Medicinal plant No 16

Actiniopteris dichotoma Bedd. Polypodiaceae (अश्वकत्री-कुलम्)

Eng : Peacock's tail Hin : Mayūrśikhā, Mārpamkhi (Hyforci, Hriat) Kan : Mayūraśikha (Dow03) Mal : Mayūraśikha, Mayilāțumśikha, Nānmukappullų

(മയൂരശിഖ, മയിലാടുംശിഖ, നാമ്പുകപ്പുല്ല്) San : Mayūraśikhā (Hyfira) Tam : Mayilatumsikhai (மயிலாடும்சிகை) Tel : Mayūraśikha (5000882)

Distribution: Throughout India, very common in the lower hills of

Attappady, upto 600 m in Nilgiris. The plant: A herbaceous rniniature palm-like fern upto 25 cm high with

densely tufted stipe. Fronds fan-like with numerous dichotomous segments which are rush-like in texture, veins few. sub parallel with distinct midrib, segments of fertile frond longer than those of the

barren one, sori lincar, elongate, submarginal. Parts used: whole plant Properties and uses: The plant is bitter, astringent, sweet, cooling, acrid,

constipating, anthelmintic, haemostatic, antileprotic and febrifuge. I is useful in vitiated conditions of kapha and pitta, diarrhoea, dysentery, helminthiasis, haemoptysis, haematemesis, leprosy, skin diseases, diabetes and fever.

मयूराह्नशिखा प्रोक्ता सहस्राज्रिर्मधुच्छदा। (भा.प्र.) ("Mayūrāhvaśikhā prāktā sahassänghrirmadhucchadā" (Bhā.pra.)]

'मयूरावशिखां ज्ञेया साहस्री मधुकच्छदा।" (म.पा.नि.) ("Mayūrāhvaśikha jñēya sahasri madhukacchadā"(Ma.pā.ni.)]

'मधूकपर्णी साहस्री मयूराह्वशिखा स्मृता । (कै.नि.) ["Madhūkaparni sāhasri mayūrāhvaśikhā smộtā" (Kai.ni.)]

नीलकण्ठशिखा लघ्वी पित्तश्ळेष्मातिसारजित् । (भा.प्र.) ("Nilakanthaśikha laghvi pittaśleşmātisārajit" (Bhā.pra.)]'मयूराह्वशिखा लघ्वी पित्तश्ळेष्मातिसारजित् ।” (म.पा.नि.) ["Mayūrāhvaśikhā laghvi pittaśļēşmātisārajit" (Ma.pā.ni.)]

।

"मयूराह्वशिखा शीता कषायाम्ळा म्ळपाकिनी* लध्वी पित्तकफौ पक्वमतीसारं विनाशयेत् ॥ (कै.नि.) (* कषाया कटुपाकिनी" इति केचित्) [ ("Mayūrāhvaśikha sitā kaşāyāſmām!apākini* Laghvi pittakaphau pakvamatisaramvinasayet (Kai.ni.)] (* "kasāya katupakini" iti kecit.)

“साज्या मयूरचूडा तु पीता तण्डुलवारिणा । सर्व-सर्पविषं हन्यात् काकजंघा थवा ध्रुवम् ॥” (सोढलः) ["Sājyā mayūracūdā tu pítā tanqulavāriņā Sarva-sarpavisam hanyat kākajamghajthava dhruvam" (Sodhalah)].

Remarks: In 'Dravyaguņavijñān' P.V. Sharma regards Adiantum caudatum as

mayurasikha, whereas in 'Bhavaprakasanighantu' and Sāligrāmanighanțubhūṣaṇam. Celosia cristata is described as mayūrasikhā.