Amaranthus spinosus Cholai Bhandira

Plant Profile

Botany

Binomial nomenclature

Amaranthus spinosus

Scientific Name and Description

Amaranthus spinosus L.

Herb Family

Amaranthaceae

Plant type

Herb

Plant Synonyms

Amaranthus spinosus L
.Amaranthus paniculatus LA.

Plant Names - Common - Regional - Vernacular

English	spiny pigweed
Hindi	adak-dhatura, cauleyi, cholai, goja, kanta-choulae, kanta-nutiya, kantaili-chaulai, kante-wali-chawli, kantelu marsu, kantemat, kantenatia, kantewali-chaulai, kantio chandelo, kataili, kateli, rajgira,Chaulai, Tandulya
Kannada	mulla-dantu, mulladantu, mullaravesoppu, mullluharive soppu, mullu dantu, mullu gorakoochi, mullu harive soppu, mullu keere soppu, mulludantina soppu, mulluharivesoppu, mullukeere soppu
Malayalam	cerucira, mullan-chira, mullanchira, mullancira
Marathi	chanalai, kante-bhaji, kantebhaji, kantemat, kanterimat, tandulja, thanduliya,Shunti
Sanskrit	alpamarisha, bahuvirya, bhandi, bhandira, ghanasvana, granthila, kandakamarisha, kandera, kantaki, meghanada, pathyashaka, sphurjathu, sushaka, svanitavhaya, tandula, tandulanama, tandulasahvaya, tanduleeya, tanduleraka, tandulibija, tanduliya, tanduliyah, tanduliyaka, vira
Tamil	cemmulli, cemmullikkirai, civappumullikkirai, erumaikkacikacceti, erumaikkacikam, ikkiri, kantarceti, kuppaikkirai, kuppaimulli, kuppaimullikirai, mullankirai, mulliccivappu, mulliccivappukkirai, mullik-kirai, mullikkirai, mulluk-kirai, mullukeerai,mullukkirai, mutkirai, paniccakkirai, vanamacikakkirai, vanamacikam, vannikkirai, vannikkiraicceti, varataru, varatarukkirai
Telugu	erramullugoranta, ettamulugoranta, mulla thota-kura, mulluithota koora, mundla-tota-kura, mundlatotakoora, mundlatotakura, nalla doggali, nalla-doggali, nalladoggali, yerra mullu-gorinta,Totta kura
Tibetan	ta-ndu-la-ka
Common names	spiny amaranth, redroot amaranth, simply amaranth,spiny pigweed, prickly amaranth, thorny amaranth,

Plants Medicinal Value

Medicinal Systems

Ayurved

Siddha

Folk

Sowa Rigpa

Pharmacological profile

Phytochemicals

Quercetin

Carotene-β

Lutein

Herb usable parts

Roots

Leaves

Whole plant

Ethanomedical Uses

Ethnopharmacology use

The plant is diuretic, subdrific and febrifuge.
It is used in treating fever and colic pains.
The poultice of leaves is applied to bruises, bums, inflammation and infusion as diuretic.
Leaves are eaten as vegetable to dissolve calculi.
The decoction of root is given to cure stomachache and externally applied on wounds and boils.
In Ayurveda root is used to treat uterine disorder.
Root paste also applied over the scorpion bite.

Source: Medicinal Plants in the Indian Arid Zone, March 2005, Director Central Arid Zone Research Institute Jodhpur 342 003

Amaranthus spinosus L.

Habit- Herb

Parts used - Whole plant

Application - For improving digestion; bruises; abscesses; burns; wounds and inflammation; snake bite; stomach ulcer; indigestion; stomach complaints and kidney stone; urinary tract infection; high blood pressure; constipation; piles; hair fall; and increasing lactation; diuretic; fever

Treatment - Women; General

References - Dansi et al. 2008, Ignacimuthu et al. 2008, Shanmugam et al. 2012