International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharmaceutical Chemistry

7

Authors: Padma Harshan 1*, Geeta Sukumaran 2and Uttam Nagwanshi 3

Maranta arundinacea (Arrowroot or West Indian Arrowroot) is indigenous to the West Indies, where native people, use the powder. The Arawaks used the substance to draw out toxins from people wounded by poisoned arrows. Its name is thought to be derived from that practice. The name may also come from the native Caribbean Arawak people's aru-aru (meal of meals), for which the plant is a staple. Arrowroot has been used as an infant formula in place of breast milk or to help the baby adjust after weaning believed to be the easiest to digest. Because of its demulcent properties it has been used for various bowel complaints. Also, it is believed to be useful against poisoned wounds, including scorpion stings, snake bites, and spider bites and gangrene. Consuming fresh arrowroot juice mixed with water is said to be an antidote to vegetable poisons. Arrowroot is used as a herbal remedy to alleviate nausea and to replenish nutrients lost through diarrhea and vomiting. It’s a nutritious diet for people with certain chronic diseases, during recovery from an illness or for certain internal irritations including bladder irritation. The results of non-chemically grown arrowroots have been encouraging with a good production in less than a quarter acre of land that depicts a high economic viability with such practices. It can prove to be a remunerative medicinal plant with semi-processing to small and marginal farmers. Another very important feature observed was that the seeds were not treated with any fungicide or chemicals during preservation thus avoiding use of chemicals and keeping it healthy.