ta ACALYPHA Caution Same as for Acacia catechu, Euphorbiaceae ACALYPHA Acalypha indica Linn. ‘Acalypha ciliata Frosk. Habitat Common in plains as a weed in gardens; also in wastelands, especially in Bangalore and Pach- ‘marhi, up to 210 m, ‘Classical & common names Ayurvedic: Harita-manjari, Mukta-varchaa (non- classical). Vernacular names: Khokali, Kuppi (Hindi); Kuppi gidda (Kannada); Kuppimeni (Tamil); Kuppai- chettu (Telugu); Kuppamani (Malyalam). English: Indian Acalypha. Parts used Leaves, root, stalks. Dose As decided by the physician, Classical use ‘There is no mention of this herb in the texts of Charaka and Sushruta. It was mentioned for the first time in Vaidyamanoramaa for toothache (with Zingiber officinale), internally as well as externally. In Punarnavaadi Churna, a compound formulation of Vaidyamanoramaa, it has been included as an appetiser and stomachic. The herb is said to possess carminative, expec- torant, diuretic and emetic properties in folk med- icine, Leaves are credited with laxative properties. Used in the form of powder or decoction. Mixed with common salt, the leaves are applied to scabies and other skin diseases. Their juice, mixed with oil, is massaged in rheumatic arthritis. Expressed juice in smaller doses is an expectorant and is said to be useful in chronic bronchitis, asthma and consumption. Powder of dry leaves is used in bed- sores. Paste of leaves is applied to burns. ‘A decoction of the herb is used for toothache and earache by old-timers, and aqueous extract for loss of appetite. Active principles and pharmacology Alcoholic extracts of tender shoots, leaves and roots showed antimicrobial activity. The juice is found to possess antitumour properties. The plant contains a cyanogenetic glucoside and two alkaloids, acalyphine and triaceton- amine, possibly a degradation product of gluco- side, The other constituents are n-octacosanol, beta-sitosterol, kaempferol, quebrachitol, tannin, resin and an essential oil. In addition to hydrocy- anic acid, the herb contains other substances which caused intense, dark chocolate brown dis- colouration of blood and gastro-intestinal irrita- tion in rabbits. Use in Western herbal Tincture of the fresh plant from East Indies is used in homoeopathy. John Henery Clarke (1900 AD) equated Acalypha indica with Cupameni and iden- tified the chief employment of the tincture in vio- lent dry cough followed by bloody expectoration; expectoration of pure blood in the morning and dark clotted blood in the evening; cough most vio- lent in the night. The drug is also prescribed for burning in intestines, flatulence, diarrhoea and siping pain in abdomen. Caution The raw herb is poisonous and emetic. Causes intestinal irritation, The shoots should not be eaten uncooked. The pollen may cause allergy. Should be used only as a homoeopathic drug under medical supervision.