Available online on www.ijppr.com International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research 2014; 6(2); 249-254 ISSN: 0975-4873 *Author for correspondence: E-mail: dr.thomaswalter@gmail.com Review Article Review of Alternanthera Sessilis with Reference to Traditional Siddha Medicine *Thomas M.Walter, S. Merish, M. Tamizhamuthu Department of Pharmacology, Government Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, India. Available online: 1 st June 2014 ABSTRACT ‘Food as Medicine’ is one of the basic concepts of Traditional Siddha Indian Medicine. The household recipes containing greens are part of Tamil culture. Even today one can find preparations containing greens (Keerai in Tamil) in the regular diet of south Indians. This tradition is passed through generations because of the immense medicinal properties which the greens posses. Among the frequently consumed greens Ponnankanni (Sessile joyweed - Alternanthera sessilis) finds an important place in Traditional Siddha Medical literatures. The specialty begins with its Tamil name which indicates ‘Ponnankanni - Pon aagum kaan nee’ (Literally meaning – Your body will get golden luster). According to Traditional Siddha literatures, this herb contains gold and thereby comes under Kaya Kalpa (Panacea) category also. Besides it is also rich in anti-oxidants, Sterol compounds, gives cooling effect to eyes & body, relieves neuritis, treats 96 types of eye diseases and aids disease free healthier life. This review paper gives an overview of all aspects of Alternanthera sessilis including botanical, phyto-chemical, Pharmacognosy and medicinal uses with reference to Siddha Indian Medicine. Keywords: Siddha Medicine, Alternanthera sessilis, Kaya Kalpa herb, Phyto-sterols. INTRODUCTION Everyone is gaining awareness about the Traditional Indian Medicine and its holistic approach towards leading a Healthier life. In that way, the Siddha system of medicine is also one among the precious Medical systems, native to Tamilnadu. Siddha Treatment aims in providing ultimate cure to both mind and body systems. Diet and lifestyle play a major role not only in maintaining health but also in curing diseases. The authors’ of the paper decided to explore one among the many greens (Keerai) documented in Traditional Siddha literatures, ‘Ponnankanni’ (Alternanthera sessilis, Amaranthaceae Family). ‘Food as Medicine’ is one of the basic concepts of Traditional Siddha Indian Medicine. Siddhars with their ancient medical knowledge, found out the medicinal actions of each herb, documented them and encouraged those things as food material like Myrobalan, Sesban etc. Here the Focused herb, Alternanthera sessilis is being widely used for cooking by people of Tamilnadu and other Southern states of India. It contains many of the Phytochemical compounds especially stigmasterol, campesterol, ß- sitosterol, α -, ß-spinasterol, palmitates of sterol, etc. Taxonomic Hierarchy 1,2,7 : Kingdom : Plantae Subkingdom : Tracheobionta Super division : Spermatophyta Division : Magnoliophyta Class : Magnoliopsida Sub Class : Caryophyllidae Order : Caryophyllales Family : Amaranthaceae Genus : Alternanthera Species : Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. Synonym/s 2,4,7 : Alternanthera denticulata R. Brown Alternanthera nodiflora R. Brown Gomphrena sessilis L. Alternanthera glabra Moq. Vernacular Names 7 : Tamil : Ponnankanni ,Citai, Koduppai Malayalam : Meenamgani, Ponnankannikkira Sanskrit : Matsyaki, lonica Hindi : Gudrisag, Garundi Kannada : Honagone soppu Telugu : Ponnagantikura Bengali : Chanchi, Haicha, Sachishak Marathi : Kanchari Manipuri : Phakchet Other Geographical names: French : Brede Chevrette, Magloire. Portuguese : Bredo-D, Periquito-Sessil, Perpétua. Indonesian : Daun Tolod Malaysia : Keremak. Sinhalese : Mukunu-Wenna Chinese : Lian Zi Cao, Bai Hua Zi Geographical distribution: This is a pioneer species, typically growing on disturbed parts of a variety of wetland habitats, often in species-rich associations with a range of other aquatic and wetland plants 2 . It grows in the draw-