In vivo Health Dictionary

Linn.

Family: Apocynaceae.

Habitat: Native to Central America and Brazil. Grown in Indian gardens.

English: Golden Trumpet.

Folk: Zahari Sontakkaa. (Maharashtra).

Action: Leaves—cathartic (in moderate doses; emetic in large doses). Bark—hydragogue, in ascites.

The purgative property of the aqueous extract of leaves was confirmed pharmacologically in rats. The extract also showed antifungal activity against ringworm causing fungi. Flower extract inhibits fungal growth.

EtOH extract of roots showed in- vivo activity against P-388 leukaemia in mouse and in vitro against human carcinoma cells of nasopharynx (KB). The root contains antileukaemic iri- doid lactone, allamandin and two other iridoids, allamandicin and allamdin.

The stems and leaves contain beta- amyrin, beta-sitosterol and ursolic acid. Petals gave flavonoids—kaem- pferol and quercetin.... allemanda cathartica

Linn.

Family: Liliaceae; Alliaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated as an annual all over the country. The most important onion-growing states are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh., Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.

English: Onion.

Ayurvedic: Palaandu, Durgandh.

Unani: Piyaaz.

Siddha/Tamil: Venkaayam.

Action: Antibiotic, antibacterial, antisclerotic, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antiasthmatic, expectorant, carminative, anti- spasmodic, diuretic, hypotensive, antidiabetic.

Key application: For the prevention of atherosclerosis (German Commission E) and age-dependent changes in the blood vessels, and loss of appetite (WHO).

The official onion bulb of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China is a different species, Allium macrostemon Bge., than that of the German Commission E monographs, A. cepa. Chinese onion is used for cough, dyspnoea, angina pectoris and dysentery.

Scallions or Spring Onion of Chinese medicine are equated with Allium fistulosum.

Onion bulbs contain a volatile oil with sulphurous constituents, including allylpropyldisulphide; sulphur- containing compounds, including al- licin, alliin; flavonoids; phenolic acids and sterols.

Hypoglycaemic activity of the onion is attributed to the allylpropyldisul- phide and allicin. Diphenylamine, isolated from mature bulbs, also exhibits potent antihyperglycaemic activity.

Alliin and allicin have an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. Antibiotic activity is due mainly to alli-cin.

Regular use of onion (50 g/day) reduces insulin requirement of a diabetic patient from 40 to 20 units a day.

Thiosulphinates, isolated from onion juice, exhibited antiasthmatic activity in vivo.

Dosage: Juice of bulb—10-20 ml. (CCRAS.)... allium cepa

R. Br.

Family: Apocynaceae.

Habitat: Peninsular India.

Folk: Pazh-munipala (Tamil), Addasarpa (Kannada), Palamunpala (Malyalam).

Action: Stembark and fruit— antiepileptic.

The plant is a rich source of indole alkaloids. Major alkaloids in the stem- bark are alstovenine, venenatine, 3- dehydroalstovenine, reserpine (0.0030.3%), venoxidine and kopsinine.

Alstovenine, in lower doses, exhibits monoamine oxidase inhibitor activity; in higher doses, shows marked central stimulant effect (reversal of reserpine effects). Venenatine exhibits reserpine- like profile of activity (sedation, ptosis, reduction in motor activity).

The fruit contains vincadifformine type of alkaloids. Echitovenidine, the major alkaloid, shows monoamine oxidase-inhibitory activity both in vitro and in vivo.... alstonia venenata

Wormseed (Chenopodium ambrosioides). Plant Part Used: Leaf, aerial parts.Dominican Medicinal Uses: The leaf and aerial parts are traditionally prepared as an infusion or crushed to extract their juice which is administered orally for colic, diarrhea, stomach ache, intestinal parasites and gas.Safety: The leaves are widely consumed as a culinary seasoning in small amounts. Cases of contact dermatitis due to handling the plant have been reported. The leaves have shown relatively low toxicity in animal studies, and the seed oil and isolated constituents can be highly toxic.Contraindications: Avoid use of the oil in pregnancy (due to abortifacient effects) and young children (< 4 y). Internal use is contraindicated in the following conditions: gastro-intestinal inflammation (mucosal irritant), heart disease (cardiac depressive), liver disease (hepatotoxic) and kidney disease (renotoxic).Drug Interactions: Insufficient information identified in the available literature.Clinical Data: The leaf and plant extract have been investigated in human clinical trials for the following effects: antiparasitic and antiascariasis.Laboratory & Preclinical Data: The following biological activities of this plant have been demonstrated in laboratory and preclinical studies using in vitro or animal models: in vivo: analgesic, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antiulcerogenic, sedative (plant extracts or constituents); anthelmintic, antifungal (essential oil).In vitro: analgesic, antibacterial, antimalarial, insecticidal, sedative (plant extracts or constituents); antifungal (essential oil).* See entry for Apasote in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... apasote

Cilantro, coriander (Coriandrum sativum).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, seed.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf: infusion/decoction, orally, for gastro-intestinal disorders: flatulence, gastritis, acid-reflux, heartburn, indigestion and stomach pain.

Safety: Widely consumed as a condiment; generally considered safe; potential for hypersensitivity.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: hypolipidemic (seeds), inflammatory bowel disease treatment (multi-herbal extract).

In vitro: antioxidant (seed aqueous extract).

* See entry for Cilantro in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... cilantro

Celery (Apium graveolens variety dulce).

Plant Part Used: Stalk, leaves, roots, seeds.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: The stalks and leaves are traditionally eaten raw or taken as a juice for treating obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and menopausal hot flashes.

Safety: The stalks, leaf and root are widely consumed and generally considered safe. Cases of allergic reaction to the root have been reported. Plants infected with pink rot fungus can cause phototoxicoses.

Contraindications: Internal use of the seeds and essential oil are contraindicated during pregnancy (emmenagoge, abortifacient, uterine stimulating effects) and patients with renal disorders (potential kidney-irritating effect of oil).

Drug Interactions: Celery seeds and seed extract: anticoagulants, warfarin (risk of bleeding, drug potentiation); thyroxine (lowered T4 levels).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive (plant extract); hepatoprotective (seeds).

In vitro: antimicrobial, antioxidant (plant extract); cercaricidal (essential oil); vasodilation (chemical constituent).

* See entry for Apio in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... apio

Linn.

Family: Aristolochiaceae. English: European Birthwort. Unani: Zaraawand Taweel.

Action: Oxytocic, abortifacient, emmenagogue.

Aristolochic acid and its Me es- ter—strongly abortifacient, showed damage to liver and kidney. Roots— anti-oestrogenic. A cytotoxic lignan, savinin, has been isolated from the roots.

Aristolochic acid also has an effect against adenosarcoma and HeLa cells in culture; however, it is suspected to be carcinogenic.

Aristolochia extracts show a pronounced enhancement of phagocytosis by leucocytes, granulocytes and peritoneal macrophages, due to the presence of aristolochic acids.

Tardolyt-coated tablets, which contain 0.3 mg of aristolochic acid, increase phagocytosis in healthy men.

