Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

604 Sida rhombifolia Linn.
S
English ◮ Country Mallow.
Ayurvedic ◮ Balaa (yellow-flowered
var.), Sumanganaa, Kharayashtikaa,
Balini, Bhadrabalaa,
Bhadraudani, Vaatyaalikaa.
Unani ◮ Bariyaara, Khirhati, Khireti,
Kunayi.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Nilatutti.
Action ◮ Juice of the plant—
invigorating, spermatopoietic,
used in spermatorrhoea. Seeds—
nervine tonic. Root—(official
part in Indian medicine) used
for the treatment of rheumatism;
neurological disorders (hemiplegia,
facial paralysis, sciatica); polyuria,
dysuria, cystitis, strangury and
hematuria; leucorrhoea and other
uterine disorders; fevers and general
debility. Leaves—demulcent,
febrifuge; used in dysentery.
Ephedrine and si-ephedrine are the
major alkaloids in the aerial parts.
The total alkaloid content is reported
to be 0.085%, the seeds contain the
maximum amount. In addition to alkaloids,
the seeds contain a fatty oil
(3.23%), steroids, phytosterols, resin,
resin acids, mucin and potassium nitrate.
The root contains alkaloids—ephedrine,
si-ephedrine, beta-phenethylamine,
carboxylated tryptamines and
hypaphorine, quinazoline alkaloids—
vasicinone, vasicine and vasicinol.
Choline and betaine have also been
isolated.
A sitoindoside, isolated from the
plant, has been reported to exhibit
adaptogenic and immunostimulatory
activities. Alcoholic extract of the plant
possesses antibacterial and antipyretic
propeptide. Ethanolic extract of the
plant depresses blood pressure in cats
and dogs.
Sida rhombifolia Linn.
Family ◮ Malvaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India, in moist
places.
English ◮ Common Bala.
Ayurvedic ◮ Mahaabalaa, Mahaasamangaa,
Sahadevaa, Kshetrabalaa.
Unani ◮ Bariyaara (red-flowered
var.).
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Athi Bala-chedi,
Chitrmutti, Tennacham.
Action ◮ Plant—used as a supporting
drug in pulmonary tuberculosis,
nervous diseases and rheumatism.
Leaves—applied to swelling as
paste. Stem-mucilage—demulcent
and emollient. Used internally in
skin diseases and as a diuretic and
febrifuge.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
recommends the root in deficient
spermatogensis and oedema.
Alkaloids, ephedrine, si-ephedrine
and cryptolepine, are reported from
aerial parts. The root contains 0.054%
alkaloids, beta-phenethylamine, Nmethyl-beta-phenethylamine,vasicinol,
vasicinone, vasicine, choline and
betaine. These alkaloids are also present
in the aerial parts.
Alcoholic extract of the root exhibited
antibacterial and antipyretic activities.