Isodon rugosus, Wrinkled Leaf Isodon, chhichhri, 皱叶香茶菜

Isodon rugosus (Wall. ex Benth.) Codd
Family: Lamiaceae

Synonyms: Isodon plectranthoides Schrad. ex Benth., Lumnitzera densiflora (Roth) Spreng., Ocimum densiflorum Roth, Plectranthus rugosus Wall. ex Benth., Rabdosia rugosa (Wall. ex Benth.) H.Hara    

Common name: Wrinkled Leaf Isodon
Chinese: 皱叶香茶菜
Other names: chhichhadi, chhichhari, chhichhri, chilchhri, chichri, kathal, kurkha, kuthal, pyag, solai-kaath

Description: Shrubs erect, much branched, to 1.5 m tall; branchlets slender, densely stellate tomentose. Stem leaves opposite; petiole 2-10 mm, densely tomentose; leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 1-3.5 × 0.5-1.8 cm, papery, rugose, adaxially olive green, densely stellate tomentose, abaxially gray tomentose, base broadly cuneate to rounded, margin crenulate, apex obtuse; lateral veins 4- or 5-paired, immersed adaxially, elevated abaxially. Cymes axillary, pedunculate, in stellate tomentose panicles, basal cymes long branched to 21- or more flowered, apical cymes 3-5-flowered; floral leaves slightly longer than cymes, upper ones much shorter, subsessile, ovate. Pedicel 2-3 mm. Calyx campanulate, ca. 2 mm, densely stellate tomentose outside; teeth broadly triangular, subequal, minute, ca. 1/3 as long as calyx tube; fruiting calyx slightly dilated, tubular-campanulate, slightly curved, ca. 3 mm, conspicuously 10-veined. Corolla white, tinged rose, or dark lilac on upper lip, ca. 7 mm, sparsely stellate tomentose outside, glandular, tube ca. 3 mm. Stamens included. Style included. Nutlets dark brown, triquetrous, oblong, ca. 1.5 mm, glabrous. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Aug-Oct.

Whole plant applied in eye disorders. Leaves decoction in fevers. Antiseptic, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, stomachic,  tonic,  insect  repellent,  antidiarrheal,  febrifuge and antimalarial, used in cases of urine retention. Plants used to keep off fleas. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]

8 Published articles of Isodon rugosus
1. Investigations of anticholinestrase and antioxidant potentials of methanolic extract, subsequent fractions, crude saponins and flavonoids isolated from Isodon rugosus
By: Zeb, Anwar; Sadiq, Abdul; Ullah, Farhat; et al.
BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH  Volume: 47     Article Number: 76   Published: DEC 26 2014

2. Phytochemical and toxicological investigations of crude methanolic extracts, subsequent fractions and crude saponins of Isodon rugosus
By: Zeb, Anwar; Sadiq, Abdul; Ullah, Farhat; et al.
BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH  Volume: 47     Article Number: 57   Published: NOV 6 2014

3. In-vitro and in-vivo validation of ethnopharmacological uses of methanol extract of Isodon rugosus Wall. ex Benth. (Lamiaceae)
By: Janbaz, Khalid Hussain; Arif, Javeria; Saqib, Fatima; et al.
BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE  Volume: 14     Article Number: 71   Published: FEB 22 2014

4. In-vitro and in-vivo validation of ethnopharmacological uses of methanol extract of Isodon rugosus Wall. ex Benth. ( Lamiaceae).
By: Janbaz, K. H.; Javeria Arif; Fatima Saqib; et al.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine  Volume: 14   Issue: 71   Pages: (22 February 2014)   Published: 2014

5. A new diepoxy-ent-kauranoid, Rugosinin, from Isodon Rugosus. (vol 69, pg 94, 2003)
By: Abbaskhan, A
PLANTA MEDICA  Volume: 69   Issue: 4   Pages: 384-384   Published: APR 2003

6. A new diepoxy-ent-kauranoid rugosinin, from Isodon rugosus
By: Abbaskhan, A; Choudhary, MI; Tsuda, Y; et al.
PLANTA MEDICA  Volume: 69   Issue: 1   Pages: 94-96   Published: JAN 2003

7. A new diepoxy- ent-kauranoid, rugosinin, from Isodon rugosus.
By: Ahmed Abbaskhan; Choudhary, M. I.; Tsuda, Y.; et al.
Planta Medica  Volume: 69   Issue: 1   Pages: 94-96   Published: 2003

8. Comparative foraging behaviour of Apis cerana Fabr. and Apis mellifera L. during Isodon rugosus (Wall.) Codd bloom in Kashmir Valley.
By: Shah, F.A.; Shah, T.A.
Indian Bee Journal  Volume: 51   Issue: 4   Pages: 138-139   Published: 1989[1991]