Achyranthes aspera L. - syn.Achyranthes argentea Lam.; Achyranthes indica (L.) Mill. - Amaranthaceae
prickly chaff flower, devil's horsewhip, Teufels-Reitpeitsche

Invasive perennial herb of the tropical world, 0.2-2m high; stem more or minor square; leaves ovate; white or pale green flowers 1-6cm long, 5 stamens; bracts lanceolate, pale brown;

„In Uttar Pradesh the plant is used for a great many medicinal purposes, especially in obstetrics and gynecology, including abortion, induction of labor, and cessation of postpartum bleeding.“
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achyranthes_aspera

Achyranthes aspera root
Effects. Extracts with water or methanol/acetone showed uterotonic and diuretic properties. [Gambhir SS, Sanyal AK, Chowdhury NK; Indian J. Physiol.Pharmacol. 9(1965), 185-88]
Uses. As diuretic. [Chopra RN; Indigenous Drugs of India, 2.Edn., Art Press, Calcutta 1958, p.662]
An extract, produced by mazeration of the dried roots of Achyranthes aspera, is used as analgesic in cases of scorpion bites in India. [Uphof JC; Dictionary of Economic Plants, 2.Edn., J Cramer, New York 1968]
Constituents. The drug contains phytoecdysones like ecdysterone and inokosterone, furthermore betaine and a saponin. [Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, Springer 2010]

The ethanolic extract of the leaves of Achyranthes aspera showed antibacterial activity against gram negative (Pseudomonas aeroginosa) and gram positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts of ethanol were found to be 25 to 125 mg/ml, providing scientific basis for the use of the plant extract in the treatment of wounds and skin diseases.
[Antibacterial activities of ethanolic extracts of plants used in folk medicine., Narayan, G.R., Kartik, V., Manoj, P., Singh, P.S., Alka, G., International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy (IJRAP), 1(2), 2010, 529-535] http://www.ijrap.net/admin/php/uploads/328_pdf.pdf

Wight, R., Icones Plantarum Indiae Orientalis, vol. 5(2): t. 1777 (1846) [Govindoo]
http://plantgenera.org/species.php?id_species=12559