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Scientific Name Ajuga bracteosa  Wall. ex Benth.

Family   Labiatae  

Used Part Leaves

Distribution Area A diffusely branched, aromatic annual, distrubuted from Kashmir to    <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><?xml:namespace prefix = u1 />Nepal at an altitude of 2,000 m. It is also found in the sub-Himalayan   tract, plains of Punjab and the upper Gangetic plain.

Common Uses. A bitter astringent given in the treatment of fevers.  An aromatic, tonic specially useful in ague. It is also used to kill lice, and is regarded as depurative The herb has been in use since ancient times and is mentioned in   Ayurvedic literature. It is credited with astringent, febrifugal,  stimulant, aperient, tonic, diuretic and depurative properties, and is  used for the treatment of gout and rheumatism, palsy and amenorrhoea.   It is used also to kill lice. The juice of the leaves is used as a   blood purifier and also for fevers, and the powdered leaves for burns  and boils.

Pharmacological Effect An aqueous extract of the leaves showed diuretic activity on rats  almost equal to that of urea. An alkaloidal fraction isolated from the  leaves showed stimulant action on the isolated perfused frog heart,  rabbit auricle and rat ventricle.

The plant exhibited anticancer    activity.