Roxb.Family: Dioscoreaceae.
Habitat: Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Ayurvedic: Shankhaaluka.Action: Tubers contain 77.7978.23% carbohydrates, 9.73-10.13% albuninoids.
Habitat: Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Ayurvedic: Shankhaaluka.Action: Tubers contain 77.7978.23% carbohydrates, 9.73-10.13% albuninoids.
Habitat: Native to East Asia; cultivated in Assam, Vadodara, Tamil Nadu, Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.
English: Wild Yam, Greater Yam, Asiatic Yam.Ayurvedic: Kaashthaaluka. Aaluka (var.). Aalukas (yams) of Ayurvedic texts, belong to Dioscorea spp.Siddha/Tamil: Perumvalli kizhangu.Folk: Kathaalu.Action: Even the best among the cultivated yams causes irritation in the throat or a feeling of discomfort when eaten raw. Wild yams—cholagogue, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, diuretic. Also used for painful periods, cramps and muscle tension.
Key application: Dioscorea villosa L., Wild Yam—as spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)The edible tubers of Dioscorea alata are purple-coloured and contain an- thocyanins, cyanidin and peonidin- 3-gentiobioside acylated with sinapic acid. The tubers contain surcose, while leaves contain large quantities of D- fructose, D-glucose and the polyols, 2-deoxyribitol, 6-deoxysorbitol and glycerol.Mouldy yams are reported to contain a compound ipomeanol which is being tested against human lung cancer. (J. Am Med Assoc, 1994,15, 23.)Diosgenin obtained from Dioscorea species was used in the first commercial production of oral contraceptives, topical hormones, systemic corticos- teroids, androgens, estrogens, pro- gestogens and other sex hormones.The chemical transformation of di- osgenin to estrogen, progesterone or any other steroidal compound does not occur in human body. Topically applied Wild Yam does not appear to cause changes in serum FSH, estradi- ol or progesterone. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)Diosgenin, combined with the drug clofibrate, caused a greater decrease in LDL than either substance alone in rats. (Sharon M. Herr.)... dioscorea alataHabitat: Wet regions of the Himalayas from Central Nepal, eastwards to northern Bengal, Assam and Chittagong.
Ayurvedic: Kaasaalu, Kasaalu.Folk: Koshakanda (Bengal).Action: See D. alata.... dioscorea anguina
Habitat: Throughout tropical India, at 1,500-2,100 m.
English: Patoto Yam, Bulb-bearing Yam, Air Potato, Dog Yam.Ayurvedic: Vaaraahi, Vaaraahikan- da, Grshti, Banaaalu, Suraalu, Raktaalu. Substitute for Vriddhi.Unani: Baraahikand.Siddha/Tamil: Kodi-kilangu, Pannu-kilangu.Action: Dried and pounded tubers are used as an application for swellings, boils and ulcers; roasted tubers are used in dysentery, piles, venereal sores. Leaf—febrifuge.
The raw tubers are bitter due to the presence of furanoid norditerpenes (they lose their bitterness on roasting and are then eaten). The wild tubers contain nearly 83% starch and possess hunger-suppressing property. They contain certain poisonous alkaloids.The rhizomes afforded D-sorbitol, furanoid norditerpenes—diosbulbins A-D, 2,4,6,7-tetrahydroxy-9,10-dihy- drophenanthrene and 2,4,5,6,-tetra- hydroxyphenanthrene, diosgenin, lucein, neoxanthine, violaxanthin, zeax- anthin, auroxanthin and cyrptoxan- thin.... dioscorea bulbiferaAction: Tubers—used for ulcer, to kill worms in wounds. Plant parts— used in whitlow, sores, boils.
The tubers contain 81.45-81.8 carbohydrates, 7.20-9.12% albuminoids. The toxic principle is dioscorine which is distributed throughout the plant.... dioscorea daemonaHabitat: The Western Ghats, Sikkim, Assam, Orissa and Bengal.
