Dronapushpi (Leucas cephalotes) – Properties, Benefits & Dosage

Description of Plant

Dronapushpi (Leucas cephalotes) is an annual, branched, erect stout plant which grows with a height of about15-60 cm.. It is commonly found in tropical regions, especially in India during the monsoon season, often growing along roadsides and in open fields. Leaves are narrow, ovate, and Yellowish-green in color and about 3-9cm long, 1-2.5cm wide, having, pungent taste; Roots are smooth, cylindrical, zigzag, along with various wiry, fine rootlets with variable size, fracture, fibrous and taste is Stem is quadrangular with rough, hairy surface and having Light greenish-yellow color whose taste is slightly bitter. Flowers are white, small sessile, in dense axillary whorls. Fruits: Schizocarpic carcerule, nutlets 3mm smooth, brown.

General Description

Dronapushpi (Leucas cephalotes) is a famous Ayurvedic medicinal herb that grows as a weed in India and many Southeast Asian countries. It is cultivated in fields as a weed, especially after a period of rain. It is collected for use as a leafy vegetable in rural areas as well as for its medicinal uses. The traditional use of this herb is for treating snake bite, cough, fever, scorpion stings, etc. It is also used in treating liver disorders, jaundice, asthma, cough, cold etc. Therapeutically, it has Properties of antimicrobial, insecticidal, fever reducing, larvicidal and inflammation reducing herb.

The chemical composition of Dronapushpi (Leucas cephalotes) includes a wide range of bioactive compounds that contribute to its medicinal properties. Key constituents identified in this herb are laballenic acid, β-sitosterol and its glycoside, oleanolic acid, 7-oxositosterol, 7-oxostigmasterol, 7α-hydroxy stigmasterol, and stigmasterol. Additionally, it contains several flavonoids such as 5-hydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxy flavone, pillion, gonzalitosin I, tricin, cosmosin, anisofolin A, and luteolin. A unique compound found in this plant is apigenin-7-O-β-D-(6-O-p-coumaryl) glucopyranoside, which contributes to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. These constituents collectively support its traditional uses in managing infections, inflammation, and various metabolic and respiratory conditions.

Classification of Leucas cephalotes

• Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
• Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
• Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
• Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants (Angiosperms)
• Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
• Subclass: Asteridae (corresponds to Gamopetalae in older classifications)
• Order: Lamiales (modern) or Tubiflorae (older classification)
• Family: Lamiaceae (modern name for Labiatae)
• Genus: Leucas
• Species: Leucas cephalotes (Roth) Spreng.

Related species that is known as Dronapushpi is Leucas aspera.

Habitat of Leucas cephalotes

This herb is commonly found throughout India and China. All through India, it is especially found as a weed in cultivated lands, road sides and on waste lands at an altitude of 30-100 m high and rising up to 1,800 meters in the Himalayas. Leucas cephalotes are also found in the plains of Bangladesh, South-East Asian countries, Mauritius, Java and Philippines, China, Malaysia. It is also commonly found in Nepal, Pakistan, and in East Asia it is found at an elevation of 1,700 m in Afghanistan to Western China.

Names of Leucas cephalotes in Different Language

• English Name – Spiderwort
• Hindi Name – Guma
• Telugu Name – Tummi, Peddatumani
• Bengali Name – Dandakalas, Halaksa, Ghalghase
• Marathi Name – Tubari, Tumba
• Gujarati Name – Kubo
• Punjabi Name – Gomobati, Gumma
• Tamil Name – Tumbari
• Kannada Name – Tumbe, Tumbe hoovu, Tumbe gida
• Malayalam Name – Tumba, Tumba Poovu
• Sanskrit Name – Katumba
• Oriya Name – Gaisha
• Assamese Name – Dronaphool

Ayurvedic Properties

Hindi / Sanskrit		English
Rasa	Katu	Taste	Pungent
Guna	Guru, Rooksha	Physical Property	Heavy, Dry
Virya	Ushna	Potency	Hot
Vipaka	Madhura, Katu	Metabolic Property (After Digestion)	Sweet, Pungent

Ancient Verse about Leucas cephalotes

The name and properties of Guma are Drona, Dronapushpi and Phalepuspa. The Guma is heavy, dry and hot in potency. It is piercing in nature so is effective for obstructive jaundice, inflammation and bronchial asthma.

References:-

The Bhavprakash nighantu with elaborated Hindi commentary by Padmashri prof. K.C. Chunekar, edited by Dr. G.S. Pandey: edition of 1998; verse – 272-273, page no-463-464.

Practical Uses of Leucas cephalotes

Dronapushpi can balance Kapha and Vata.

This herbal Plant is found to be anthelmintic, antiseptic, insecticidal, anti- scabies, anticoagulant, antipyretic, stimulant, expectorant, diaphoretic, insecticidal, emmenagogue, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic. Cardiac depressant, hypotensive and exhibits potent anti-filarial activity against adult worms and the microfilaria.

• It is useful in skin diseases like itching, patchy skin, psoriasis, scabies etc. The paste of leaves is applied externally at the affected body areas.
• Juice of this plant has been reported to act as an ant-bilious herbal therapy for jaundice.
• Beneficial in case of worm infestation, infected wounds.
• Helps in reducing swelling because of its anti-inflammatory property.
• Relieves asthma, cough and cold.
• This herb is good to improve taste as well relieves anorexia.
• The decoction of the herb as wash liquid is useful in ulcers and is also applied externally to poisonous insect bites.
• Good to relieve indigestion, low digestive strength.
• Suitable in case of amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea.
• It is scraping in nature which makes it capable to scraping the sputum out.
• Dronapushpi has been known to show positive tests in filariasis.
• The whole plant powder is used to cure epileptic convulsions and cerebral function disorders.
• It is also useful in colic, dyspepsia and arthralgia.
• Dronapushpi herb has the capacity to flush out the toxins from the body.

Part Used

• Whole Plant,
• Leaves,
• Flowers

Dosage

• Fresh juice: 5 -10 ml juice
• Powder for decoction: 1–3g

Caution

• Excess use or over-dosage of this herb may lead to increased burning sensation.
• Avoid it in pregnancy. Recommended to use this herb under proper medical guidance.