Aristolochic acid also exhibits reduction of some of the toxic effects of prednisolone, chloramphenicol and tetracycline in experiments in vitro, and a reduction in the rate of recurrent herpes lesions in vivo.... aristolochia longa

(Willd.) Muell.-Arg.

Synonym: B. axillare Bl. B. polyandrum Wt. Croton polyandrus Roxb.

Family: Euphorbiaceae.

Habitat: The Himalayas, Assam, Khasi Hills, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Peninsular India, ascending to 1,800 m.

Ayurvedic: Danti, Nikumbha, Udumbarparni, Erandphalaa, Shighraa, Pratyak-shreni, Vishaalya. Baliospermum calycinum Muell- Arg. is considered as Naagadanti.

Siddha/Tamil: Neeradimuthu, Danti.

Folk: Jangli Jamaalgotaa.

Action: Seed—purgative. Leaves— purgative (also used in dropsy), antiasthmatic (decoction is given in asthma). Latex—used for body ache and pain of joints. Root and seed oil—cathartic, antidropsical.

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicated the use of dried root in jaundice, abdominal lump and splenomegaly.

The presence of steroids, terpenoids and flavonoids is reported in the leaves. The root contains phorbol derivatives. EtOH extract of roots showed in vivo activity in P-388 lymphocytic leukaemia.

Dosage: Root—103 g powder. (API Vol. III.)... baliospermum montanum

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas).

Plant Part Used: Root (tuber), leaf, stem.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: The fresh root is traditionally prepared as a poultice and applied topically for burns and wounds. The root is also cooked and ingested, for women’s health conditions and nutrition. The leaves and stems may be prepared as an aqueous maceration and applied topically for wound-healing.

Safety: The tuber is widely consumed and generally considered safe except if contaminated by a toxic fungal infection. No data has been identified in the available literature on the safety of the leaves and stems.

Clinical Data: Human clinical trials: antidiabetic, improved vitamin A status (tuber).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antidiabetic, antioxidant, hypoglycemic (tuber, extracts or constituents).

In vitro: aldose reductase inhibition, antimicrobial, antioxidant, immune-enhancing (tuber, extracts or constituents)

* See entry for Batata in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... batata

Coconut (Cocos nucifera).

Plant Part Used: Fruit, oil.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Fruit: milk, orally, for kidney infection, kidney stones, intestinal parasites, asthma; oil, orally, for asthma, cough, bronchitis and pulmonary infection.

Safety: Widely consumed and generally considered safe; potential for cross-reactivity in individuals with nut allergies

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: hypolipidemic (flavonoids).

In vitro: anti-tumor (husk extract), antibacterial (plant extracts).

* See entry for Coco in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... coco

Holostemma ada-kodien

Asclepiadaceae

San: Jivanti;

Hin: Chirvel, Charivel;

Mal: Atapathiyan, Atapotiyan, Atakotiyan;

Tam: Palaikkirai;

Tel: Palagurugu; Mar: Dudurli, Shidodi;

Guj: Kharner, Khiravel

Importance: Holostemma is a twining shrub with large flowers. The roots of Holostemma are useful in ophthalmopathy, orchitis, cough, burning sensation, stomachalgia, constipation, fever and tridoshas. The leaves, flowers and fruits are eaten as vegetable. The root is also used in spermatorrhoea. It is used in preparations of Vidaryadiganam, Dhanwandharam thaila, Manasamithravatakam, Balarishta and Anuthaila. It is also useful in eye diseases and it imparts resistance to diseases.

Distribution: The plant occurs in tropical countries. In India, it is found in Himalayas, Dehradun, Konkan, Bombay, Deccan, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu. It grows over hedges and in open forests especially on the lower slopes of the hills. It is also distributed in Sri Lanka, Burma and W. China.

Botany: Holostemma ada-kodien Schult. syn. Holostemma annulare (Roxb.) K. Schum.

Holostemma rheedii Wall. belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae. It is a laticiferous twining shrub with large conspicuous flowers. Leaves are simple, opposite and cordate. Flowers are purple, arranged in axillary umbellate cymes. Fruits are thick follicles, 9 cm long, cylindrical and bluntly pointed. The roots are long upto 1 m or more, irregularly twisted, thick and cylindrical. When dry it is yellowish brown to brown black in colour with nearly smooth surface bearing white scars and small depressions. A mature root is about 1-2 cm thick when extracted for use (Warrier et al, 1995).

Agrotechnology: Holostemma prefers a tropical climate. The plant is propagated vegetatively by stem cuttings, but mainly by seeds. The seeds are collected from the plant in November-December before being dispersed. Seeds are cleaned, dried and stored for sowing. The stored seeds after soaking in water for 4-5 hours are sown in the seedbeds. About one month old seedlings are then planted in polybags of size 14x10cm which are filled with soil, sand and dried cowdung in 1:1:1 ratio, respectively. Polybags should be kept in shade and irrigated. About 1-1.5 month old seedlings are ready for transplanting. Pits of 30cm cube size are taken at 1-1.2m distance and filled with 10kg dried cowdung and sand. This is covered with surface soil and formed into a mound. Seedlings are transplanted on to the mounds from the polybags carefully. Regular irrigation is to be given till flowering. To aid in trailing, staking is given one month after planting. Flowering and fruiting occurs in November-December. Harvesting can be done at the end of second year when the vines start drying up. Harvesting is done by digging up the tubers. The tubers are cut into pieces of 10cm length and dried in sun before sale (Prasad et al, 1997).

Properties and activity: Holostemma tubers give -amyrin, lupeol and -sitosterol. Alanine, aspartic acid, glycine, serine, threonine and valine were detected chromatographically (Hussain et al, 1992). The root is antidiabetic, antigonorrhoeic, bechic, alterative, tonic, lactative, ophthalmic, emollient, stimulant, aphrodisiac, expectorant and galactagogue.

BLACH MUSALE Curculigo orchioides Amaryllidaceae

San: Musali;

Hin: Kalimusali, Mushali;

Ben: Talamuli;

Mal: Nilappana;

Guj: Musalikand

Tam: Nilapanai;

Tel: Nelatadi Kelangu;

Kan: Neladali

Importance: Musali is a small, geophilous herb, the tuberous rootstock of which is used as a rejuvenating and aphrodisiac drug. It cures morbid vata and pitta, improves complexion and is useful in general debility, deafness, cough, asthma, piles, skin diseases, impotence, jaundice, urinary disorders, leucorrhoea and menorrhagia (Nadkarni, 1954; Aiyer and Kolammal, 1963; Mooss, 1978). Rootstock is the officinal part and it enters into the Ayurvedic formulations like Vidaryadighrta, Vidaryadi lehya, Marmagulika, Musalyadi churna etc. The Pharmacognosy of C. orchioides has been discussed by Aiyer, Kolamma l (1963), Raghunathan, and Mitra (1982). A bibliographical study on C. orchioides has been done by Pandey et al (1983).

Distribution: The plant is found in all districts of India from near sea level to 2300m altitude, especially in rock crevices and laterite soil. It has been recorded to occur in the sub tropical Himalayas from Kumaon eastwards ascending to 1800m, the Khasia hills, Bengal, Asssam, Konkan, Kanara, the western peninsula and Madras extending south as far as a Cape Comerin. It is also distributed in Sri Lanka, Japan, Malaysia and Australia.