Ayurvedic: Vaaraahi (var.).Folk: Naagar-kanda (Bihar).Action: Tubers contain 85.50% carbohydrates, 8.30% albuminoids.... dioscorea hamiltonii
Habitat: South India; throughout the hills of Deccan.
Ayurvedic: Amlikaakanda (controversial synonym).Siddha: Kavala-kodi, Venilai Valli.Folk: Aambaalio Kanda (Gujarat).Action: Used externally for reducing swellings.... dioscorea oppositifolia
Habitat: Native to tropical America; cultivated in gardens as hedge.
English: Barbados Cherry, Acerola.Action: Fruits—used in dysentery, diarrhoea and liver disorders. Fruits are rich in ascorbic acid (1,000-4,000 mg/100 g of edible pulp). The bark contains about 26% tannin. Fruits of Brazilian plant gave alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthine.... malpighia glabra
Habitat: The Himalaya from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh and in Assam at 450-3,100 m.
Ayurvedic: Vaaraahikanda (var.), Grishti.Folk: Gun, Kris (Punjab).Action: Tuber—antipthiriac. Leaf— febrifuge. The rhizomes are a rich source of diogenin and its glycoside. Steroidal saponins have also been isolated. Diogenin is used in the preparation of various steroidal drugs.
Synonym: D. hispada Dennst. D. hirsuta Dennst.
Family: Dioscoreaceae.Habitat: Sikkim, the Himalayas, Khasi Hills.... dioscorea deltoidea
Habitat: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Bengal, Assam and the Andamans.
English: Lesser Yam, Karen Potato.Ayurvedic: Madhvaaluka.Siddha/Tamil: Musilam, Valli kilangu, Siruvalli Kilangu.Folk: Suthani.Action: Tubers are starchy and free from dioscorine, contain 71.29% carbohydrates, 10.82% albuminoids.... dioscorea esculenta
Habitat: Native to tropical Asia; distributed throughout India.
Ayurvedic: Vaaraahikanda (var., dry pieces are sold as Vidaarikanda).Folk: Kaantaalu.Action: Tubers contain 71.0780.77% carbohydrates, 8.68-15.93% albuminoids. Tubers are used to disperse swellings.... dioscorea pentaphylla
Habitat: The Himalaya from Nepal to Bhutan, up to 1,500 m, also in Naga Hills.
Ayurvedic: Neelaalu.Action: Tuber—antiphthiriac.
The rhizomes are used as a hair wash for killing lice. They contain diogenin (on dry basis) 2.5%. Also obtained are steroidal sapogenins, sito- sterol glucoside, prazerigenin-A gluco- side, prazerigenin-A bioside and 9,10- dihydrophenanthrenes.... dioscorea prazeriHabitat: Throughout Europe. Introduced into Indian gardens.
English: Rupture-Wort.Action: Plant—astringent, diuretic, antimicrobial, anticatarrhal. An infusion is used principally for bladder complaints for ruptures.
The plant gave a flavonic glycoside, rutoside; coumarins, herniarin and umbelliferone, and saponins.A related species, H. hirsuta L. (Himalaya, from Kashmir to Kumaon up to 3,000 m) gave umbelliferone, scopo- letin and herniarin.... herniaria glabraHabitat: Assam, Khasi and Garo Hills, eastwards to upper Burma, Indo-China and southern China.
Ayurvedic: Dweepaantara-Vachaa, Chobachini (bigger var.).Action: Roots—used for syphilis, venereal diseases and sores, as a blood purifier.
