Scientific Name : Plantago Ovata
Common Name : Psyllium (English)
Family : Plantaginaceae
Psyllium plant scientifically known as plantago ovata has gained importance as a traditional medicine throughout the world due to its best medicinal properties.
Locally known as isabgol or isabhghula is now cultivated on large scale in western India. Recently it has gained agricultural importance because of its wide use in pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food grade industries worldwide.
Morphologically psyllium is a bushy herb growing in sandy, salty soil, is believed to be native to Asia, the Mediterrian Region and North Africa.
Psyllium seeds have characteristic of mucilage formation on catching humidity.
Due to these properties it is largely used in pharmaceutical industry, food preparations, ayurvedic medicine, unani remedies, preparation of crude drugs, etc.