Lallemantia royleana

Description

Lallemantia royleana is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. In Iran it is known as balangu shirazi and it is used as a folk medicine treatment for fever and coughs. Its seeds are a good source of polysaccharides, fibre, oil and protein. Description: Lallemantia royleana Benth. is annual herb, un-branched or branched from the base. Stem is erect and long while leaves are simple. Inflorescence grows near the base of stem. Calyx is tubular and prominently veined, or ribbed. Corolla is pale lilac and blue-whitish pink. Nutlets are dark brown with a small attachment scar1,2. DISTRIBUTION: royleana is distributed in Afghanistan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, South West Asia, and Europe. Constituents: Composition of the essential oil of L. royleana aerial parts include sabinene, β-pinene, 3-octanone, myrcene, p-cymene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, (z)-β-ocimene, (e)-β-ocimene, γ-terpinene, isobutanol, terpinolene, linalool, butanol, dehydro-sabina ketone, iso-3-thujanol, trans-pinocarveol, sabina ketone, pinocarvone, 3-thujen-2-one, myrtenal, myrtenol, verbenone, trans-carveol, cis-sabinene-hydrate acetate, cis-carveol, pulegone, trans-sabinene-hydrate acetate, bornyl acetate, trans-sabinyl acetate, carvacrol, trans-pinocarvyl acetate, dihydrocarvyl acetate, α-longipinene, β-cubebene, α-trans-bergamotene, and spathulenol3. 'Medicinal Uses and Pharmacology/Scientific Studies:' royleana seeds are applied topically for the treatment of abscesses, boils, and inflammations4,5. They are given internally as soothing drink in urinary troubles4. Essential oil of plant has antibacterial, antifungal3, antiemetic6, and diuretic effects7.