Botany: Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. syn. C. malabarica Wight, C. brevifolia Dryand, Hypoxis dulcis Stand belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae. Musali is a small herbaceous plant with cylindrical rootstock. Leaves are simple, sessile, crowded on the short stem with sheathing leaf bases. Flowers are bright yellow. Seeds are black, deeply grooved in wavy lines.

A detailed description of the plant is as follows (Victoria, 1998). Rootstock is straight, cylindrical, tuberous, 5-22cm long, 0.5-0.8 cm thick, brownish surfaces marked with closely spaced prominent transverse wrinkles in the upper or basal half. It bears a few stout lateral roots of 5 or more cm long. Lateral roots are dull white in colour and spongy externally. The fresh cut surfaces of the rootstock has a starch white colour and mucilaginous. A few fibrous roots also occur. Leaves are sessile or short petiolate with sheathing bases, 15-45x1.2-2.5 cm size, linear or linear lanceolate, membranous, glabrouus or sparsely sofly hairy and plicate in bud. The leaf tips when contacts the soil, develops roots and produce adventitious buds. Inflorescence is axillary, scapose racemose, the scape very short and hidden among the bases of leaves underground, clavte, flattened with the pedicels, bracts and the ovary concealed in the leaf sheaths. The lower big flowers on the scape are mostly bisexual and the upper small ones staminate. Flowers are epigynous bright yellow, bisexual or unisxual with lanceolate, memb ranous bract.. Perianth gamophyllous, rotate & six lobed, locate at the top of a slender sterile long extension of the ovary by means of which the perianth is exposed above the ground. Perianth lobes similar, elliptic oblong 1.2-1.6 cm long, 0.2-0.3 cm broad, outer lobes hairy on the back, inner ones sparsely hairy along nerves. Stamens 6 in number, filamentous filiform, short 2mm long, adnate to the base of the perianth lobes, Anthers linear or linear lanceolate, basifixed and sagittate,.Ovary inferior, hidden among the leaves usually below the ground, tricarpellary syncarpous, lanceolate and trilocular with a fairly long slender beak or extension -the stipe. Ovules many in each cell attached by a distinct long funicle. Style short columnar, 2mm with a 3 lobed stigma. Lobes elongate, erect and appressed. Fruit is a capsule about 1.5-2cm long, 8mm broad, oblong, glabrescent with a slender beak and spongy septa. Seeds 1-many, oblong, black, shiny with crustaceous testa grooved deeply in wavy lines.

Properties and activity: Rao and Beri (1951) have identified glucose, mannose, xylose and glucuronic acid from the rootstock of C. orchioides. The rootstock is also reported to contain glycoside, polysaccharides (hemicellulose and other polysaccharides), starch, resin, tannin, mucilage, fat and calcium oxalate. The hexane extract contains an alkaloid-lycorine, sterols including -sitosterols and sapogenin identified as yuccagenin (Rao et al, 1978). The flavone glycoside from the rootstock has been identified as 5,7- dimethoxy glucopyranoside (Yadav et al, 1974; Sharma et al 1975). Mehta et al (1980) have isolated a number of fatty acids from C. orchioides root oil by GLC techniques. They are palmitic, oleic, linolenic linoleic, arachidic and behenic acid. Kubo et al (1983) isolated a new phenolic glycoside namely, curculigoside from the rhizomes and its structure has been elucidated as 5- hydroxy-2-0- -d-glucopyranosyl benzl 1,2,6-dimethoxy benzoate. Yamasaki et al (1994) developed HPLC method for estimating the curculigoside content in curculigo rhizome.

Two new aliphatic hydroxy ketone 27-hydroxy tricontan-6-one (M. P. 84-85o C) and 23- hydroxy tricontan-2-one (M. P. 109-110 o C) were isolated from the rhizome by Misra et al (1984). They also isolated 21-hydroxy tetracontan-20-one and 4-methyl heptade canoic acid from the root stock. Porwal et al (1988) have isolated and identified three new compounds from the rhizome as N- acetyl-N-hydroxy-2-carbamic acid methyl ester, 3-acetyl-5-carbomethoxy-2H-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1,2,3,5,6-oxatetrazine and N, N, N’, N’-tetra methyl succinamide. The rhizomes of C. orchioides yielded a new phenolic glycoside corchioside a, characterised as orcinol-3- -D-xylopyranosyl- (1 6)- -D-glucopyranoside and hentriacontanol (Garg et al, 1989).

A new aliphatic compound has been isolated from the rhizomes and characterised as 25- dihydroxy-33-methyl pentatricontan-one (Mehta et al, 1990). Misra et al (1990) isolated a new natural triterpene alcohol-Curculigol charactrised as 24-methy cycloart-7-en-3-beta-20-diol. A novel pentacyclic triterpene has been isolated from the rhizomes of C.orchioides and characterised as 31- methyl-3-oxo-20-ursen-28-oic acid (Metha and Gawarikar,1991). Xu and Xu (1992) and Xu et al (1992 a, b) have isolated 13 cycloartane type. Triterpene glycosides from C. orchioides rhizome and characterised them as curculigo saponin A-M.

The root stock are mucilaginous, sweet, cooling, bitter, emollient, diuretic, aphrodisiac, depurative, alternative, appetiser, carminative, viriligenic, antipyretic and tonic (Sivarajan and Indira, 1994; Warrier et al, 1994).

The uterine stimulant activity of the flavone glycoside extracted from C. orchioides has been studied by Dhawan and Saxena (1958), Sharma et al (1975) and Dhar et al (1979).

The plant extract of C. orchioides showed hypoglycaemic, spasmolytic and anticancer properties (Dhar et al,1968). Phagocytic activity (Kubo et al, 1983) and immunoadjuvant activity (Oru et al, 1982) of phenolic glycosides, curculigoside isolated from the rhizome of the plant have been reported. Porwal and Mehta (1985) discussed the medicinal importance of the plant and its use in indigenous system of medicine as a tonic. Sharma et al (1991) reported the influence of MAK an ayurvedic food supplement constituting C. orchioides against Dimethyl benz anthracene induced mammary tumours in rats. Samanta (1992) reported the modulation of male infertility by Ayurvedic drug, which constitutes C. orchioides. Immunostimulant activity of C. orchioides has been demonstrated by Saxena (1992). Immunological activites of curculigo saponin G were assayed in mice and the results showed that it promoted proliferation of spleen lymphocyctes very significantly and increased the weight of the thymus in vivo in mice (Xu et al,1992).

Pharmacological studies in China, on the alcoholic extract obtained from the plant showed several active effects such as adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, sedative, androgenic and immunopromoting activities (Xu et al, 1992).

