Cockscomb (Celosia cristata Linn.)

  Cockscomb  : 

It is a nutritious leafy green vegetable, as it is high in nutrients such as beta-carotene and folic acids, and have vitamin E, calcium and iron.

It is frequently used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for treating eye diseases and ulcers.

Celosia cristata Linn. inflorescences,  is a culturally significant plant of Kashmir valley, India

The flower contain variety of vitamins (A, B-complex, C and E) with Vitamin E (tocopherol) showing the highest concentration. 

Among minerals, potassium was found to be present in significant amounts, the amino acid and fatty acid profile of the flower.

The valley of Kashmir that lies in the northern part of India has a rich diversity of medicinal flowers, plants, and herbs. There is a documented evidence of 1,748 medicinal plant species from the region 

The plant, Celosia cristata, commonly known as cock's comb flower, is one of the valued medicinal plants of the Kashmir valley

Locally known as “Mawal”, C. cristata is an herbaceous plant belonging to the family Amaranthaceae (Caryophyllales). It is grown as an ornamental plant in most of the parts of the world because of the attractive and vibrant colored inflorescences

C. cristata flowers (CCF): The dried inflorescences, seeds, and leaves are reportedly used in African, Indian (Ayurvedic and Yunani) and Chinese traditional medicinal systems to cure various ailments

For use in ethnomedicine different parts of C. cristata are used by traditional healers. The dried red flowers are effective against hematuria, abdominal pains, leucorrhea, heavy menstrual bleeding, hemoptysis, hemorrhoid bleeding and osteoporosis

Apart from its use in folklore medicine, scientific investigations have reported its hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antimelanocyte, antinoceceptive, anti-oxidant, anti-aging and adipogenesis reduction activities

The coloring property of C. cristata flower is due to the presence of betalains, which are water soluble pigments found in plants belonging to the family Amaranthaceae