Guma Plant/Gaisha Live Plant/Thumbai | Live Leucas aspera – Used in traditional medicine | Remedy for indigestion and stomach ache

Guma Plant (Leucas aspera) commonly known as ‘Thumbai’ is distributed throughout India from the Himalayas down to Ceylon. The plant is used traditionally as an antipyretic and insecticide. Medicinally, it has been proven to possess various pharmacological activities like antifungal, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antinociceptive and cytotoxic activity. Further, studies reveal the presence of various phytochemical constituents mainly triterpenoids, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and b-sitosterol, nicotine, sterols, glucoside, diterpenes, phenolic compounds (4-(24-hydroxy-1-oxo-5-n-propyltetracosanyl)-phenol). These studies reveal that L. aspera is a source of medicinally active compounds and have various pharmacological effects; hence, this drug encourage finding its new therapeutic uses.

• Guma Live plant is used as food in some countries. In addition, it is used as a medicinal herb. It is known to cure coughs, colds, fever, headache, stomach ache, diarrhea, dysentery,
• Leucas aspera has been used traditionally in the treatment of snakebites in the Philippine Islands. The plant contains leucin, which is known to produce febrifuge properties. In addition, it has been shown that extracts of L. aspera have antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilus.
• Guma Live plant is used to treat acute and chronic wounds. It can be applied directly on the wound or mixed with honey and then applied topically.
• The leaves and extracts of Thumbai are used topically to treat various skin ailments like rashes, boils, and skin infections. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties may help in soothing and healing skin irritations.
• Thumbai is used to reduce fever and treat malaria symptoms. It is believed to have antipyretic properties and may help in reducing body temperature.