Alizarin Health Dictionary

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Alizarin: From 1 Different Sources

(alizarin carmine) n. an orange-red dye derived from coal tar and originally isolated from the plant madder (Rubia tinctorum). Alizarin is insoluble in water but dissolves in alkalis, alcohol, and ether. It is used as a pH indicator and as a histochemical reagent for calcium, thallium, titanium, and zirconium.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Galium Verum

Linn.

Habitat: Kashmir, Lahul and other west Himalayan regions, at altitude of 2,000-3,000 m

English: Lady's Bedstraw, Cheese Rennet.

Action: Herb—diuretic, used for kidney stone, gravel, gout. Used topically for poorly healing wounds.

The plant contains the iridoids including asperuloside and galioside; flavonoid glycosides; quercetin-3-glu- coside, quercetin-7-glucoside, quer- cetin-3-rutinoside, luteolin-7-gluco- side; anthraquinone derivatives, including alizarin, and large amounts of salicylic acid. Its high organic acid content causes curdling of milk. The root contain n-alkanes.... galium verum

Morinda Citrifolia

Linn.

Synonym: M. bracteata Roxb.

Family: Rubiaceae.

Habitat: Sub-Himalayan tracts, Darjeeling, Konkan and the Andamans.

English: Indian Mulberry.

Ayurvedic: Ashyuka, Akshi, Atchy.

Siddha/Tamil: Nunaa, Togaru.

Action: Fruit—emmenagogue, antileucorrhoeic, antidysenteric, anticatarrhal (used in throat infections and asthma). Root and leaf—cathartic, febrifuge, anti-inflammatory (used in gout). Root—anticongestive, hypotensive. A decoction is given to regulate menstruation.

The heartwood yielded anthraqui- nones—alizarin and its glycosides, nor- damnacanthol. Leaves contain ursolic acid and beta-sitosterol. Fruits gave asperuloside and caproic acid.

The lyophilized aqueous extract of roots was evaluated for analgesic and behavioural effects in mice; positive results were observed confirming a sedative property without exhibiting any toxic effects.

Ethanolic extract of the plant showed significant antimicrobial activity.

Morinda coreia Buch.-Ham., M. tinctoria Roxb. (dry forests throughout the greater part of India) is considered as the wild form or a varient of Morin- da citrifolia and is known by the same vernacular nemes. The root bark gave the insecticidal glycoside, morindin-6- primeveroside, which was found lethal on cockroaches and houseflies topically.

Morinda umbellata L. (Bihar, Khasi Hills and Peninsular India) is also known as Nunaa in Tamil Nadu.

A decoction of root and leaves is used for diarrhoea and dysentery. The root bark contains a considerable amount of rubichloric acid and small quantities of anthraquinones.... morinda citrifolia

Oldenlandia Umbellata

Linn.

Synonym: Hedyotis umbellata (Linn.) Lam.

Family: Rubiaceae.

Habitat: Bihar, Orissa, Travancore. Cultivated on the Coromandel coast.

English: Indian Madder, Chay-Root.

Siddha/Tamil: Inbooral.

Folk: Chiraval (Maharashtra).

Action: Leaves and roots—used in bronchitis, asthma, consumption.

The plant gave anthraquinone derivatives. The root gave alizarin, ru- bichloric acid and ruberythric acid, also anthraquinones. Purpurin, pupur- oxanthin carboxylic acid, present in Madder (Rubia tinctorum), are almost entirely absent.... oldenlandia umbellata

Rubia Cordifolia

Linn.

Synonym: R. munjesta Roxb.

Family: Rubiaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India, ascending to an altitude of 3,700 m.

English: Indian Madder, Bengal Madder.

Ayurvedic: Manjishthaa, Vikasaa, Samangaa, Yojanavalli, Kaalameshi- ka, Raktaangi, Raktayashtikaa, Arunaa, Gandira, Jingi.

Unani: Manjeeth.

Siddha/Tamil: Manjitti.

Action: Roots and dried stem— blood purifier, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, deobstruent, antidysenteric, antiseptic, alterative.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the use of the dried stem in blood, skin and urinogenital disorders; dysentery; piles, ulcers, inflammations; erysipelas, skin diseases and rheumatism. (Roots, leaves and seeds of R. cordifolia, R. tinctorum and allied species are used in amenorrhoea, liver diseases, gall and spleen complaints.) (Mutagenic and carcinogenic aspects of the drug are under investigation.)

It is reported that after oral administration of the root decoction, the urine and bones of the patient show a red tinge.

The roots are rich in anthraquinones and their glycosides (around 20), the important ones include purpurin (tri- hydroxy anthraquinone), munjistin (xanthopurpurin-2-carboxylic acid); besides xanthopurpurin, peudopur- purin (purpurin-3-carboxylic acid), free alizarin as well as its glucoside.

Whole plant yielded pentacylic tri- terpenic acids—rubicoumaric and ru- bifolic acids.

Antitumour cyclic hexapeptides have been isolated from the root (while lucidin is thought to be carcinogenic).

The root extracts of R. sikkimensis Kurz, known as Naaga-Madder (Nepal eastwards to Assam, Nagaland and Ma- nipur); are very similar to those of R. cordifolia.

Dosage: Stem—2-4 g. (API, Vol. III.)... rubia cordifolia

Rubia Tinctorum

Linn.

Family: Rubiaceae.

Habitat: Native to Southern Europe and parts of Asia; also found in Kashmir.

English: Alizari, European Madder.

Action: Root—used for menstrual and urinary disorders and liver diseases.

The root contains anthraquinone and their glycosides, including alizarin, purpurin, purpuroxanthin, pseudopurpurin, rubiadin, ruberythric acid and lucidin primeveroside. There are indications that lucidin is carcinogenic. All parts of the plant contained an iri- doid, asperuloside.... rubia tinctorum

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