Fumaria Indica: Health Benefits, Uses and Side Effects (Pitta papada)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

The Latin name Fumaria is derived from the word “fumusterrae” which means smoke of the earth or unpleasant smell, and parviflora consists of two words “parvi” (small) and “flora” (flowers) which collectively means that the plant bears small flowers having unpleasant odor.

Fumaria Indica is widely used in traditional and folklore systems of medicine as a drug of choice for pitta aggravated jwara. Charaka and Sushrut recommended it for treatment of fever, vomiting, and blood disorders. Chakradutta considered Fumaria Indica as the best drug for alleviating pitta jwara. Charaka and Sushrut have described it in shakavarga.

In Turkey, it is used against hepatobiliary dysfunction, and in the Unani traditional system, it is prescribed to treat gastrointestinal and respiratory ailments.

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2. Common Names

• Family – Fumaria parviflora Lam
• Hindi Name – Pittapapad, Dhamgajra
• English Name – Five-leaved fumitory

3. Vernacular Names

• Assamese – Shahtaraj
• Bengali – Vanshulpha
• Gujarati – Pittapapada
• Kannada – KalluSabbasige
• Kashmiri – Shahterah
• Marathi – Pittapada
• Tamil – Tura, Tusa
• Telugu – Parpatakamu
• Punjabi - Shahtara

4. Synonyms

• Kavachnamak – The plant protects the users from diseases.
• Panshuprayay – It bears all the synonyms of sand or dust because of its cooling effects.
• Suksshmapatra – The leaves of the plant are minute in size.
• Vartikta – It is considered as the best drug among tikktadravya.

5. Distribution

The plant is native to Europe, Africa, and Asia especially Middle east. It is found throughout India as weed in rice and wheat fields, wastelands, open areas, etc., from Himalayas to Indo-Gangetic plains down to the Nilgiris.

6. Classical Categorization

• Charaka Samhita – Trishnanigrahan
• Dhanvantari Nighantu – Guduchyadi varga
• Madanpal Nighantu – Abhayadi
• Kaiyadev Nighantu – Oshadhi varga
• Raj Nighantu – Parpatadi varga
• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Guduchyadi varga

7. Morphology

It is a diffuse, erect or procumbent, annual herb of about ½ to 1 ft height. Branches are grooved, glabrous, and pubescent.

Leaves – Alternate, 5 to10cm long, two to three times pinnatisect, with linear-acute, mucronate segments light green color.

Flowers – Purple-pink colored, occurs in terminal raceme inflorescence of about 4 to 10 cm long.

Fruits – Indehiscent, globose, nutlet of 1 to 2 mm diameter, short stalk, single seeded.

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8. Ayurvedic Properties

• Rasa (Taste): It has Tikta (bitter) taste.
• Virya (Potency): It is Sheeta in nature (cold).
• Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): It is Katu (pungent) taste.
• Guna (Qualities) – Laghu, Ruksha

9. Chemical Constituent

Phytochemical analysis of Fumaria Indica described the presence of flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, saponins, steroids, triterpenoids, phenols, alkaloids, saponins, and steroids. The major constituents among them are protopine, narceimine, methyl fumarate, coptisine, cryptopine, fumariline, fumaritine and linoleic acids.

10. Identity, Purity, and Strength

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 2%
• Total Ash – Not more than 30%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 10%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 7%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 29%

(Source: The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India 2004)

11. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurvedic Actions

Ayurvedic tests attributed as absorbent, antipyretic, antithrist, antimicrobial, diuretic, pacifies bleeding disorders, blood purifier, hemostatic, antiemetic and alleviates burning sensation properties to it.

• Doshakarma – Pittakaphakarma
• Dhatukarma – Sanghrahi, Trishnanigrahan
• Malakarma – Mutral, Swedajanan

Pharmacological Actions

The plant has antipyretic, anthelmintic, laxative, cholagogue, muscle relaxant, sedative, hepatoprotective, antispasmodic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, antibacterial and blood purifier.

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12. Health Benefits

In the traditional system it is used for the treatment of bleeding disorders, giddiness, fainting, thirst, fever, burning sensation, dyspepsia, worm infestation, anemia, jaundice, diarrhea, acidity, gout, skin diseases, tuberculosis, leprosy, headache and liver disorders.

13. Therapeutic Uses

Wounds – Paste of leaves is applied externally on wounds, sore ulcers and skin diseases.

Conjunctivitis – Instillation of Fumaria Indica leaves juice in the infected eyes relief from conjunctivitis.

Fever - Fumaria Indica leaves decoction alone or combined with giloy, and amla juice is used in fever.

Thirst – To reduce thirst, burning sensation coryza and fever, Sadangapaniya made up of Musta, Fumaria Indica, Sandalwood, Ushria, Sugandhbala and Ginger used twice daily.

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14. Official Part Used

Panchang (whole plant)

15. General Doses

Powder – 3 to 5 g

16. Formulations

Sadangapaniya, Parpatadikwath, Parpatarishta, Tiktakaghrita, Mahatiktaghrita, Parpatadighrita.