Opuntia dillenii

Botanical name : Opuntia dillenii Haw. (Cactus indicus Roxb.)
Family : Cactaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Vidhara, Vishwa, Saraka

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Madhura
Guna : Lakhu, Snigdha
Virya : Seeta

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Prickly-pear cactus
Hindi : Nagphana
Malayalam : Kallichedi, Palakakkalli, Nagakkalli, Chattukakkalli, Kallimullu

Distribution – Throughout India, in dry areas.

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A large perennial cactus plant grows up to 3 meters in height. Leaves small or inconspicuous greenish fleshy stem modification scattered with numerous prickles, at nodes. Flowers single, yellow, streaked with red, and arises from the nodes. Fruits fleshy contain compressed stony hard seeds.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta over perspiration, burning sensations, asthma, whooping cough, hepatitis, poison, fever, constipation, conjunctivitis, boils, ulcers, edema, leucorrhea and menorrhagia.
Useful part : Whole plant.