Curculigo orchioides is distributed widely throughout the country. The demand of the raw materials and derivatives of the plant for the indigenous drug industries are satisfied mainly from the wild source, depleting the natural population and thus the species have become extinct or endangered. Ansari (1993) have reported C. orchioides as a threatened plant from Madhulia forest of Garakhpur. Augustin and Souza (1995) also considered the plant as an endangered species. As the information on the cultivation of C.orchioides is scanty, it is very necessary to develop suitable agrotechniques for the domestication and large-scale cultivation of the plant.... holostemma

A term commonly used in medical research and experimental biology. Literally ‘in a glass’, it refers to observations made outside the body: for example, on the action of drugs on bacteria. The opposite term is IN VIVO, which refers to observations of processes in the body.... in vitro

Palm beach-bells (Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri).

Plant Part Used: Leaf.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf: decoction, orally, for pain, infection, inflammation; as a douche, for vaginal infection; added to multi-herb preparations for menstrual disorders, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, menopausal symptoms and tumors.

Safety: Animal studies have shown moderate- to low toxicity when administered orally.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antifertility and contraceptive effects on sperm (leaf juice).

* See entry for Mala madre in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... mala madre

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale).

Plant Part Used: Seed case, dried bark.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Traditionally the dried bark or seed case is prepared as a decoction by boiling in water and taken orally for diarrhea in both children and adults.

Safety: The fresh seed case is a potent skin irritant and is considered poisonous although roasting neutralizes this toxin. The juice of the fruit-stem is widely consumed as a beverage and generally considered safe. The seeds are commonly eaten and considered safe as long as they are properly roasted and processed. No information on the safety of the dried seed case or bark has been identified in the available literature.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In animal studies, the nut extract in milk has demonstrated antiarthritic and antioxidant effects, and the aqueous plant extract has shown antidiabetic activity. Extracts of the bark have shown anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic activity, and the nut shell oil and fruit stem juice have demonstrated antioxidant effects in vivo. In vitro, extracts of the plant or bark have exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmaniasis, tyrosinase inhibition and vasorelaxant activity.

* See entry for Cajuil in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... cajuil

Golden shower tree (Cassia fistula).

Plant Part Used: Fruit (seed pod).

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Seed pods: decoction, orally, for constipation, to expel worms and as a laxative.

Safety: No health risks identified in literature for proper use; however, long-term or excessive use can have adverse effects.

Contraindications: Pregnancy, lactation, children under 12 y; persons with acute intestinal inflammatory disease or appendicitis.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anti-diabetic (leaf and bark extracts), antifertility, sedative, CNS depressant (seed extract), anti-inflammatory (leaf extract), anti-neoplastic, anti-tumor (fruit extract), antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic.

In vitro: anti-alzheimer’s (root extract), antibacterial.

* See entry for Cañafístula in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... cañafístula

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum or Cinnamomum cassia).

Plant Part Used: Inner bark.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: The inner bark is traditionally prepared as a decoction and taken orally for allergy, anxiety, arthritis, low blood pressure, kidney ailments, common cold, flu, sinusitis and women’s health conditions.

Safety: The bark is generally regarded as safe and widely consumed as a culinary spice. Excessive or prolonged use may cause irritation.

Contraindications: Large quantities of cinnamon should not be during pregnancy due to potential teratogenic effects.

Drug Interactions: Methacyclines (interferes with dissolution).

Clinical Data: Human clinical trials: antidiabetic (bark).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antioxidant (bark).

In vitro: antibacterial, antifungal, headlice treatment, HEp-2 treatment (essential oil).

* See entry for Canela in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... canela

Allspice, bay rum tree (Pimenta dioica).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, berry, essential oil.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaves: tea for common cold, flu; externally: mashed and applied topically for arthritis, joint pain; multi-herb tincture: taken internally for impotence, infertility, sexually transmitted infections. Berries, essential oil: externally for joint pain.

Safety: Potential hypersensitivity to essential oil. Leaf extract: low to moderate toxicity when taken orally.

Contraindications: Lack of information on use in pregnancy, lactation or young children.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vitro: antibacterial, antifungal (essential oil). In vivo: anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive (leaf extract).

* See entry for Canelilla in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... canelilla

Onion (Allium cepa; cebollín = var. aggregata).

Plant Part Used: Bulb.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Bulb: raw, taken internally, for asthma, bronchitis, common cold, flu, upper respiratory tract infections.

Safety: Commonly consumed as food; generally considered safe; potentially irritating to stomach or skin if taken in large quantities.

Contraindications: None identified.

Drug Interactions: Platelet aggregation inhibitors (potentiated).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antiasthmatic, antihyperlipidemic, anti-artherosclerosis, antioxidant, anti-platelet aggregant, anti-tumor. In vitro: (oil, aqueous extract) antibacterial, antifungal.

* See entry for Cebolla in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... cebolla

Beets (Beta vulgaris).

Plant Part Used: Root.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Eaten raw, juiced or boiled for anemia, cysts, tumor, uterine fibroids.

Safety: Common food, generally considered safe.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic (plant extract); antidiabetic, antihepatotoxic, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, estrogenic, hypoglycemic, influenza-preventative (leaf).

Nutritional: carotenes, fiber, iron (root).

* See entry for Remolacha in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... remolacha

Royle.

Habitat: Western Himalayas. Folk: Archa.

Action: Antispasmodic, muscle relaxant, antiseptic.

The rhizomes contain desoxyrha- pontigenin. The compound, like papaverine, exhibited smooth muscle relaxant activity in a wide variety of in vitro and in vivo tests. Aqueous alcoholic extract showed papaverine-like non-specific spasmolytic activity.

The paste of fresh rhizomes is applied on burns, blisters and boils to prevent scar formation.... rheum webbianum

Indian bean (Catalpa longissima).

Plant Part Used: Bark.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Bark: infusion, orally, for common cold, flu symptoms, menstrual disorders, uterine fibroids, dysmenorrhea and as an abortifacient.

Safety: Low toxicity shown in animal studies.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vitro: anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive(plant extracts and constituents); oxytocic, uterine relaxant (leaf decoction).

In vivo: antiulcer (plant extracts).

* See entry for Roble in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... roble

Horsetail (Equisetum species).

Plant Part Used: Leaf-stem.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaves and stems: decoction, orally, for bladder, urinary tract or kidney infection, kidney stones, kidney ailments (general), infections (general), vaginal infections, menstrual cramps, to cleanse the blood and as a diuretic.

Safety: Considered safe when used appropriately; must be taken with plenty of water due to diuretic effect; high silica content may be toxic if plant is ingested.

Contraindications: Children, case of heart or kidney disorders.

Drug Interactions: Cardiac glycosides, digitalis (may enhance toxicity); thiamine (breaks down vitamin).

Clinical Data: Human clinical trials: diuretic (aqueous plant extract), metabolism effects and renal excretion (standardized extract).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: diuretic, anti-ulcer, gastroprotective, hypoglycemic (organic plant extracts).

In vitro: anti-platelet-aggregant, antimicrobial, contractile response enhancement, cytogenic, hepatoprotective, radical scavenging (plant extracts and constituents).

* See entry for Cola de caballo in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... cola de caballo

Wall.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: Mishmi Hills in Arunachal Pradesh. Cultivated commercially in China.

Ayurvedic: Mamira, Maamiraa, Tiktamuulaa. (Pita-muulikaa and Hem-tantu are provisional synonyms.)

