Plantago indica and it’s uses

Plantago indica, commonly known as branching plantain, sand plantain, or black plantain, it is a flowering plant in the Plantain family Platanaceae and one of the few common plantain species of the genus Plantain.The plant is native to parts of Africa, Europe, Russia, and Asia, and has become naturalized in many other areas, including Australia and North America.The plant grows primarily in dry inland areas, such as those with sandy areas, and has also become naturalized on roadsides and grasslands.The plant is not widely used as a food source, but is cultivated for its seeds,which are used medicinally as a laxative.

Description 

Plantago indica is an annual herb with an erect stem on the taproot, leaves usually opposite but sometimes in whorls of 3, with elongated internodes between leaf groups.Glandular pubescence found on stems, leaves, sepals, and inflorescences.Leaves are simple, base decelerating to petiole, margin intact or slightly toothed, linear or lanceolate, 2.5-5 cm long, 1-3 mm wide.Some leaves are modified into bracts between 0.5 cm and 2 cm, which have a pointed tip and a rounded ovate base.The plant has a densely packed inflorescence of flowers with a glabrous brown corolla and a calyx with broad-veined, elliptic and obovate sepals.Stamens exposed the corolla, anthers yellow, elliptic, 1.8-2.2 mm in size.The style of the stigma is also well exposed, and the flower part is inferior but extends above the ovary.Seeds contain 2 capsules. Seed size 2.5-2.8 mm, black or dark brown, shiny, oval, with obvious grooves in the center of the inner surface.

Ecology

Plantago indica Described as native to North Africa, Southwest China, Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.The plant has been widely naturalized and identified in Australia, North America, India, Japan, and Pakistan.Commonly found in dry deserts, sandy beaches and other sandy lands, and can also be found on roadsides and beside railway tracks.

Uses

Plantains have been eaten as human food since prehistoric times.For example, archaeological finds on California's Central Coast show that the species has been used for food since the Millingstone Horizon.Broad-leaved varieties are sometimes used as leafy vegetables in salads, green sauces, etc.108–109 Young leaves of plantain can be eaten raw, and older leaves can be cooked.The seeds can be cooked like rice.The psyllium species has been used as an herbal medicine since prehistoric times.This herb has astringent, antitoxic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antihistamine as well as demulcent, expectorant, hemostatic and diuretic properties.Externally, ointments made from the leaves are used for insect bites, poison ivy rashes, small sores, and boils.In folklore, it's even claimed to heal snakebites and was used by the Dakota Indian tribes of North America for this purpose.Internally, it is used as a tea,tincture, or syrup for coughs and bronchitis.Tea made from leaves may help treat diarrhea.Plantain seed husks swell and become sticky when wet, especially plantain seed husks, which are used in common over-the-counter bulk laxatives and fiber supplement products such as Metamucil.P.psyllium seeds are useful for constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, dietary fiber supplements,and diverticular disease.The slime of desert Indian wheat (P. ovata) is obtained by grinding off the husk.This mucilage, also known as psyllium husk, is commonly sold as Isabgol, a laxative used to manage irregular bowel syndrome and constipation.It has been used as an indigenous Ayurvedic and Unani medicine for various intestinal problems.Psyllium supplements are usually available in powder form with an appropriate amount of liquid.Some people use doses of at least 7 grams per day with plenty of fluids (water, juice) to control elevated cholesterol.There are many psyllium products for constipation.The usual dose is about 3.5 grams twice daily.Psyllium is also an ingredient in several ready-to-eat cereals.

In Serbia,Romania,Bulgaria,and Russia,psyllium leaves are used as a folk remedy for their antiseptic properties to prevent infection in cuts and scratches.In Slovenia and other Central European regions, the leaves are traditionally used topically to treat blisters caused by friction such as those caused by tight shoes.Plantain may also be used to reduce intestinal methane in ruminants,as natural compounds present (e.g. concentrated tannins; ~14 g/kg DM) affect the acetate-propionate ratio in the rumen, i.e. methane Spawn limited primary mechanics.Currently, this is not a viable option at any scale due to agronomic difficulties.