A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c22.s4.t2.15

v1.c22.s4.t2.15

Although *Punarnava* is *Boerhaavia diffusa*, the plant universally used by our *Kavirajes* as श्वेतपुनर्नवा, is different. A sample was submitted to the authorities of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Sibpur, for examination, and it was indentified as *Trianthema monogyna* (nat. ord. Ficoideæ). On chemical analysis of the juice of the succulent stems, we found it to consist of a large proportion of potassium and sodium chlorides; a nitrate was also detected. The cooling and diuretic properties of the plant are thus easily explained.