Unani: Maamisaa, Maamiraa.

Folk: Titaa (Bengal and Assam).

Action: Stomachic, antiperiodic, antibacterial, antifungal. Prescribed in debility, convalescence, intermittent fevers, dyspepsia, dysentery and intestinal catarrh. Used as a local application in thrush.

The rhizomes contains berberine (9%) as the major alkaloid; other alkaloids present are: coptin (0.08%), cop- tisin 0.02%) and jatrorrhizine (0.01%). Samples from China contained 9.2612.23% berberine, 2.39-3.25% coptisin and 3.20-4.46% jatrorrhizine. In China, the herb is used as an antidiabetic; the ethanolic (50%) extract exhibited hypoglycaemic and hypotensive activity.

The drug due to berberine and its related alkaloids promoted reticuloen- dothelium to increased phagocytosis of leucocytes in dog blood in vitro and in vivo.

Coptis chinensis (Huang Lian) inhibited erythrocyte haemolysis, decreased lipid peroxidation in brain and kidney, decreased generation of superoxide peroxidation and decreased hy- droxyl radicals in rats. (Life Sci, 2000, 66(8), 725-735.)

Dosage: Root—1-3 g powder. (CCRAS.)... coptis teeta

Linn.

Family: Amaryllidaceae.

Habitat: Wild as well as cultivated as an ornamental.

English: Wide-leaved Crinum.

Ayurvedic: Sudarshana, Sukhadar- shana, Chakraangi, Somvalli, Madhuparnikaa.

Siddha/Tamil: Vishamoongil.

Action: Bulb—rubefacient, an- tirheumatic. Also used for piles and tubercular fistula.

The alkaloids, crinafoline and crina- folidine, have been isolated from the plant. These along with crinafoline methochloride exhibited significant tumour-inhibiting activity in vivo. The plant extract in also used in allergic condition. This activity is attributed to the presence of glucan A and phos- phatidyllycorine.

A related species, C. zeylanicum, is known as Milk-and-Wine Lily.

Dosage: Leaf, root—5-10 g paste. (CCRAS.)... crinum latifolium

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, root.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf: fresh juice, orally, for liver conditions.

Safety: Leaves are widely consumed and generally considered safe; root and leaf: relatively nontoxic.

Contraindications: Root: digestive, biliary or gallbladder conditions, stomach inflammation, irritable bowel, digestive weakness, bowel obstruction (due to laxative, stomach acid stimulating& cholagogue effects);

Drug Interactions: Lithium (potential exacerbation of toxicity).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, bile flow stimulant (root extracts); diuretic, hypoglycemic (leaf water extract).

In vitro: anti-inflammatory in CNS, anti-tumor, cytotoxic, antidiabetic, nitric oxide production, insulin secretion (root or plant extract); antioxidant (flowers),

Nutritional: potassium.

* See entry for Diente de León in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... diente de león

auct. non-Bl.

Synonym: E. hyssopifolium (Willd) I. C. Verdoorn. E. axillare (Lam.) Raynal. Exacum hyssopifolium Willd. Adenema hyssopifolium G. Don.

Family: Gentianaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India, from Punjab and Gangetic Plain to Kanyakumari up to 500 m.

English: Indian Gentian.

Ayurvedic: Naagjhvaa, Maamajjaka, Naahi, Tikshnapatra.

Unani: Naai, Naahi.

Siddha/Tamil: Vellargu.

Folk: Chhotaa Chirayataa.

Action: Bitter tonic, carminative, blood purifier, antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, antipsychotic, anthelmintic, cardiostimulant.

The plant is used as a substitute for Swertia chirayita, and is reported to be effective against malaria. The plant contains ophelic acid which is also present in chiretta as a hydrolytic product of chiratin. The root extract showed antimalarial activity both in vitro and in vivo.

Whole plant gave alkaloids—gen- tianine, erythrocentaurin, enicoflavine and gentiocrucine; flavonoids—api- genin, genkwanin iso-vitaxin, swer- tisin, saponarin and 5-O-glucoside derivatives of sylwertisin and isoswer- tisin; glucosides—swertiamarin, a tri- terpene betulin. Swertisiode exhibited hypotensive activity.

The plant extracts inhibited carrage- enan-induced oedema and its anti- inflammatory activity was found comparable to that of hydrocortisone.

Enicostema verticellatum Blume, the smallar var. ofKiryaata, is also equated with Vellargu (Siddha/Tamil).

Dosage: Whole plant—3-5 g powder; 50-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)... enicostemma littorale

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, essential oil.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf: infusion or decoction, orally or inhaled vapor, for asthma, common cold, flu-like symptoms, congestion, cough and pulmonary infection.

Safety: Leaves considered safe for internal and external use if administered appropriately; essential oil is highly toxic if taken internally and may cause allergic reaction when administered topically; vapor inhalation may transmit fungal spores.

Contraindications: Young children and infants (inhalation or topical administration my lead to respiratory disorders); gastro-intestinal inflammatory conditions (internal use may irritate mucosa), history of allergy or hypersensitivity to eugenol (essential oil constituent).

Drug Interactions: Antidiabetic drugs (may potentiate effect), barbiturates (may decrease effect), pyrrolizidine-containing herbs (may exacerbate hepatotoxic effects).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anti-inflammatory, bronchitis treatment (essential oil).

In vitro: antibacterial, antioxidant (essential oil)

* See entry for Eucalipto in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... eucalipto

West Indian elm (Guazuma ulmifolia).

Plant Part Used: Root.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf: decoction, orally, for cough, common cold and flu symptoms. Bark: multi-herb decoction, orally, for menstrual disorders, fibroids, ovarian cysts, menopausal symptoms.

Safety: Leaf: considered safe when used appropriately; low toxicity of shown in animal and clinical studies. No information on safety of the bark.

Contraindications: No information on safety of leaf or bark in children and pregnant or lactating women.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antidiabetic, hypoglycemic (bark extracts).

In vitro: antibacterial, antiprotozoal and antioxidant (organic plant extracts); antisecretory (bark extract); enzyme inhibition (bark extracts).

* See entry for Guácima in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... guácima

Senna (Senna alata).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, flower.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaves: decoction, orally, for blood-cleansing, infection, diarrhea, parasites; topically as a wash for skin disease and paño.

Safety: Considered safe for therapeutic use when administered appropriately; relatively low toxicity shown in animal studies; avoid prolonged or excessive use.

Contraindications: Intestinal obstruction, gastro-intestinal inflammatory disease, anal prolapse, hemorrhoids, pregnancy, lactation, children < 12 y, abdominal pain or appendicitis of unknown origin.

Drug Interactions: Diuretics, cardiac glycosides.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: bovine dermatophilosis treatment (leaf extract).

In vitro: anti-inflammatory (leaf extract), antimicrobial (leaf and bark extracts), platelet aggregation inhibition (leaf constituent).

* See entry for Guajabo in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... guajabo

Soursop (Annona muricata).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, fruit.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf: tea, orally, for common cold, flu, musculoskeletal injury, menopausal symptoms, nervousness/anxiety; externally as a bath for fever in children. Fruit: eaten, diuretic and fever-reducing.

