Changeri
Oxalis corniculata L.
Changeri (Oxalis corniculata L.) is a plant drug, also called Amlapatrika, Amlika and Cangeri, from the Oxalidaceae family. Not listed in WHO monographs; included in traditional pharmacopeias of India and China; used in approved Chinese patent medicines.
| Botanical name | Oxalis corniculata L. |
|---|---|
| Family | Oxalidaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Oxalidales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Not listed in WHO monographs; included in traditional pharmacopeias of India and China; used in approved Chinese patent medicines |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 8427624 · Wikidata Q162795 · NCBI Taxonomy 212256 |
| Sanskrit | Amlapatrika, अम्लिका (amlikā), Cangeri |
|---|---|
| Hindi | अमरुल (amarula), Ambilosa, चांगेरी (cāṃgerī), Changeri, Tinpatiya |
| English | Indian Sorrel |
| Tamil | புளியாரை, Puliyarai |
| Malayalam | Pulliparel |
| Telugu | Pulichinta |
| Kannada | Pullamouradi, Purachi Soppu, Sivargee |
| Marathi | Ambti, Bhui Sarpati |
| Bengali | Amrul |
| Gujarati | Ambolee, Changeri, Rukhadi, Teen Panaki |
| Urdu | Changeri, Teen Patiya |
| Punjabi | Khatkal, Khatmittha, Khattibootee |
| Assamese | Chengeritenga |
Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; DDSA: University of Madras Tamil Lexicon, Puḷiyārai (புளியாரை) [puḷi-ārai]: 'Yellow wood-sorrel, Oxalis corniculata'; CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names (via wisdomlib): 'Puliyarai in India is the name of a plant defined with Oxalis corniculata'.; Wisdom Library 'Local Names of Plants and Drugs': 'Amrul [अम्रुल] in the Hindi language is the name of a plant identified with Oxalis corniculata L.'; corroborated in the indiantreepix thread on Oxalis corniculata ('Both in Hindi and Bengali it is called Amrul').; Wisdom Library 'Local Names of Plants and Drugs': 'Changeri [चांगेरी] in the Sanskrit language … identified with Oxalis corniculata' (also listed for Kannada ಚಾಂಗೇರಿ); CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names (via wisdomlib): 'Changeri in India is the name of a plant defined with Oxalis corniculata'; Ancient Science of Life vol. 25(2), 'Pharmacognostical studies on changeri Oxalis corniculata Linn.'; Śabda-Sāgara (via wisdomlib): 'Amlikā (अम्लिका) — Wood sorrel, (Oxalis corniculata)'; Apte: 'Amlikā — 3) Wood-sorrel; also पलाशीलता, श्वेताम्लिका and क्षुद्राम्लिका'. Note the same word also means the tamarind tree, so it needs a qualifier on the page.. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2015 to 2026, 11 with a DOI.
- 3Other clinical studies and reviews
- 9Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Indian Sorrel |
| Latin/Botanical | Oxalis corniculata L. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Oxalic acid and its salts
- Flavonoids (vitexin, isovitexin, vitexine-2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside)
- Polysaccharides
- Essential fatty acids (stearic, palmitic, linolenic, oleic acids)
- Tannins and polyphenols
- Ascorbic acid
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?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Anti-inflammatory and wound healing (Shotha-hara): traditionally used for inflammation and wound healing. Animal studies have reported anti-inflammatory activity.
- Antipyretic and cooling (Jvarahara, Pittahara): traditionally used to reduce fever and as a cooling herb. Pharmacological studies have reported fever reduction.
- Digestive disorders and diarrhea (Atisara-nashaka): traditionally used for digestive disorders and diarrhea. Antimicrobial and astringent properties have been reported.
- Eye conditions (Netra-roga): traditionally used as eye drops. Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity has been reported.
What do recent studies show?
- Zhong T, He J, Zhao H and others 2025. Oxalis corniculata L. As a Source of Natural Antioxidants: Phytochemistry, Bioactivities, and Application Potential. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 41300509 · doi:10.3390/antiox14111352
Identified dominant metabolite classes (flavonoids, polysaccharides, organic acids). Reported antioxidant-driven pharmacological properties, including neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities.
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. 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
- 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.
Optimal Timing: With meals to buffer acidity; fresh juice mid-morning; external paste as needed for skin conditions; avoid on completely empty stomach
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
Synergistic Combinations
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
- 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
- 2025. Oxalis corniculata L. As a Source of Natural Antioxidants: Phytochemistry, Bioactivities, and Application PotentialAntioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 41300509 · doi:10.3390/antiox14111352
- 2022. A Review on Phyto-pharmacology of Oxalis corniculataCombinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening. PMID 34391377 · doi:10.2174/1386207324666210813121431
Laboratory and animal studies9
- 2024. The potential anti-Alzheimer's activity of Oxalis corniculata Linn. Methanolic extract in experimental rats: Role of APOE4/LRP1, TLR4/NF-κβ/NLRP3, Wnt 3/β-catenin/GSK-3β, autophagy and apoptotic cuesJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 38218505 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.117731
- 2024. Diosmin: A Daboia russelii venom PLA(2)s inhibitor- purified, and characterized from Oxalis corniculata L medicinal plantJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 37544341 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116977
- 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
- 2021. Hybridization of Oxalis corniculata and O. dillenii in their non-native rangePhytoKeys. PMID 34054321 · doi:10.3897/phytokeys.178.61031
- 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
- 2019. The origin of Oxalis corniculata LPeerJ. PMID 30783568 · doi:10.7717/peerj.6384
- 2018. Enhancer assisted-phytoremediation of mercury-contaminated soils by Oxalis corniculata L., and rhizosphere microorganism distribution of Oxalis corniculata LEcotoxicology and environmental safety. PMID 29804013 · doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.05.041
- 2016. Anticancer activity of Cynodon dactylon and Oxalis corniculata on Hep2 cell lineCellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France). PMID 27188871
- 2015. Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Insecticidal Potentials of Oxalis corniculata and Its Isolated CompoundsInternational journal of analytical chemistry. PMID 25873973 · doi:10.1155/2015/842468
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
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.