Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Changeri

Oxalis corniculata L.

Changeri (Oxalis corniculata L.) is a plant used in Ayurveda, from the Oxalidaceae family. Not listed in WHO monographs; included in traditional pharmacopeias of India and China; used in approved Chinese patent medicines.

Key facts
Botanical nameOxalis corniculata L.
FamilyOxalidaceae · other entries in this family
OrderOxalidales
Pharmacopoeia statusNot listed in WHO monographs; included in traditional pharmacopeias of India and China; used in approved Chinese patent medicines
Taxon identifiersGBIF 8427624 · Wikidata Q162795 · NCBI Taxonomy 212256

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishChangeri
Latin/BotanicalOxalis corniculata L.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Antioxidant activity via flavonoid-mediated (vitexin, isovitexin) free radical scavenging and metal chelation
  • Anti-inflammatory action through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines
  • Neuroprotective effects via polyphenol-mediated protection against oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage
  • Antimicrobial activity through disruption of microbial cell membranes by organic acids and phenolic compounds

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

  • Anti-inflammatory and wound healing (Shotha-hara) - validated through multiple in vivo anti-inflammatory studies
  • Antipyretic and cooling (Jvarahara, Pittahara) - confirmed through pharmacological studies showing significant fever reduction
  • Digestive disorders and diarrhea (Atisara-nashaka) - antimicrobial and astringent properties support traditional antidiarrheal use
  • Eye conditions (Netra-roga) - traditional eye drops use partially supported by anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial data

What do recent clinical trials show?

2 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • Contains significant oxalic acid content; excessive consumption may contribute to kidney stone formation (calcium oxalate stones) in susceptible individuals
  • Generally safe for short-term traditional use at recommended doses; not recommended for patients with hyperoxaluria, gout, or kidney disease; long-term safety data lacking

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Swarasa (fresh juice), Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Lepa (paste), Capsule

Standard Dosage: 5-10ml fresh juice twice daily; 1-3g powder; 30-50ml decoction; external paste as needed. Use in moderate doses—contains oxalic acid.

Bioavailability: Oxalis corniculata—contains oxalic acid which can affect mineral (calcium, iron) bioavailability negatively through chelation. Vitamin C content enhances iron absorption from co-consumed foods. Flavonoids (vitexin, isovitexin) show moderate oral bioavailability (20-30%). Fresh juice provides highest bioavailability of water-soluble constituents. CAUTION: High oxalate content contraindicates use in renal calculi patients.

Optimal Timing: With meals to buffer acidity; fresh juice mid-morning; external paste as needed for skin conditions; avoid on completely empty stomach

Standardized Extract: Whole plant extract standardized to total flavonoids NLT 3%; vitamin C NLT 1%. Total oxalate content must be declared on label.

Shelf Life: 2 days (fresh juice, refrigerated); 18 months (powder); 2 years (capsule)

Storage: Fresh juice refrigerated at 2-8°C in glass containers. Dried material in airtight containers protected from moisture and light.

Marker Compounds: Oxalic acid, Vitexin, Isovitexin, Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), Tartaric acid, Citric acid, Beta-sitosterol, Gallic acid

Extraction Methods

  • Fresh juice expression (Swarasa)
  • Aqueous decoction for Kashayam
  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (50:50) for flavonoid fraction
  • Low-temperature drying followed by grinding for powder
  • Cold maceration for external paste

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Amalaki for vitamin C synergy and Pitta pacification
  • With Guduchi for fever management
  • With Haridra for anti-inflammatory formulations
  • With Kutaja for diarrhea management
  • With Durva for bleeding disorders

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Other clinical studies and reviews3

  1. Majumdar A, Kumar Saraf S, Baghel M and others. 2026. Chemical Diversity and Biomedical Relevance of Oxalis corniculata L.: A Review of Nutritional and Pharmacological AspectsChemistry & biodiversity. PMID 41240331 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.202502154
  2. Zhong T, He J, Zhao H and others. 2025. Oxalis corniculata L. As a Source of Natural Antioxidants: Phytochemistry, Bioactivities, and Application PotentialAntioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 41300509 · doi:10.3390/antiox14111352
  3. Sarfraz I, Rasul A, Hussain G and others. 2022. A Review on Phyto-pharmacology of Oxalis corniculataCombinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening. PMID 34391377 · doi:10.2174/1386207324666210813121431

Laboratory and animal studies9

  1. Fukano Y, Yamori W, Misu H and others. 2023. From green to red: Urban heat stress drives leaf color evolutionScience advances. PMID 37862418 · doi:10.1126/sciadv.abq3542
  2. Gao T, Hu W, Zhang Z and others. 2022. An acidic polysaccharide from Oxalis corniculata L. and the preliminary study on its antioxidant activityJournal of food biochemistry. PMID 35579221 · doi:10.1111/jfbc.14235
  3. Gholipour AR, Jafari L, Ramezanpour M and others. 2022. Apoptosis Effects of Oxalis corniculata L. Extract on Human MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line:Galen medical journal. PMID 36698692 · doi:10.31661/gmj.v11i.2484
  4. Groom Q, Meeus S, Janssens SB and others. 2021. Hybridization of Oxalis corniculata and O. dillenii in their non-native rangePhytoKeys. PMID 34054321 · doi:10.3897/phytokeys.178.61031
  5. Chen L, Jiang B, Miao Y and others. 2021. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Oxalis corniculata (L.)Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources. PMID 33889744 · doi:10.1080/23802359.2021.1878950
  6. Lubna, Asaf S, Jan R and others. 2020. Complete Chloroplast Genome Characterization of Oxalis Corniculata and Its Comparison with Related Species from Family OxalidaceaePlants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 32717796 · doi:10.3390/plants9080928
  7. Groom QJ, Van der Straeten J, Hoste I. 2019. The origin of Oxalis corniculata LPeerJ. PMID 30783568 · doi:10.7717/peerj.6384
  8. Salahuddin H, Mansoor Q, Batool R and others. 2016. Anticancer activity of Cynodon dactylon and Oxalis corniculata on Hep2 cell lineCellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France). PMID 27188871
  9. Rao PK, Hasan SS, Bhellum BL and others. 2015. Ethnomedicinal plants of Kathua district, J&K, IndiaJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 26023030 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2015.05.028

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.