Common name:- Para cress, Sichuan button etc.
Family:- Asteraceae
Vernacular name:- Marshang(Nyishi, Adi)
description
Acmella oleracea is a species of flowering herb in the family Asteraceae. Common names include toothache plant, paracress, Sichuan buttons, buzz buttons, tingflowers and electric daisy. Its native distribution is unclear, but it is likely derived from a Brazilian Acmella species. It is grown as an ornamental & vegetable in a kitchen garden and attracts fireflies when in bloom. It is used as a medicinal remedy in various parts of the world. A small, erect plant, it grows quickly and bears gold and red inflorescences. It is frost-sensitive but perennial in warmer climates.
Marshang(local name) is widely grown in a kitchen garden by tribals of Arunachal Pradesh for the daily uses in the form of salad, vegetable & chutney. It can be eaten raw.
edible_uses
Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Adds a pungent flavour to salads that stimulates the salivary glands whilst having a numbing effect on the tongue and lips. Eating the leaves is a memorable experience. They have a smell similar to any green leafy vegetable.
medicinal_uses
The most common and widespread medicinal use is to treat toothache and throat and gum infections. Worldwide the flower heads are used either fresh or dried and powdered, but the use of roots and leaves has been recommended as well. The plant is further recommended as a cure for dysentery and rheumatism, and to enhance the immune system. It is used against blood parasites, especially against malaria, both prophylactic and curative.
The leaves are sialagogue. The leaves and flower heads are analgesic, anthelmintic, antibacterial and antifungal. Some of the medicinal compounds are destroyed by desiccation or freezing. In-vitro studies have shown strong antibacterial activity against some bacterias such as Pseudomonas, Salmonella and Staphylococcus etc.
Sadness is that our tribal people don't have idea about using Acmella oleracea as medicine/remedies. But the species have lot of medicinal properties within them.
unknownfact
It can be use as insecticide as it proved effective against mosquitoes and corn earworm.
Note:- Using of plant as medicine and vegetable that uploaded by this page is not advisable unless you know about it or take advice from the expert. We uploaded to boost ur knowledge of flora & get knowledge through comment
Reference
