KJC Medicinal Garden

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Maagali
Coleus zeylanicus


Order: Lamiales Bromhead
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Coleus
Species: Coleus zeylanicus
Common Names: Valak
Native to Sri Lanka(mid-low)

Other plants of the same genus with medicinal properties

    1. Coleus Esculentus (Kaffir potato)
    2. Coleus Barbatus (Makandi)
    3. Coleus Neochilus (Mosquito bush)
Morphology:
  • It is a succulent herb
  • It has a quadrangular stem as seen in many other species of genus.
  • The leaves are very thick and succulent, grey-green and hairy.
  • Flowers are pale bluish at branched intervals in a long slender raceme. Flowering occurs in May and June.
  • It is simple, opposite, aromatic, orbicular to ovate, truncate at base, rounded at apex, coriaceous on both sides, somewhat succulent, dentate, light green on the upper surface, paler below, veins are prominent beneath.

Uses in Tradition systems of medicine

According to the Ayurveda pharmacopoeia, P. zeylanicus is incorporated as a main ingredient in more than 50 traditional ayurvedic recipes.

  • Punarnawadyaristaya and Dashangaleepaya used for Oedema.
  • Ushiradiya, Danyapanchaka-kwathaya, Pancharnuladee-kwathaya II, Fachanamrutha-kwatha for fewer and burning sensation.
  • Chandrahkanthi oil, Nayanakeethakee oil, Nayanaharana oil for Eye Disease.
  • Plectranthus zeylanicus, a plant claimed as an antimicrobial remedy in traditional medicine and the green synthesis of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles as effective herbal disinfectants
  • Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of essential oils obtained from the control and salinity stressed Coleus zeylanicus plant was investigated. Essential oils from the control and salinity stressed Coleus zeylanicus plant was extracted using Clevenger apparatus. Essential oil are collected mostly from the roots and stem of this plant.
Nutritional Properties
  • Vitamin A 0.17mg
  • Calcium 140mg
  • Carbohydrates 80g
  • Minerals- Silver and Zinc Oxide

Suggested Medicinal Properties

  • Antimicrobial
  • Antifungal
  • Anti- Inflammatory
  • Antioxidant
  • Aromatic
  • Astringent
  • Diabetes healing Properties
  • TB healing Properties
  • UTI healing Properties
  • Mental Disorder calming Properties

Active Phytochemicals

  • 6β, 7β-dihydroxyroyleanone
  • P-cymene, Geraniol and Gerenylacetate

    • References


    [1] Divya Kotagiri, Khasim Beebi Shaik and Viswanatha Chaitanya Kolluru Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties of Essential Oil Isolated from Coleus zeylanicus under Normal and Salinity Stress Conditions, Free Radicals, Antioxidants and Diseases, Rizvan Ahmad, (August 1st 2018). IntechOpen, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.73966. Available from: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/60407

    [2] Khare C. Coleus vettiveroides K. C. Jacob.. In: Khare C. (eds) Indian Medicinal Plants. Springer, New York, NY. (2007)https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-70638-2_386