Justicia gendarussa

Scientific name: Justicia gendarussa Burm. f.

Family: Acanthaceae

Synonym: Gendarussa vulgaris Nees

Bengali/Vernacular name: Jagatmadan, Neelnishinda, Bishalla (Bengali); Kalobasak (Rema-Kalenga).

Tribal name: Paino, Pailingfang, Kaidaho, Rambasak (Chakma); Painaing fung (Chak); Dojagappi (Garo); Aawe (Khumi); Murah-bawn (Rakhaing); Moga jam (Tancangya); Mahranuk (Marma).

English name: Gendarussa.

Description of the plant: An erect, slender undershrub, branches dark purple. Leaves petiolate, petiole 1 cm long, lamina 10-15 cm long, linear-lanceolate, glabrous on both surfaces, entire. Inflorescence terminal or axillary spikes. Flowers subsessile, white with purple streaks and spots inside. Fruit a capsule.

Plant parts used: Leaf.

Medicinal uses: Pills made from leaves of the plant are taken to treat asthma.

Leaf juice is taken for the treatment of bloody dysentery, cold, fever, indigestion, leucorrhoea and common dysentery.

Powder made from leaves is applied on the affected gum once a day for five days to treat gingivitis.

Decoction of leaves is taken to treat body pain.

In the treatment of hepatomegaly, leaves paste is applied on the chest once a day (during night time and kept for overnight) for seven days.

Distribution: This species is planted as a garden hedge plant throughout the country.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….