Astilbin, 3-O-caffeoyl-shikimic, fer- ulic, palmitic, shikimic and succinic acids; engeletin, isoengeletin; glucose; daucosterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmas- terol are major constituents of the root.Crude saponins, isolated from the plant, produced preventive effect on cholesterol-fed atherosclerosis in quails.Ayurvedic: Maitri.Unani: Ushbaa (wild species).Folk: Ghot-vel (Maharashtra).Action: Roots—used as a substitute for Hemidesmus indicus. Used for venereal diseases, urinary infections, rheumatism. Also used for dysentery. (S. perfoliata Lour., synonym S. prolifera Roxb. is used as a substitute for S. ovalifolia.)... smilax glabra
Habitat: Native to the Mediterranean regions. Now grown in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and South India.
English: Licorice, Liquorice.Ayurvedic: Yashtimadhu, Mad- huyashtyaahvaa, Madhuli, Mad- huyashtikaa, Atirasaa, Madhurasaa, Madhuka, Yastikaahva, Yashtyaah- va, Yashti, Yashtika, Yashtimadhuka. Klitaka (also equated with Indigofera tinctoria). (Klitaka and Klitanakam were considered as aquatic varieties of Yashtimadhu.)Unani: Asl-us-soos, Mulethi. Rubb-us-soos (extract).Siddha/Tamil: Athimathuram.Action: Demulcent, expectorant, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, mild laxative, antistress, antidepressive, antiulcer, liver protective, estrogenic, em- menagogue, antidiabetic. Used in bronchitis, dry cough, respiratory infections, catarrh, tuberculosis; genitourinary diseases, urinary tract infections; abdominal pain, gastric and duodenal ulcers, inflamed stomach, mouth ulcer. Also used for adrenocorticoid insufficiency.
Key application: In catarrh of the upper respiratory tract and gastric, duodenal ulcers. (German Commission E, ESCOP, WHO.)The British Herbal Compendium indicates the use of liquorice for bronchitis, chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, rheumatism and arthritis, adrenocor- ticoid insufficiency, and to prevent liver toxicity. Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia recognizes its use as an anti- inflammatory and antiulcer agent.The main chemical constituent of liquorice is glycyrrhizin (about 29%), a triterpene saponin with low haemolytic index. Glycyrrhetinic (gly- cyrrhetic) acid (0.5-0.9%), the agly- cone of glycyrrhizin is also present in the root. Other active constituents of liquorice include isoflavonoids, chal- cones, coumarins, triterpenoids and sterols, lignans, amino acids, amines, gums and volatile oils.Hypokalemia is the greatest threat when liquorice preparations high in glycyrrhizin are prescribed for prolonged periods. Liquorice causes fluid retention. Patients should be placed on a high potassium and low sodium diet. Special precautions should be taken with elderly patients and patients with hypertension or cardiac, renal or hepatic disease.A special liquorice extract known as DGL (deglycyrrhizinated liquorice) is used in the treatment of peptic ulcer. Oral liquorice preparations, containing glycyrrheti- nic acid, are used for the treatment of viral infections—viral hepatitis, common cold. Topical preparations, containing glycyrrhetinic acid, are used for herpes, eczema, psoriasis.In Japan, a preparation of glycyrrhi- zin, cysteine and glycine is used by injection for the treatment of acute and chronic hepatitis.Dosage: Root—2-4 g powder. (API Vol. I.)... glycyrrhiza glabraHabitat: Himalayas from Simla to Sikkim, Khasi Hills and Assam.
Ayurvedic: Used as Paathaa (Cissampelos pareira).Folk: Gidaangu (Garhwal), Paahraa (Dehradun).Action: Tubers—used in pulmonary diseases, asthma, intestinal, disorders and hyperglycaemia.
Alkaloid palmitine exhibits antibiotic activity; stepharine anti-cholines- terase, cycleanine anti-inflammatory and hyndarine sedative activity. Tetra- hydropalmatine produces sedative and anticonvulsant effects on animals (similar but weaker to that of chloropro- mazine). Alkaloids from rhizomes— hypotensive. Pronuciferine hydrochloride—spasmolytic. Root—hypogly- caemic, spasmolytic, CNS active, antimicrobial.... stephania glabra
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