Safety: Fruits are commonly consumed; reports of toxicity from ingestion of leaves in humans; contradictory results from animal toxicity studies; possibly implicated in atypical parkinsonism in the Caribbean.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antioxidant (stem bark alcohol extract).

In vitro: human serotonin receptor binding activity, antiviral (HSV-1), cytotoxic in cancer cells, molluscicidal in schistosomiasis vector (plant extracts and constituents).

* See entry for Guanábana in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... guanábana

Koch.

Synonym: H. helix auct. non Linn. H. himalaica Tobler.

Family: Araliaceae.

Habitat: The Himalayas; from Kashmir to Bhutan at 1,5002,000 m and Assam at 1,3502,000 m.

English: Nepal Ivy.

Folk: Baandaa, Bandaa, Lablab.

Action: Leaves and berries— cathartic, diaphoretic, febrifuge, antispasmodic, expectorant. Used in whooping cough. Leaves— used in glandular enlargements. A decoction of the leaves is used topically to destroy lice in the hair. An infusion of berries is given in rheumatism. Gum— emmenagogue.

The inflorescences contain beta- amyrin, beta-sitosterol and its D-glu- coside, oleanolic acid, triterpene gly- cosides, nepalins. Nepalins 1,2 and 3 at 0.5, 0.25 and 0.125% respectively completely immobilize human sperm.

Plant extract exhibited antitumour activity in vivo and in vitro against Ehrich ascites.... hedera nepalensis

Black nightshade (Solanum americanum; also, Solanum nigrescens).

Plant Part Used: Leaf.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf: decoction, orally, for allergies, vaginal infections, cysts, fibroids, cancer (early stages), blood-cleansing, childbirth and postpartum recovery.

Safety: Leaf extracts in moderate amounts have shown relatively low toxicity; in excess, can cause adverse reactions; fruits contain toxic alkaloids.

Clinical Data: Human clinical trials: treatment of vaginal candidiasis (plant extract).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: immunomodulatory (leaf extract).

In vitro: antidermatophytic, antifungal (plant extract); antimicrobial (leaf extract); antitrypanosomal (plant extract).

* See entry for Hierba mora in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... hierba mora

Calabash (Crescentia cujete).

Plant Part Used: Fruit pulp.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Fruit pulp: added fresh to multi-herb preparations, taken internally for infections in general, vaginal infections, infertility, fibroids, cysts, menopausal symptoms, childbirth and post-partum recovery.

Safety: Signs of toxicity exhibited in birds and cattle.

Contraindications: Pregnancy; not to be used for ear infection if ear secretions or perforation of ear drum is evident.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vitro: antimicrobial (leaf and stem ethanol extracts, fruit pulp).

In vivo: anti-inflammatory (hydroalcoholic leaf extract).

* See entry for Higüero in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... higüero

(Dennst.) Sleumer.

Synonym: H. wightiana Blume.

Family: Flacourtiaceae.

Habitat: Western Ghats.

English: Soorty Oil tree.

Ayurvedic: Tuvaraka, Katu- Kapittha, Kushtavairi, Garudaphala, Chaalmograa.

Unani: Chaalmograa, Tukhm-e- Biranj Mograa.

Siddha/Tamil: Maravattai, Niradi- muttu.

Action: Seed oil—antileprotic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic.

The seed oil gave chemical constituents similar to Hydnocarpus kuzii, and contain the flavonolignan, hyd- nowightin, hydnocarpin and neohyd- nocarpin.

Hydnocarpin showed good anti- inflammatory and anti-neoplastic activity in mice, in vivo. Cytotoxicity against the growth of murine and human tissue cultured cells was also observed.

The stem bark and leaves contain triterpenes, acelylbetulinic, betulinic, ursolic and acetylursolic acids.

Dosage: Seed—3-5 g powder; oil— 5-10 drops. (CCRAS.)... hydnocarpus laurifolia

Linn.

Family: Hypericaceae.

Habitat: Temperate Western Himalayas from Kashmir to Shimla at 2,000-3,000 m.

English: Common St. John's wort.

Unani: Heufaariqoon, Bassant, Balsaan.

Action: Antidepressant, sedative, relaxing nervine, anti-inflammatory. Used in anxiety, stress, depression, menopausal nervousness, menstrual cramps, neuralgia and rheumatism.

Key application: Psychovegetative disturbances, depressive moods, anxiety and or nervous unrest. Externally, oil preparation for treatment and post-therapy of acute and contused injuries, myalgia and first degree burns. (German Commission E, ESCOP, British Herbal Pharmocopoeia.)

The herb contains hypericin and pseudohypericin (0.0095 to 0.466% in the leaves and as much as 0.24% in the flowers), rutin, quercetin, hyperoside, methylhesperidin, caffeic, chloro- genic, p-coumaric, ferulic, p-hydroxy- benzoic and vanillic acids.

Plant's standardized extract (0.3% hypericin) shows antidepressant activity by inhibiting MAO.

A biflavonoid, amentoflavone, isolated from the plant, exhibited anti- inflammatory and antiulcerogenic activity.

Alcoholic extract of the plant shows in vivo hepatoprotective activity in rodents.

The oily extract of the flowers have been found effective in wound-healing due to the antibiotically active acyl- phlorogucinol, hyperforin.

The aerial parts show significant antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

A lyophilized infusion from the aerial parts exhibited antiviral activity and inhibited reproduction of different strains of influenza virus types A and B both in vivo and in vitro.

The whole herb is effective against many viral infections.... hypericum perforatum

The manipulation of IMMUNITY by immunological (see IMMUNOLOGY) means to reduce harmful reactions or to boost bene?cial responses. Severe ALLERGY to wasp or bee stings is often treated by a course of injections with allergen puri?ed from insect venom. There are current attempts to treat autoimmune diseases (see AUTOIMMUNITY) with monoclonal antibodies to the T-cell populations or cytokines implicated in the immunopathogenesis of the disorder.

Strategies are also being evaluated for treating cancer by boosting the patient’s own immunity to cancer cells. One approach is immunisation with cancer cells manipulated in vivo to increase a T-lymphocyte attack on antigens expressed by tumour cells. Another method is to manipulate the cytokine network into encouraging an immune attack on, or self-destruction (‘apoptosis’) of, malignant cells.

Immunotherapy is however a developing science, and its place in the routine treatment of immunological and malignant diseases is still evolving.... immunotherapy

Papaya (Carica papaya).

Plant Part Used: Fruit (ripe and unripe), papain enzymes.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Fruit: eaten for digestive ailments, flatulence, stomachache, intestinal pain, heartburn, heart disease, hypertension, menopausal hot flashes, urinary tract infection, skin infection.

Safety: Ripe fruit is widely consumed and generally considered safe; topical application of the unripe fruit did not show toxicity in rabbits; other plant preparations have shown mixed results in animal toxicity studies.

Contraindications: Pregnancy and lactation (unripe fruit and papain); children under 12 years (due to lack of clinical data); history of hypersensitivity to fruit.

Drug Interactions: Warfarin (w/papain may cause excessive bleeding).

