It is native to Arabia and Syria, But is also found in the Indian market. The Sanskrit name itself is nearly same as the Arabic name. It possesses powerful stimulant properties. It is also used in rheumatic affections.

A native of North Africa, it has been grown on an experimental scale in Himalayan regions from seeds imported from Algeria.

It is a perennial, procumbent herb. Leaves are bipinnately segmented and the segments are linear. The ray-florets are white and purplish beneath. The roots, from the market samples are simple, 7-10 cm long having brown, rough, shrivelled surface, with the root bark closely adhering to the wood.

The roots contain anacyclin¹.

It is one of the ingredients of a drug which cures male sexual disorders without any toxic effect².

There is no adverse effect reported on this plant.

They have a slight aromatic smell and a persistent, pungent taste, exciting a remarkable flow of saliva. It possesses stimulant and rubifacient properties.

1. Wealth Asia - CD-ROM, CSIR, New Delhi.
2. Med. Arom. Pl. Abstr., 1979, 1, Abst. No.00 80; Chem. Abstr, 1949, 43, 5527.