The Indian psyllium herb belongs to the plantain family, native to the desert regions of North Africa and Southwest Asia, height up to 1o cm, long, narrow-linear, white-fluffy hairy leaves, small flowers in densely flowered spikes, as well as an elliptical capsule fruit containing small, yellowish to brown, tooth-shaped seeds up to 2.5 mm in size(Plantaginis ovatae semen). Flowering time January to April.
Psyllium seeds, Plantaginis ovatae-semen, and the psyllium husks Plantaginis ovatae seminis tegumentum are used phytotherapeutically.
In addition to Indian psyllium, there are also Plantago afra, psyllium plantain, psyllium herb and psyllium afrum.
Cosmetology: Plantago ovata leaf extract (INCI) and Plantago ovata seed extract (INCI).