Clinical Data: Human clinical trials: guinea worm infection (leaves), immunomodulation (papain enzymes), burn wound-healing (fruit).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: abortifacient (unripe fruit constituents), anthelmintic (latex), antifertility—inhibits sperm motility (seed extract), antihypertensive (unripe fruit ethanolic extract); anti-ulcer (unripe fruit latex); diuretic (root); reversible azoospermia (seed extract).

In vitro: antiamoebic (seed extract), antihypertensive (unripe fruit ethanolic extract), antimicrobial, antioxidant (unripe fruit and seed), anti-salmonella (leaf and root extracts), immunomodulatory, immunostimulatory (seed extract), uterine stimulatory (fruit latex extract).

* See entry for Lechosa in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... lechosa

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, stalk.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf/stalk: infusion, orally, for asthma, common cold, flu-symptoms, stomach ailments, indigestion, gastro-intestinal pain, diarrhea (in children), menopausal hot flashes, arthritis, internal bruising and musculoskeletal injury.

Safety: This plant is nontoxic according to clinical studies; the essential oil potential may cause allergic reaction to skin or lung irritation if inhaled.

Contraindications: Pregnancy.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, lowered heart rate (leaf infusion, essential oil); antinociceptive (essential oil); chemopreventive, inhibition of hepatocarcinogenesis (leaf extract); hypocholesterolemic (leaves).

In vitro: antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, polyphenol oxidase inhibition (essential oil or constituents); enzyme inhibition, vasorelaxant (leaf/stalk extract).

* See entry for Limoncillo in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... limoncillo

Plantain (Plantago major or P. lanceolata).

Plant Part Used: Leaf.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf: fresh juice or tea, orally, for liver disorders, vaginal infections, high cholesterol, stomach ache, menopausal symptoms, abortion; juice, externally, wound-healing; as a salve or poultice, externally, for headache, migraine and nausea.

Safety: Results of toxicity studies and published literature.

Clinical Data: Human clinical trials: bronchitis treatment (plant extract).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antibacterial (leaf compound), antidiarrheal (leaf extract), chemopreventive (constituents), antinociceptive (seed and leaf extract), antitumor (leaf).

In vitro: antiviral, immuno-enhancing, laxative and gastroprotective (extracts and compounds).

* See entry for Llantén in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... llantén

Agave, tequila plant (Agave species).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, husk/bark, root.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf: tea, orally, for stomach ache, ulcers; fresh juice added to mixture for asthma, lung infection; applied externally for headache, sprains and muscle strain; alcohol tincture for sexually transmitted infections; decoction, douche for vaginal infection. Bark/husk: decoction, orally for arthritis, joint pain and to cleanse the blood; multi-herb internal mixture for cysts, fibroids, tumors.

Safety: Little data on toxicity; contact dermatitis reported due to oxalate crystals in leaves.

Contraindications: Pregnancy.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anti-inflammatory (plant extract).

In vitro: inhibition of cell division and capillary permeability (plant extracts and constituents).

* See entry for Maguey in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... maguey

Allspice (Pimenta dioica).

Plant Part Used: Unripe, dried fruit (“seeds”).

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Seeds: tea (decoction), orally for diabetes, depression, lack of energy, menstrual disorders, internal cleansing, post-partum depression, gastro-intestinal ailments, nausea, stress, anxiety, sinus infection, allergy and respiratory infection.

Safety: Widely used as a culinary spice, generally considered safe; low toxicity shown in animal studies.

Contraindications: No information available on use in children or during pregnancy or lactation.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anti-hemorrhage due to snake venom (organic plant extract).

In vitro: antioxidant (seed/berry constituents).

* See entry for Malagueta in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... malagueta

Apple (Malus pumila).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, root, flower, fruit, bulb, bark, whole plant.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Fruit: raw, ingested, for treatment or prevention of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and nutrition; tea, orally, for common cold, flu-like symptoms, menopausal hot flashes and relaxation.

Safety: Fruit is widely consumed and generally considered safe.

Clinical Data: Human clinical trials: alleviation of gastro-intestinal enteritis (fruit).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic (ethanol extract).

In vitro: antioxidant (phenols).

* See entry for Manzana in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... manzana

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita & Chamaemelum nobile).

Plant Part Used: Flower.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Flowers: decoction/infusion, orally, for anxiety, nervousness, stress, insomnia (adults and children), menstrual cramps, post-partum recovery, childbirth and regulating blood pressure.

Safety: Considered safe for internal use; slight potential for hypersensitivity, especially in patients with a history of allergic reaction to Aster species.

Contraindications: Pregnancy: oral administration of whole plant extract at high doses may have emmenagogue effects; however, flower extracts have not shown this effect.

Clinical Data: Clinical case report: mouthwash for oral mucositis (plant extract).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antipruritic, antiulcerogenic (plant extract); anxiolytic (constituents); hypoglycemic (aerial parts of Chamaemelum nobile).

In vitro: antifungal (plant extracts).

* See entry for Manzanilla in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... manzanilla

Linn.

Family: Oleaceae; Nyctanthaceae.

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-tristis

The potential of hydrogen. A “neutral” pH is expressed as 7.0 (water), with greater being alkaline and lesser being acidic. Expressed logarithmically like the Richter’s Scale, 6.9 pH is twice as acidic as 7.0. 9.0 is ten times as alkaline as 8.0, etc., all based on the presumed amount of hydrogen ion (acidity) present. This is a chemical literality, not to be confused with the vitalist and cyto-hologrammic implications of Acid and Alkaline metabolism or foods. A complex protein has a literal pH close to neutral. Run it through your body and it gets broken down into an incredible array of amino acids, ending up as nitrogenous acid waste products. The more rapid the metabolism, the more acids are produced...the ashes of life are acids. The literal pH of the life media, such as blood, lymph and cytoplasm...and most food, is alkaline. This acid/alkaline is a concept only applicable “in vivo”; pH defines acid/alkaline “in vitro”.... ph

Pineapple (Ananas comosus).

Plant Part Used: Fruit, fruit rind.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Fruit: juice, taken orally as a diuretic for urinary tract or kidney disorders, cleansing the body internally, for treating bacterial infection, cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, menopausal hot flashes; fruit rind: fermented in sugar and water for internally cleansing and refreshing the body.

Safety: Commonly consumed as food; relatively nontoxic; repeated exposure can cause hypersensitivity.

Contraindications: Caution advised during pregnancy due to possible abortifacient effects of plant steroids.

Drug Interactions: For bromelain (protease enzymes from stem): antibiotics, tetracyclines (elevated drug serum levels), anticoagulants and thrombocyte aggregation inhibitors (increased bleeding).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antidiabetic, antioxidant, antidyslipidemic (ethanolic leaf extract); antifertility (unripe fruit juice); burn debridement (bromelain—stem enzymes); diuretic (root extract).

In vitro: antitumor (bromelain—stem enzymes).

* See entry for Piña in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... piña

Linn.

Family: Portulacaceae.

Habitat: All over India, cultivated as a vegetable.

English: Common Purslane.

Ayurvedic: Brihat Lonikaa, Lonaa, Loni, Ghoddhika, Ghotikaa, Upodika, Khursaa.

