The various species of Fagonia (now transferred to Zygophyllum) can be very difficult to identify, and at one time the then 25 known species were all lumped under Fagonia cretica (now Zygophyllum creticum). This confusion persists to the present day, and both Fagonia arabica (Zygophyllum arabicum) and Fagonia cretica (Zygophyllum creticum) are sometimes credited with being medicinal plants that are native to India. Modern treatments of the genus show both those species as being restricted to the Mediterranean and Africa and so any information on their medicinal usage in India should more probably refer to various species native to India, including Zygophyllum bruguieri Zygophyllum indicum and Zygophyllum paulayanum[, ].

Common Name:

General Information

Zygophyllum indicum is a densely to sparsely-branched, small green spiny undershrub, with erect branches; it can grow up to 50cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Arid and semi-arid regions of Northern Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Habitat

Found on sand, sand mixed with clay, or on gravel, sometimes on gypseous or calcareous soils, often along wadis, at elevations from sea level up to 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Zygophyllum indicum is a plant manily of the subtropical zone, where it grows in arid and semi-arid environments.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The flowering plant is refrigerant. The fresh or the dried plant can be soaked overnight in cold water then used to make a bath that helps to relieve high fevers, such as malarial fever. It can also be taken internally - about 50g of the fresh plant is soaked in a glass of water overnight, and in the morning the infusion is strained and drunk[].
The plant is also used to relieve thirst in heat stroke victims. About 50g of plant material (fresh or dried) is ground to a fine powder, mixed with one glass of water, and drunk. This immediately relieves the urge to drink a large quantity ofwater, which, if so consumed, is believed sometimes to kill a heat stroke victim. The standard treatment is two doses per day for two or three days[].
Juice from the plant is used to relieve skin rash and skin allergy. It is mixed with water and used to bathe the body, which helps to dry the rash and relieve the itching[].



The following notes were listed under Fagonia arabica (now Zygophyllum arabicum). Since the uses are for a species native in India, they are most likely referring to this species.

The plant is an astringent tonic, bitter, blood purifier and deobstruent[].
The leaves, twigs and their juice possess cooling properties[]. They are much used as preventatives in hot weather to keep the system cool and ward off disorders incident to that season[].
An infusion is used as a gargle in the treatment of sore mouth[]. The juice is used for cooling the mouth in the treatment of stomatitis ; the juice being boiled with sugar-candy until quite thick, and a small quantity allowed to dissolve in the mouth frequently[].
Applied topically, the juice is said to prevent suppuration when applied to open wounds, though it also has a reputation as a suppurative in cases of abscesses caused by thorns, etc [].
The plant is largely used by native practitioners as a bitter and astringent tonic, and is a popular remedy for fever[, ]

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -