a substance with the power of destroying amoebae.
Habitat: The sub-tropical Himalayas of Kumaon and Nepal; cultivated in Andhra Pradesh.
Ayurvedic: Gandira (Achyranthes aquatica Br. is also equated with Gandira). (Doubtful synonym.)Folk: Garmar (Gujarat), Gurmal.Action: Root and leaf—spasmolytic, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, lipolytic.
In experimental amoebiasis of rats, the root powder and ethanolic extract showed amoebicidal activity against Entamoeba histolytica.An alcoholic extract of the roots and essential oil from it, were found to inhibit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in the mouse and rat.The plant produces the labdane diterpenoid, forskolin in its tuberous roots.Forskolin was discovered during a screening of medicinal plants by Central Drug Research Institute, Luc- know, India, in 1974. (Planta Medica, 1985, 51, 473-477.) The screening revealed the presence of a hypoten- sive and spasmolytic principle, named coleonol (later the name was changed to forskolin). The basic mechanism of forskolin is the activation of an enzyme, adenylate cyclase, which increases the amount of cyclic adeno- sine monophosphate (cAMP) in cells. Raised intracellular cAMP level exhibits following physiological effects : inhibition of platelet activation and degranulation; inhibition of mast cell degranualation and histamine release; relaxation of the arteries and other smooth muscles; increased insulin secretion; increased thyroid function; increased lipolysis.Forskolin, in clinical studies, reduced intraocular pressure when it was applied to the eyes for treating glaucoma. It has been shown to be a direct cerebral vasodilator. It has also been studied as a possible bron- chodilator (in the treatment of asthma) and has been shown to effectively reverse methacholine-induced broncho constriction in extrinsic asthmatics.Standardized Coleus extracts containing forskolin (18% in 50 mg) find application in weight-loss programmes. (Michael T. Murray.)Studies on forskolin and some 50 derivatives of the compound indicate that the natural product is more active than the analogs prepared from it.The wild var. is known as Kaffir Potato.... coleus barbatusHabitat: Hills of Tamil Nadu. Grown in gardens as an ornamental.
English: Common Ivy, Bentwood.Siddha/Tamil: Maravalai.Action: Leaf—expectorant, anti- spasmodic, antineuralgic, vasocon- strictive.
Fruit—used in jaundice, haempt- ysis. Flower—antidysenteric. Leaf and resin—emmenagogue. Tender twigs—boiled in butter, used for sunburn. Extracts are used in some cosmetic preparations.Key application: In catarrh of the upper respiratory passages, symptomatic treatment of chronic inflammatory bronchial conditions. (German Commission E.)The stem and bark gave triterpene glycosides, named kizuta saponins. Oleanolic acid glycoside was also obtained from the plant but the presence of emetine could not be confirmed in subsequent work. The fruits gave hederagenin glycosides.Emetin has been isolated from European and British plant. The fruit and hederagenin glycosides exhibit mollus- cacidal activity. Emetine-containing plant is amoebicidal.... hedera helixHabitat: The tropical Himalayas, going up to an altitude of 1,100 m. Also found throughout many forests of India, in Travancore, Assam and Uttar Pradesh.
English: Easter tree, Ivory tree, Tellicherry Bark.Ayurvedic: Kutaja, Girimallikaa, Kaalinga, Kalingaka, Indravrik- sha, Shakra, Vatsa, Vatsaka, Shakraahvya. Indrayava, Indrabija, Vatsabija (seed). Kurchi (bark).Unani: Inderjo talkh, Teewaaj-e- Khataai.Siddha/Tamil: Kudasappaalai-pattai, -vidai (bark, seed).Action: Root and bark—used in amoebic dysentery. Bark—astringent, anthelmintic, amoebicidal, diuretic. Used in colic, dyspepsia, piles, diseases of the skin and spleen. Seed—antibilious. Used for promoting conception, also for toning up vaginal tissues after delivery.
The bark contains the alkaloids, regholarrhenine-A, -B, -C, -D, -E and -F; pubescine, norholadiene, pubes- cimine, kurchinin, kurchinine, kur- chinidine, holarrifine, holadiene, kurchilidine, kurchamide, kurcholes- sine, kurchessine, conessine, cones- simine and isoconessimine, and the steroidal compounds kurchinicin and holadyson.The alkaloid conessine is used as a therapeutic drug for the treatment of dysentery and helminthic disorders. Conessine and conimine inhibited the growth of Shigella sonnei, S. flexneri and Salmonella enteritidis strains in vitro. In chronic amoebiasis, Bi-iodide compound of total alkaloids, given orally, compare favourably with emetine Bi-iodide.The plant possesses potent immuno- stimulant property.The Kurchi seeds are sold as a substitute for Strophanthus sp. seeds in Indian market. (Seeds of Strophanthus sp. contain a toxic glucoside, strophan- thin, and are poisonous.)Dosage: Stem bark—20-30 g for decoction. (API Vol. I); seed—3- 6 g powder; 20-30 g for decoction. (API Vol. III.)... holarrhena antidysentericaAction: cathartic, diaphoretic, stimulant, antispasmodic, expectorant, febrifuge, anthelmintic, amoebicidal.
Uses: whooping cough, to liquefy bronchial phlegm. Berries macerated in vinegar to make an acid tincture used in the London plague. Hydrocephalus (single drop doses of fresh plant juice) traditional. Preparations. Locally, Ivy leaf poultice for swollen glands and chronic leg ulcer.
Ivy Leaf Corn Cure. ... ivy
Habitat: Outer Himalaya, Assam, West Bengal; cultivated in many parts of India.
