypophyllanthin have been isolated from leaves. Recently,
lignansniranthin, nirtetralin, and phyltetralin have been
isolated from leaves. (Rastogi and Mehrotra, 1991) It is a major
component of many popular liver tonics in India including
Liv.-52. Fresh juice and powder of dried plant are used most
frequently in Ayurvedic preparations (Sastry and Kavatherkar,
1991). The plant is used as a fish poison. In many parts of
India specially in deserts, the roots mixed with Commiphora
mukul are given to camels to cure indigestion. The decoction of
leaves and stem are used for dyeing cotton black. (Singh et al.
1996).
It is one of the herbs mentioned in all ancient scriptures of
Ayurveda. Bhamyamalaki is also known as tamalaki, bahupatra,
bhadhatri, visnuparni, uttama etc. Maharsi Caraka has
categorized it as kasahara – alleviates cough and svasahara
relieves asthma. It has been cited in Ayurvedic texts that
bhumyamalaki increases the appetite, is digestant, laxative and
a liver stimulant. It is beneficial in cough, asthma, urinary
diseases, jaundice, malaria and enlargement of liver and spleen.
During the last decade, bhumyamalaki has attracted the attention
of scientists all over the world, because of its hepatprotective
activity. All forms of viral hepatitis have a common pathology
of acute inflammation of the entire liver. Epatic cell necrosis
is associated with leaucocytic and histiocytic reaction .At
present, five different varieties of viral hepatitis are known
but major ones are Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. No. effective
specific therapy is available for treatment of hepatitis due to
these viruses. Bhumyamalaki has shown clinical efficacy in Viral
Hepatitis B, with modern parameters.
Bhumyamalaki grows throughout India, more common in central and
southern regions. It is an annual herb which grows 30-60 cm in
height. It is quite glabrous; stem often branched at the base.
The leaves resemble to those of amalaki, but are more broad and
thick. They are oblong obtuse, numerous and in pairs. The
flowers are yellowish, axillary and numerous. The male flowers
are 1-3, whereas female flowers are solitary. The fruits are
globose, depressed capsules and the seeds are pale brown in
colour. There are 3-4 different varieties of phyllanthus.
The botanical name of bhumya malaki is Phyllanthus niruri and it
belongs to family Euphorbiaceae. Isolation of phyllanthin and
hypophyllanthin from leaves). Three new lignansniranthin,
nirtetralin and phyltetralin – isolated from leaves. The seed
oil contained ricinoleic acid (1.2), linoleic (21.0) and
linolenic (51.4%) acids. A new flavone glycoside isolated and
characterized as fisetin – 4-O- glucoside; rutin, quercetin,
quercetrin and astralgin also isolated a new lignan – nirphyllin
and a new neolignan – phyllnirurin – from aerial parts.
Properties
Bhumyamalaki is bitter, astringent and sweet in the post
digestive effect (vipaka) and has cold potency (virya). It
alleviates kapha and pitta dIt possesses light (laghu) and dry (ruksa)
attributes. It is specially used as an alleviator of pitta dosa
and is salutary in excessive thirst, hyperacidity, anaemia,
cough and the blood disorders. (Bhavaprakasa Nighantu)
Uses
The whole plant juice is used for medicinal purpose. The paste
of its leaves is applied, externally, in the skin diseases,
wounds and ulcers. In fractures, the pulp of the leaves mixed
with salt is applied externally, to hasten the healing. In the
diseases of the eye, the root juice, mixed with sugar, is
instilled into nostrils in hiccup.
Internally, it is benevolent in gastrointestinal ailments like
loss of appetite, constipation, hyperacidity and excessive
thirst. It also mitigates diarrhea and dysentery. The decoction
of bhumyamalaki augments the liver functions and is used as a
blood purifier in hepato-splenomegaly. It calms down the pitta.
In women, menorrhagia and leucorrhea is effectively treated with
the seeds of bhumyamalaki. The also are rewarding in urinary
diseases, diabetes, diabetes and chronic fever. The fresh juice
of the whole plant works well, when given with ghee, in
menorrhagia. In diabetes, the mixture of powders of bhumyamalaki,
cardamom, cinnamon and amalaki is beneficial. The excessive
thirst due to pitta vitiation is alleviated with the decoction
of the herb in milk. Bhumyamalaki can also be of help as a
general tonic in debility. It has a mild diuretic activity, so
is useful as an adjunct, in the treatment of dysuria.
The effect of bhumyamalaki on chronic carriers of Hepatitis – B
– virus was studied clinically, In a preliminary study, carriers
of Hepatitis – B – virus were treated with the preparation of
the plant phyllanthus niruri for 30 days. 22 of 37 (59%) treated
patients has lost Hepatitis B surface antigen when tested 15-20
days after the end of the treatment compared with only 1 of 23
(4%) placebo treated controls. Some subjects have been followed
up for upto 9 months. In no case has the surface antigen
returned. Clinical observation reveals few or no toxic effects.
The encouraging results of this preliminary study recommend
continued evaluation of the plant and the active principles
isolated from it (The Lancet, Oct 1, 1988, PP 764-766).
Please click here
to continue reading
