Convolvulus arvensis Health Dictionary

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Convolvulus Arvensis: From 1 Different Sources

Linn.

Family: Convolvulaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India, up to 3,000 m in the Himalayas.

English: Deer's Foot.

Ayurvedic: Bhadrabalaa, Hiranpadi.

Unani: Lablaab.

Folk: Hirankhuri, Haranpagaa.

Action: Plant—cooling, anticonvul- sant. Root—cathartic.

Plant extract—hypotensive in cats; raises coronary rate. Alkaloids—hy- potensive, without vasodilation. EtOH extract—anticonvulsant in rats. Aqueous extract—exhibited muscarinic and micotinic activity.

The dried rhizome contains 4.9% resin. The cathartic action of the resinous substance is about one third of that of jalap (Ipomoea purga Hayne) resin.

All parts of the plant contain beta- Me-esculetin; aerial parts n-alkanes, n-alkanols, alpha-amyrin and sterols; roots gave cuscohygrine.
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Anagallis Arvensis

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.... anagallis arvensis

Convolvulus Pluricaulis

Choisy.

Synonym: C. Microphyllus Sieb. C. Prostratus Forsk

Family: Convolvulaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India, Ascending To 2,000 M In The Himalayas.

Ayurvedic: Shankhapushpi, Shankhaahvaa, Kshirapushpi, Maangalya Kusuma (White- Flowered). Blue-Flowered Var., Vishnukraanti, Vishnukraantaa, Vishnugandhi Is Equated With Evolvulus Alsinoides Linn.

Unani: Sankhaahuli (Blue-Flowered)

Siddha/Tamil: Sivakraandi (White- Flowered), Vishnukraandi (Blue- Flowered).

Action: Plant—Brain Tonic, Tranquilizer Used In Nervine Disorders, Mental Aberration, Anxiety Neurosis, Internal Haemorrhages, Spermatorrhoea. Also Astringent, Antidysenteric, Antispasmodic, Antiphlogistic, Febrifuge, Alterative. Flowers—Styptic, Used For Uterine Bleeding. Leaf—Antiasthmatic, Used In Chronic Bronchitis. Root— Used In Gastric And Duodenal Ulcers, Uterine Affections And For Promoting Fertility.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Of India Recommends The Plant For Epilepsy. The Plant Contains Sankhpushpine Alkaloids.

The Alcoholic (50%) Extract Of The Plant, When Administered To Rats (Through Gastric Intubation At Different Intervals), Has Shown Enhanced Neuropeptide Synthesis Of The Brain. It Induces An Increase In Brain Protein Content And Increases Acquisition Efficiency.

Evolvulus Alsinoides Contains Pen- Tatriacontane, Triacontane And Beta- Sitosterol.

Shankhapushpi Syrup (A Compound Containing C. Pluricaulis, Centella Asiatica, Nardostachys Jatamansi, Nepeta Hindostana, Nepeta Elliptica And Onos- Ma Bracteatum), When Administered With Phenytoin, A Modern Antiepilep- Tic Drug, Reduced Not Only Antiepileptic Activity Of Phenytoin But Also Lowered Plasma Phenytoin Levels.

Dosage: Whole Plant—3-6 G Powder. (Api Vol. III.)... convolvulus pluricaulis

Convolvulus Scammonia

Linn.

Family: Convolvulaceae.

Habitat: A native to the Mediterranean region.

English: Scammony.

Unani: Saqmunia.

Action: Resin from rhizomes—hy- dragogue, Cathartic, administered in dropsy and anascara.

Most of the resin available in India is imported from Syria and Asia Minor and is grossly adulterated.

The roots contain on an average 8% resin together with dihydroxy cinnam- ic acid, beta-methyl-esculetin, ipu- ranol, surcose, a reducing sugar and starch. The resin consists of the glyco- sides and methylpentosides of jalapi- nolic acid and its methyl ester.

Large doses cause acute gastro-intestinal irritation, and, if absorbed, produce cystitis and nephritis.... convolvulus scammonia

Mentha Arvensis

Linn. var. piperascens Holmes.

Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in Jammu and Kashmir.

English: Japanese Mint.

Unani: Naanaa.

Action: Carminative, chola- gogue, expectorant, antibacterial, antifungal.

Key application: Mint oil— internally for flatulence, functional gastrointestinal and gallbladder disorders; catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract. Externally, for myalgia and neuralgia. (German Commission E.)

Major components of the essential oil are menthol (up to 95%) and men- thone. Others are alpha-and beta- pinene, alpha-thujene, l-limonene, beta-phellandrene, furfural, methyl- cyclohexanone and camphene. The essential oil possesses both antibacterial and antifungal properties.

The leaves show anti-implantation effect. Seeds showed abortifacient activity (29%) in albino rats with marked malformations in neonates where pregnancy was not terminated.... mentha arvensis

Ranunculus Arvensis

Linn.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: The Western Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon.

English: Corn Buttercup.

Folk: Chambul (Punjab). Gager- kanda (Kashmir).

Action: Used in intermittent fevers, asthma and gout.

The active principle of the herb is protoanemonin (0.54%) and its glyco- sidic precursor, ranunculin. The herb yields hydrocyanic acid in very small amounts.

The leaves contain the antifungal lactone protoanemonin which inhibited growth of Epidermophyton floccosum and the yeast Rhodotorula glutinis.... ranunculus arvensis

Sonchus Arvensis

Linn.

Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat: Waste places and fields throughout India, up to an altitude of 2,400 m.

English: Corn Sow Thistle.

Ayurvedic: Sahadevi (bigger var.). (Vernonia cinerea is equated with Sahadevi.)

Action: Plant—sedative, hypnotic, anodyne, expectorant, diuretic. Used for nervous debility. Seeds— used for asthma, bronchitis, cough, pertussis, fever; decoction in insomnia. Leaves—applied to swellings. Root—used for diseases of the respiratory tract.

The plant contains amino acids, lipids, polymeric hydrocarbons, polyphenols, protein; alpha- and beta- amyrins, lupeol, pseudotaraxasterol, taraxasterol. The latex contains manni- tol, alpha-and beta-lactucerols. Aerial parts and fruits contain ceryl alcohol, choline, palmitic, tartaric and stearic acids.... sonchus arvensis

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