Botanical name: Sida acuta Burm. f.
Family name: Malvaceae
Identification No.: SDACH/HG/314
Vernacular names:
- Hindi: Bariara
- English: Common wireweed
- Tamil: Kurunthotti
- Malayalam: Kurunthotti
- Telugu: Chinnakanugu
- Kannada: Sannabala
Habitat & Distribution:
- Common in tropical and subtropical regions. Found widely across India, especially in roadsides, grasslands, and forest edges.
Morphology:
- Small shrub up to 1–1.5 m tall
- Leaves: lanceolate, 2–7 cm long
- Flowers: yellow, solitary, axillary
- Stem: woody at base, hairy
Varieties:
Often confused with Sida cordifolia and Sida rhombifolia
Substitute/Adulterant:
- Often used as a substitute for Bala (Sida cordifolia)
- Adulterants: Sida rhombifolia, Sida spinosa
Phytochemicals:
- Alkaloids: ephedrine (trace or absent compared to Sida cordifolia)
- Flavonoids
- Steroids
- Tannins
- Mucilage
Rasapanchaka:
- Rasa: Madhura, Tikta
- Guna: Laghu, Snigdh
- Virya: Sheeta
- Vipaka: Madhura
- Prabhava: Balya
- Dosha shamakta: Vata-pitta shamaka
Karma (Rogaghnata)
- Balya
- Brimhana
- Vedanahara
- Rasayana
- Vrishya
Amayika Prayoga / Therapeutic Uses:
External:
Paste for inflammation
Oil preparation for pain and swelling
Internal:
Used in decoction or powder form for general debility
Useful in vata disorders and fever
Part used:
Root, whole plant
Dose:
- Churna: 3–6 g
- Kwatha: 50–100 ml
Yoga/Formulations:
Commonly used in classical Bala taila and Rasayana yogas (when used as a Bala substitute)
Local tribal formulations
IUCN Status:
Not evaluated
Research updates
1. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical evaluation of Sida acuta – 2021, International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine
2. Antioxidant and wound healing potential of Sida acuta – 2020, Journal of Ethnopharmacology
3. Neuroprotective effect of Sida acuta extracts in animal models – 2019, Phytotherapy Research
