Ethnobotanical and taxonomic studies of trianthema portulacastrum L. [Itsit, Biskhapra] and boerhavia procumbens banks ex roxb. [Punarnava] from Potwar region of Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Potwar has long been remained a source of medicinal plants from its hills and mountains, located in different parts of this region. Trianthema portulacastrum [Itsit, Biskhapra] has a lot of confusion in its common name with superficially similar plant species such as Boerhavia procumbens [Punarnava] and Alternanthera pungens Kunth. T. portulacastrum and B. procumbens have been described as two different species with their separate identities by the users of herbal medicine. Both the species are traditionally used for the treatment of jaundice and dropsy. However, the root of T. portulacastrum is abortifacient and is used to treat amenorrhoea. B. procumbens [Punarnava] is recommended in gonorrhoea, anaemia and asthma. The vernacular names Itsit and Biskhapra for Trianthema portulacastrum and punarnava for Boerhavia procumbens have been suggested as the correct names. White flowered form of T. portulacastrum has been reported from Bhait village of Jhelum