Linn.Family: Primulaceae.
Habitat: Northwestern Himalayas from Kashmir eastwards to Nepal, hills of West Bengal; Central and southern India.
English: Bird's Eye, Bird's Tongue, Blue Pimpernel, Scarlet Pimpernel.Unani: Anaaghaalis.Folk: Jonkmaari (Maharashtra), Dhabbar (Punjab), Jighanaa, Jenghani.Action: Plant—anti-inflammatory, astringent, deobstructant, an- tifungal, nematocidal; toxic to leeches.
The plant yields anagalligenone B. The presence of quaternary alkaloids, gluco-fructoside and tannin have been reported. The root yields glycosidic saponins, including cyclamin. An acetyl saponin, isolated from the plant, was found to possess marked taenici- dal activity but had no effect on round- worms.A methanolic extract of the aerial parts showed activity against herpes simplex I, adenovirus type II and polio type II. Triterepene saponins have oestrogenic activity.
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