English: Tree of Sorrow, Night Jasmine, Coral Jasmine.Ayurvedic: Paarijaata, Shephaali, Shephaalikaa, Mandaara.Unani: Harasingaar.Siddha: Pavazha mattigai.Action: Leaves—bitter tonic, chola- gogue, febrifuge, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, hypotensive, respiratory stimulant. Used for fevers, rheumatism, obstinate sciatica.
The leaves and seeds contain iri- doid glycosides; other constituents reported from the leaves are mannitol, beta-amyrin, beta-sitosterol, hentria- contane, benzoic acid, astragalin, nico- tiflorin, oleanolic acid, nyctanthic acid, friedelin and lupeol. The seeds contain a polysaccharide glucomannan.All parts of the plant are used for allergic disorders. Alcoholic extract of the plant was found to inhibit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in experimental animals. The inhibition was comparable to standard drugs used for allergy and bronchial asthma.Ethanolic extract of the leaves, flowers and seeds demonstrated strong stimulation of antigen specific and non-specific immunity in mice.The 50% ethanolic extracts of the leaves, flowers, seeds and roots were found effective in treating caecal amoe- biasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica in rats. But the extracts did not exhibit direct amoebicidal activity in vitro against trophozoites of the parasite.The iridoid glucosides showed an- tileishmanial activity both in vivo and in vitro.Dosage: Leaf—10-20 ml juice. (CCRAS.)Seeds—used in diabetes, also in cutaneous diseases. Filaments— astringent and cooling; prescribed for bleeding piles and menorrhagia. Plant—toxic on the nervous system.The flowers contain flavonoids including quercetin, kaempferol, api- genin. Cardiac glucoside, nymphalin, showed sedative action in small doses.The petroleum ether extract of the plant of Nymphaea species, given at a dose of 300 mg/kg i.p. prevented necrosis of the liver tissue and promoted, to some extent, liver regeneration in CCl4-induced toxicity.Dosage: Dried flowers—3-6 g (API, Vol. III); seed—3-6 g. powder (CCRAS.).... nyctanthes arbor-tristisAction. Liver stimulant, cholagogue, antiseptic, alterative. Tonic to spleen and pancreas, antemetic, digestive tonic. Hypotensive. Mild sedative and anticonvulsant. Uterine stimulant. Anti-haemorrhagic, Febrifuge, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-diarrhoeal, Amoebicidal, Bactericidal.
Uses: Sluggish liver, jaundice, biliousness, gastritis, gallstones, itching anus, ulcerated mouth, malaria, sandfly fever, toxaemia from drugs and environmental chemicals. Shingles, bladder disorders, leucorrhoea, renal colic. Old gouty constitutions react favourably. Cholera (animals). Leukopaenia due to chemotherapy.
Combinations. With Yarrow for malaria. With Gelsemium for pain in the coccyx (tailbone). With Fringe Tree bark for skin disorders.
Contra-indications: pregnancy, diarrhoea.
Preparations: Thrice daily.
Decoction: 1 teaspoon to each cup cold water left to steep overnight. Half-1 cup. Liquid Extract: BHP (1983) 1:1 in 25 per cent alcohol. Dose (1-3ml).
Tincture: BHP (1983) 1:10 in 60 per cent alcohol. Dose (2-4ml).
Powdered bark, dose, 1-2g. ... barberry bark
FAMILY: Amaryllidaceae or Liliaceae
SYNONYMS: Common garlic, allium, poor man’s treacle!
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A strongly scented perennial herb up to 1.2 metres high with long, flat, firm leaves and whitish flowering stems. The bulb is made up of several cloves pressed together within a thin white skin.
DISTRIBUTION: It is said to have originated in south west Siberia and then spread to Europe and Central Asia. It is naturalized in North America and cultivated worldwide. Major oil-producing countries include Egypt, Bulgaria, France, China, Germany and Japan.
OTHER SPECIES: Closely related to the wild or wood garlic (A. ursinum) also known as ‘ramsons’. There are also many other wild species with similar but less pronounced properties.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: It has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal virtues: for respiratory and urinary tract infections; digestive disorders and infestations; skin eruptions; heart disease, high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis, as well as epidemics and fever. It was used in the First World War for preventing gangrene and sepsis.
It has a high reputation in the East: in China it is used for diarrhoea, dysentery, tuberculosis, diphtheria, hepatitis, ringworm, typhoid and trachoma, among others. It is also held in high regard in the West: specific in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia for chronic bronchitis. Its properties have been attested to by modern experimental and clinical research.
ACTIONS: Amoebicidal, anthelmintic, antibiotic, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antitoxic, antitumour, antiviral, bactericidal, carminative, cholagogue, hypocholesterolemic, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, fungicidal, hypoglycaemic, hypotensive, insecticidal, larvicidal, promotes leucocytosis, stomachic, tonic.
EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the fresh crushed bulbs.
CHARACTERISTICS: A colourless to pale yellow mobile liquid with a strong, unpleasant, familiar garlic-like odour.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Allicin, allylpropyl disulphide, diallyl disulphide, diallyl trisulphide, citral, geraniol, linalol, phellandrene, among others.
SAFETY DATA: Generally non-toxic and non-irritant, although it has been known to irritate the stomach; may also cause sensitization in some individuals.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE Due to its unpleasant and pervasive smell, the oil is not often used externally. However, the capsules may be taken internally according to the instructions on the label for respiratory and gastro-intestinal infections, urinary tract infections such as cystitis, heart and circulatory problems, and to fight infectious diseases in general.
OTHER USES: The oil is made into capsules and also included in many health food products mainly to help reduce high blood pressure and protect against heart disease. Extensively employed as a flavour ingredient in most major food categories, especially savouries.... garlic
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