Biophytum sensitivum (മുക്കുറ്റി ) and its medicinal usage

Biophytum sensitivum (മുക്കുറ്റി ) and its medicinal usage

Botanical Name : Biophytum sensitivum
Family : Oxalidaceae
English : Sikerpud
Malayalam - മുക്കുറ്റി (mukkutti)
Sanskrit - alambusha, jalapushpa, peethapushpa, samanga, krithanjali.
Hindi - lajalu, lajjalu, lakhshana, laksmana, zarer.
Tamil - nilaccurunki, tintanali
Habitat : Perennial herb
Native to: Tropical Africa and Asia
Fragrant: No
Growing Ease: Requires a little extra care
Temperature: 60-85°F, 16-29°C
Soil : humus-peat-loosely
Humidity: Medium humidity
Lighting Needs: Does best in bright indirect sunlight coming from the South/East/West
Climate : tropical, subtropical



DIFFERENT NAME

English : Sikerpud, better stud

Malayalam - mukkutti

Sanskrit - alambusha, jalapushpa, peethapushpa, samanga, krithanjali

Hindi - lajalu, lajjalu, lakhshana, laksmana, alm bhusha, zarer

Tamil - nilaccurunki, tintanali commonly known as: life plant, little tree plant, sensitive plant **

Bengali: jhalai

Kannada: hara muni, jalapushpa

Marathi: jharera, lajwanti

Tamil: nilaccurunki, tintaanaalee

Telugu: attapatti, chumi, jala puspa, pulicenta


Biophytum sensitivum is a very small flowering plant and is native to India. It has only a few pinnate leaves with 8-10 leaflets on either side. Each leaflet may measure upto 4-5mm and the total length of the leaf is less than 5cm. This plant produces about five to ten small flowers with yellow,white or pink petals.It has the same reproductive tendencies as Mimosa,spreading easily in the greenhouse by seed,but it stays small - less than 4" tall - and has similar touch-sensitive traits. It usually moves a
bit slower, though. These plants are much more pretty than Mimosa.They are usually found in wet lands (mostly plains) of tropical Africa, Asia and India.Normally in the shade of trees and shrubs, in grasslands, open thickets, at low and medium altitudes.

In Ayurveda this little herb Mukkutti is described as a good medicine.

1.Mukkutti is used as a tonic and stimulant

2.It is used for chest complaints , convulsions , Cramps and inflammatory tumours .

3. It's ash is mixed with lime juice and given for stomach ache .

4.Leaves and roots are styptic , decotion of leaves is given for diabetes , asthma and phthisis.

5.Arthralgia, Arthritis, Back Pain, Bone Spur, Bursitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cervical Spondylosis, Degenerative Joint Disease, Degenerative Neck Disease, Fibromyalgia, Leg Cramps, Leg pains, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sprains, Stiff Neck, Tendonitis and Tennis Elbow are also treated using mukkutti in Ayurveda.

6.Mukkutti herb is very useful in treating Varicocele. The leaves of this herb (20) need to be boiled in 300ml of water for 40 mins. Strain and cool this potion and drink it two times daily for a month and complete relief would be accorded in a month.

7.It is also used for treating heavy bleeding seen in women.Therefore it is also called "Teendanaazhi".

8.Its leaf well grinded in butter milk is used in treating dysentry.

9.It is a good medicinal herb to clean the uterus after delivery.