Action: Fruit stalks—diuretic, antiinflammatory, astringent, used for oedema, inflammation of urinary tract, cystitis, nephritis, urinary retention.
The stems contain salicylic acid, organic acids tannins and potassium salts. Protocatechuic, p-coumaric, fer- ulic and diferculic acids have been identified in the shoots.The fruit contains salicylates and cyanogenic glycosides, and vitamin A, B1 and C. Sugars consist mainly of glucose and fructose, with sucrose as a minor component. Malic acid is the principal acid, small amounts of citric, tartaric and succinic acids are also reported. The lipids of the fruit pulp contain cis-vaccenic acid.The acetone extract of peduncle gave an isoflavone, prunetin, which on hydrolysis yielded an aglycone identified as prunetin and sugar as glucose.The seeds contain a cyanogenic gly- coside and are toxic. The bark contains tannins up to 16%.Dosage: Seed—3-5 g powder. (CCRAS.)... prunus avium
Action: Fruit—diuretic, anti- inflammatory. Used for genitourinary inflammations, cystitis and urine retention. Bark—febrifuge, antidiarrhoeal. Fruit stalk—diuretic. Fruit stalk and stem—pectoral. Bark and fruit stalk—astringent. Kernel—nervine. Leaf—an infusion is given for convulsions in children.
Key application: Heartwood—in skin eruptions, erysipelas, obstinate skin diseases, haemorrhagic diseases. As a tonic for promoting conception. (The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.)The leaves, fruits and bark gave flavone glycosides. The bark contains 5-7% tannin. The kernel contains a considerable proportion of hydrocyanic acid. The leaves contain amyg- dalin. (Amygdalin, a nitrile glycoside, has been reported to inhibit the growth of Sarcoma-180 cells in culture.)... prunus cerasus