Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth.
Family Labiatae Lamiaceae.
Habitat The sub-Himalayan tract, plains of Punjab and the upper Gangetic plain.
Ayurvedic Neelkanthi.
Folk Ratapaati (Kumaon), Khurbanti (Punjab).
Action Astringent, febrifugal (given in intermittent fever), stimulant, aperient, diuretic. Used for the treatment of gout and rheumatism; also for amenorrhoea. Juice of the leaves—blood purifier. The powder is used for burns and boils. The leaves are used in fever as a substitute for cinchona.
An aqueous extract of the leaves showed diuretic activity. An alkaloidal fraction showed stimulant action on the perfused frog heart. The plant exhibited anticancer activity.
