Linn.
Family ► Aizoaceae. Habitat ► South India, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Ayurvedic ► Varshaabhu (related species). Siddha/Tamil ► Vellai Sharunnai. Folk ► Bisakhaparaa. Action ► Root—deobstruent; used for asthma, hepatitis and amenorrhoea. The root, leaf and stem gave positive test for alkaloid. The plant is a good source of zinc (1.077 ± 0.188) and copper (0.416 ± 0.057) mg/100 g. Synonym ► T. monogyna Linn. Family ► Aizoaceae. Habitat ► Cultivated fields and wastelands. English ► Horse Purslane. Ayurvedic ► Varshaabhu, Vrshchira, Vishakharparikaa, Shilaatikaa, Shothaghni, Kshdra. Wrongly equated with Shveta-punarnavaa or Rakta-punarnavaa. Varshaabhu and Punarnavaa are two different herbs. T. portulacastrum is a rainy season annual. Rakta-punarnavaa is equated with Boerhavia diffusa, Shveta-punarnavaa with white- flowered species, B. erecta L. (B. punarnava). Unani ► Biskhaparaa. Siddha ► Sharunai. Folk ► Pathari, Bisakhaparaa. Action ► Root—antipyretic, analgesic, spasmolytic, deobstruent, cathartic, anti-inflammatory.Leaves—diuretic; used in oedema and dropsy. A decoction of the herb is used as an antidote to alcoholic poison.The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the dried root in diseases of the liver and spleen, anaemia and oedema.Ethanolic extract of the aerial parts exhibited hepatoprotective activity in CCl4-induced intoxication in rats. The acetone-insoluble fraction of the extract is responsible for the activity.The red and white flowers contain an alkaloid trianthemine, also punaranavine. The plant also gave ecdysterone (0.01 g/kg), a potential chemosterilant; nicotinic acid and ascorbic acid. The plant is rich in phosphorus and iron but poor in calcium.The high content of oxalate affects the assimilation of calcium. Carotene (2.3 mg/100 g) has also been reported.Trianthema sp. are used as adulterant of the roots of Boerhavia diffusa. Dosage ► Root—2-5 g powder. (API, Vol. IV.)