Melilotus indica (Linn.) All.

Synonym:

M. parviflora Desf.

Family:

Paplionaceae; Fabaceae.

Habitat:

Native to Eurasia; found as winter weed and cultivated for fodder in parts of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

English:

Sweet Clover, Annual Yellow Sweet Clover, Small-flowered Melilot.

Ayurvedic:

Vana-methikaa.

Unani:

Ilkil-ul-Malik (yellow-flowered var.).

Folk:

Ban-Methi, Senji.

Action:

Plant—astringent, discutient, emollient. Used as poultice or plaster for swellings. The plant gave coumarins—fraxidin, herniarin, umbelliferone and scopoletin.

When fed alone as a green fodder, it exhibits narcotic properties; causes lethargy, tympanitis and is reported to taint the milk of dairy cattle. It may cause even paralysis. The plant contains 3-methoxyflavone, meliternatin which experimentally inhibited cell growth, induced granularity, retraction and then lysis of cells.