|
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Common name: Deshi pat, Nalita, Koshta(Beng.); Jute(Eng.).
Life cycle: Annual
Native Range: Native to tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. The plants are tall, usually annual herbs, reaching a height of 2-4 m, unbranched or with only a few side branches. Their leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate, 5-15 cm long, with an acuminate tip and a finely serrated or lobed margin. Their flowers are small (2-3 cm diameter) and yellow, with five petals; the fruit is a many-seeded capsule. It thrives almost anywhere, and can be grown year-round.
Jute is used as herbal medicine to control or prevent dysentery, worm and constipation etc. It leaves are being used as health-food in Japan. Jute leave is rich in vitamins, carotinoids, calcium, potassium and dietary fibers. Jute leaf contains antitumor promoters; Phytol and Monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol. It may reduce risk of cancer. |
