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Khoobkala in English
Khubkala (or Sisymbrium iriacum) is a flowering plant in the mustard family that blooms in July. It is useful in cough and fever and balances Vata Dosha. It grows throughout India and is native to Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Kashmir. Medicinal uses of this herb are known from Ayurvedic ages, but it has many other benefits too.
What Ayurveda says about Khoobkala
Khubkala, or khoobkala in English is Sisymbrium irio, is an annual or biennial herb in the family Brassicaceae. The plant is widely distributed, with cultivation occurring in Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and the U.P. Its medicinal benefits include coughs, chest congestion, and fever. It has also been used to treat typhoid, cleanse wounds, and detoxify the liver. The seeds have a pungent taste, while the leaves are edible.
The seeds of Khubkala are used medicinally. The powdered seeds are taken twice daily for three weeks to alleviate various ailments. In cases of smallpox and measles, the seeds are decocted. It is also given in fever as a stimulating poultice. The leaves of Khubkala are also edible.
Khubkala contains linoleic and oleic acids, erucic, palmitic, and stearic acid. Studies suggest that the ethanolic extract of the seeds has analgesic and antibacterial effect. The seeds are sticky and heavy on the digestive system and are also hot.
In its natural form, Sisymbrium iria is a biennial herb found in Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and U.P. It has a number of medicinal properties and is used in folk medicine for many different purposes. The plant contains various antioxidants, alkaloids, and glycosides, among others. Medicinal uses of Sisymbrium irio include reducing the risk of scurvy, improving the digestive system, and relieving pain.
S. irio is a weed native to temperate areas of southern Europe and North Africa. It has been introduced to other continents by migrant populations and accidentally through crop seed. While modern phytosanitary precautions should prevent introduction, these regulations are not always observed in all countries. Because it can grow in a wide range of habitats, it can also be found as a weed in waste areas and in the wild.
Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the herb’s medicinal properties. A New Zealand botanist, Garnock-Jones PJ, and a Saudi scientist, Gomaa NH, and Hilhorst HWM, evaluated seed weight and germination rates. They found that 8.5 mg of seed per plant germinated at 15oC, but other temperatures were insufficient for the plant to grow.
Morphology of Sisymbrium irio
The morphology of Sisymbrium iro is quite complex and varies widely in different species. Khubkala, or khoobkala in English is Sisymbrium irio, is an annual or biennial herb in the family Brassicaceae. The plant is widely distributed, with cultivation occurring in Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and the U.P.
Most species are biennial or annual herbs with pubescent stems and simple or branched leaves. The leaves of Sisymbrium irio are obovate-lanceolate, and the cauline leaves resemble the basal ones. The leaves are green in color. The morphology of the fruit is also diverse, with its ebracteate pedicel.
The morphology of Sisymbrium iro is complex, and the exact identification depends on the type of specimen. A good source of information on the species’ morphology is Werier, D., et al., who published the catalog of Vascular plants of New York state. Khubkala contains linoleic and oleic acids, erucic, palmitic, and stearic acid. Studies suggest that the ethanolic extract of the seeds has analgesic and antibacterial effect. The seeds are sticky and heavy on the digestive system and are also hot.
The botanical journal Flora Turkmenii is a good resource for further information.