Preserving traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and ethnoveterinary practices is crucial for future generations. The objective of this present study is to analyze the efficacy of Sida spinosa Linn. in treating calf diarrhea. Sida spinosa Linn. belongs to the family Malvaceae and is commonly known as ‘Prickly Fan-Petals’, ‘Prickly Sida’, ‘Kantakinibala’ and in Tamil it is called ‘Mayir manikam’. It is widely used in Ayurveda and Siddha medicine. It is an annual weed found throughout the hotter parts of India and flowering occurs in October- December. The leaves are demulcent and refrigerant and the root is demulcent, gentle tonic and diaphoretic. The roots and leaves are used in the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery. The leaves are used for skin diseases and orally for snake bite treatment. The roots are used in gonorrhoea, debility, and fever. The whole plant is used in arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, burning sensation, haemorrhoids, intermittent fever, general debility, dysentery, diarrhea, malaria, renal inflammation, and cardiac diseases. Reports state that the extracts and isolated compounds from these plants (alkaloids, flavonoids and ecdysteroids) showed antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, antiulcer, cytotoxic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antitubercular, antioxidant, nephroprotective, antidiabetic, abortifacient and antipyretic activities. The powdered leaves of this ‘Mayir manikam’ plant was mixed with the curd and given orally, twice a day for controlling diarrhea in young calves. The efficacy was evaluated by the average number of doses required for complete recovery. Complete recovery was seen in two to three days in all the treated animals with no recurrence. This ‘Mayir manikam’ leaves and curd mix can be used for treating non-specific diarrhea in calves. This is the first record of a clinical research on the use of the plant Sida spinosa Linn. to treat calf diarrhea

Sida spinosa Linn., Mayir manikam, Calf diarrhea, Scours, Treatment

Preserving traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and ethnoveterinary practices is crucial for future generations. This study pioneers clinical research on Sida spinosa Linn. as a treatment for calf diarrhea, revealing its powdered leaves effectively alleviate non-specific diarrhea in young calves. Ancient Tamil literature also recognized this plant's antidiarrheal properties, as follows. The results of this investigation are useful for recording ethnoveterinary knowledge and make a substantial addition to the investigation of possible new plant-based treatments for livestock. Further investigation is essential to unravel the bioactive phytochemicals responsible for its efficacy. To pinpoint the compound driving this effect, additional research should focus on extracting, purifying, and characterizing the active constituents

Selvam R. (2024). Therapeutic Efficacy of Mayir Manikam (Sida spinosa Linn.) in Calf Diarrhea. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(9): 140-143