Review on Tanduliyaka (Amaranthus spinosus L) - A Weed, A Vegetable and A Medicinal Plant

Abstract

Weed is an unwanted plant growing on a cultivating land. Surprisingly, sometimes, certain weed turns out to be a great source of food or medicine. Nature has been so generous in providing a lot of useful things to humans. The great sages of Ayurveda have never let down any plant. They always tried to appreciate the usefulness of a plant in one or the other way. But, there are some instances where few therapeutic uses of certain plants were not documented in the literature of Ayurveda for unknown reasons. Ethno-botanical uses of such plants, if collected and studied, in addition to Ayurveda, will certainly make wonders in health care system. This review directs towards   an underutilized, less explained, perhaps not significantly appreciated and categorically unspoken plant called Tanduliyaka (Amaranthus spinosus Linn) which has been used by many folklore and ethnic groups of India. This study reveals 45 synonyms of plant along with some notable ethno-botanical uses and its validated activities proving itself as the plant of much interest .