Botanical name:  Tephrosia purpurea

Sharpunkha is a Perennial erect herb which is up to 50 cm tall. Stem is Woody, thick, cylindrical, slightly angular near the apex, outer surface is green and glabrous, oblanceolate or obovate, base cuneate, apex obtuse to emarginate or truncate, mucronate; stipules 3-6 mm long, lanceolate. Flowers are about 7 mm long, leaf-opposed, pseudoracemes, Seeds are ellipsoid, and dark brown.

This herb is loaded with anti-diabetic and anti-hyper lipidemic properties. There are various photochemical compunds present in this herb like Lupeol, Rutin, Delphinidin chloride, Palmitic, Caffeic acid, Palmitoleic, Tepurindiol, Linoleic acid, Oleic acid,Valine, Threonine, Lysine, Isoleucine, Karanjin, Phenylalanine, Delphinidin chloride, Tephrone. All these phytochemical compounds are packed with amazing properties to resolve the various health issues.

Sharpunkha has the great medicinal important in Ayurveda, used in the treatment of liver cirrhosis and splenomegaly. This herb is very beneficial to maintain the healthy hemoglobin levels in body. In Ayurveda, sarapunkha has been identified as the fruitful herb for Liver health.

Besides this the herb is good for digestive system and also helps to manage the digestive disorders. This is good herb in cough and respiratory complications.
Sharpunkha is also used in treatment of many other diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, fever, jaundice, ascites, dropsy etc.

Important properties found:
Anthelmintic: expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites from the body.
Antipyretic/antifebrile/febrifuge: Effective against fever.
Anti-hyperglycemic: Counteracting high levels of glucose in the blood.
Deobstruent: Removing obstructions;having power to clear or open the natural ducts of the fluids and secretions of the body.
Diuretic: Promoting excretion of urine/agent that increases the amount of urine excreted.
Depurative: Purifying agent.
Hepatoprotective: prevent damage to the liver.
Immunomodulatory: modifies the immune response or the functioning of the immune system.
Laxative: tending to stimulate or facilitate evacuation of the bowels.