Botanical name : Tephrosia purpurea
Family : Fabaceae
Identification NO : SDACH/HG/186
Synonyms:
Vishaaghni, Dviphala, Sarpunkha
Morphology
Common Tephrosia is a perennial erect or prostrate herb or subshrub, up to 50 cm tall.
Leaves are compound, leaflets 7-15, 1-2.8 x 0.3-1 cm, inverted-lanceshaped or obovate, base wedge-shaped, tip blunt to notched or flat, with a short sharp point; stipules 3-6 mm long, lanceshaped.
Flowers are about 7 mm long, in few-flowered, leaf-opposed, raceme-like clusters.
Flower-stalks are 3-4 mm long; bracts about 2 mm long.
Calyx is 3-4 mm long, velvet-hairy; sepals tapering to a point.
Flowers are pink to purplish, pea-flower shaped. Standard is about 4 mm broad, round. Staminal tube to 4 mm long.
Pods are 2.5-4 cm long, 3-4 mm broad, linear-oblong, 5-7-seeded.
Seeds ellipsoid, dark brown.
Common Tephrosia is found in Indo-Malesia, including Western Ghats. Flowering: October-December.
Raspanchaka
Rasa: Tikta, Kashaya
Guna: Laghu, Ruksha
Virya: Ushna
Vipaka: Katu
Prabhava: Krimighna
Dosha: Kapha-Pitta Shamak
Karma
Krimighna, Kusthaghna, Yakrituttejaka (Liver stimulant), Shothahara, Gulmahara.
Therapeutic Uses:
Plant is digestible, anthelmintic, alexiteric, antipyretic, alternative, cures diseases of liver, spleen, heart, blood, tumours, ulcers, leprosy, asthma, poisoning etc.
According to Unani system of medicine, root is diuretic, allays thirst, enriches blood, cures diarrhea, useful in bronchitis, asthma, liver, spleen diseases, inflammations, boils and pimples;
Leaves are tonic to intestines and a promising appetizer.
Good in piles, syphilis and gonorrhoea.
Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses
External
Paste of leaves applied to skin disorders, wounds, and inflammation.
Oil processed with Sarpunkha used in local applications.
Internal
Liver disorders, especially Hepatomegaly and Jaundice.
Effective in splenomegaly, worm infestations, skin disorders, and respiratory conditions.
Part used
Whole plant, especially root and leaves.
Dose
Churna: 3–6 g
Kwatha: 50–100 ml
Yoga/Formulations
Sarpunkhadi kwatha, Arogyavardhini vati (as an ingredient), Sarpunkha ghana vati
IUCN
Not Evaluated (NE) – Commonly available in wild.
Research updates s
1. 2021: Hepatoprotective activity confirmed in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage models.
2. 2020: Antidiabetic and antioxidant properties evaluated with positive outcomes.
3. 2019: Antimicrobial effects of ethanolic extracts found effective against common pathogens.