Unani: Khurfaa, Kulfaa.

Siddha/Tamil: Pulli-keerai, Parup- pukirai.

Action: Refrigerant (reduces body heat), mild spasmodic, diuretic, antiscorbutic. Used in scurvy and in diseases of liver, spleen, kidney and bladder; also in dysuria, stomatitis and dysentery. A paste of leaves is applied to swellings, erysipelas, burns and scalds. Seeds—diuretic, antidysenteric; applied externally to burns and scalds.

A crude protein-free extract of the herb contained l-nor-adrenaline, do- pamine and l-dopa, also catechol. (The fresh plant contained 2.5 mg/g l-nor- adrenaline in one sample.) The extract gave a strong pressor response when injected intravenously into anaesthetized dogs.

The oral administration of the ho- mogenates of P. oleracea reduced the blood sugar level of alloxan-diabetic rabbits to normal.

The extract of the leaves and stems reduced muscle tone in individuals suffering from spasticity and exhibited skeletal muscle relaxant activity both in vitro and in vivo. The extract produced dose-dependent negative in- otropic and chronotropic effects and pressor response on rat blood pressure.

The diuretic action of the herb is attributed to the presence of high percentage of potassium salts.

Dosage: Plant-125-400 mg powder; juice—1-20 ml (CCRAS.)... portulaca oleracea

Linn.

Family: Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.

English: Babchi, Purple Fleabane.

Habitat: Rajasthan., eastern districts of Punjab and adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh.

Ayurvedic: Somaraaji, Somavalli, Somavallik, Soma, Chaandri, Vaakuchi, Baakuchi, Avalguja. (Somaraaji and Avalguja have also been equated with Centratherum anthelminticum.)

Unani: Baabchi, Bakuchi.

Siddha/Tamil: Karpoogaarisi.

Action: Seed—used in leucoderma, vitiligo, leprosy, psoriasis and inflammatory diseases of the skin, both orally and externally. (The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.)

The seed and roots contain chal- cones, flavones, isoflavones, furano- coumarins and coumesterol group of compounds. These include psoralen, isopsoralen, bavachinin.

A mixture of psoralen and isopso- ralen, in a ratio of 1:3, is recommended for topical application in leucoderma. These furanocoumarins initiate transformation of DOPA to melanin under the influence of UV light. Seeds are powdered and administered orally with warm water (5 g/day) in cases of eczema.

Psoralen was found to be cytotoxic in vitro. The combination therapy of psoralen and UV irradiation has been shown to inhibit the growth of tumours in vivo.

Bavachinin-A, isolated from the fruits, exhibited marked anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and mild analgesic properties similar to those of oxyphenylbutazone and hydrocortisone. It demonstrated better antipyretic activity than paracetamol experimentally.

Oral administration of the powdered seeds has generally resulted in side reactions (nausea, vomiting, purging); external application generally proved highly irritant to the skin.

Dosage: Seed—1-3 g powder (CCRAS.); 3-6 g powder (API, Vol. I).... psoralea corylifolia

(Willd.) Ohwi.

Family: Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.

Habitat: Eastern Himalayas, Assam and Khasi Hills.

English: Tropical Kudze.

Ayurvedic: Vidaari (var.).

Action: Root—antipyretic, antiinflammatory, spasmolytic. Flower—hepatoprotective.

The root of P. lobata is used in Chinese medicine as an antipyretic and spasmolytic agent.

The root contains pueraria glyco- sides and puerarol. The glycosides showed strong antioxidant activity and inhibited lipid peroxidation. The root also contain several flavones which showed 66.8% inhibition against stomach cancer in vivo in mice. The isofla- yvonoids, daidzein, formononetin, daidzin and puerarin. Daidzein and puerarin show significant anti-inflammatory activity.

The cosmetics containing the root extracts with 20-40% puerarin and 2045% sugars (as sucrose) are used as moisturizing, skin-lightening and sun- screening and hair-growth stimulating preparations.

An isoflavonoid, triterpenoid sapo- nin and tryptophan derivative isolated from the flowers showed protective effect against experimental liver injuries in mice.

The tryptophan derivatives and their glycosides exhibited antihyperglycae- mic activity.

Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth., synonym P. javanica Benth. (Sub-Himalayan regions; Assam, An- dhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, up to 1,100 m) is equated with Tropical Kudze. The plant is used against ulcers and boils.... pueraria lobata

Poir.

Synonym: R. spinosa Poir. R. brandisii Gamble. R. longispina W. & A. R. tomentosa W. & A. non Blume. Xeromphis spinosa Keay.

Habitat: Assam, Naga and Khasi Hills, Travancore and the Andamans.

English: Common Emetic Nut.

Ayurvedic: Madana, Chhardana, Pindi, Shalayaka, Vishapushpaka.

Unani: Mainphal, Jauz-ul-Qai.

Siddha/Tamil: Marukkaaraikai, Madkarai.

Folk: Mainphal.

Action: Fruit—nervine, calmative, antispasmodic, emetic, anthelmintic, abortifacient. Used as a substitute for ipecacuanha.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the dried fruit in chlorosis, common cold, rhinitis and obstinate skin diseases.

The activity of the drug is attributed to the presence of saponins which occur to the extent of 2-3% in fresh fruits and about 10% in dried whole fruit. The saponins are concentrated mostly in the pulp. A mixture of two saponins, viz. randialic or neutral saponin and randialic acid or acid saponin has been isolated from the pulp. On complete hydrolysis both the saponins yield oleanolic acid as sapogenin. Ursosaponin, isolated from the ethanolic extract of the dried whole fruit, gave ursolic acid and glucose. Randianin, isolated from the fruit, gave a haemolytic triterpe- noid saponin.

In experimental animals, the drug caused haemolysis both in vitro and in vivo. Crude saponin fraction showed haemolytic, molluscidal and immuno- stimulating activities.

Oleanolic acid 3-glucoside, isolated from the seed, exhibited anti-arthritic activity in exudative and proliferative phases of inflammation in rats.

Dosage: Fruit—0.5-1.0 g powder for decoction, 3-6 g for induction vomiting. (API, Vol. I.)... randia dumetorum

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea variety capitata).

Plant Part Used: Leaves (cabbage head), juice from leaves.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaves: eaten raw, juiced, cooked, as a soup, taken internally for treating obesity, diabetes, heart disease, gynecological conditions (uterine fibroids), intestinal parasites or for nutrition; fresh leaves used externally for wound-healing.

Safety: Considered safe; widely consumed; shown to be nontoxic in animal studies.

Contraindications: Thyroid conditions (may interfere with thyroid iodine absorption).

Drug Interactions: Prothrombopenic anticoagulants (may be antagonized); hypothyroid drugs (may interfere).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antitumor, antiulcer (plant extracts).

Nutrition: calcium, vitamins K and U.

* See entry for Repollo in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... repollo

Aloe, aloe vera (Aloe vera).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, leaf gel.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf gel: applied topically for skin conditions: minor abrasions, burns, cuts, fungal infection, scrapes, sunburn, wound-healing; taken orally for common cold, flu-like symptoms, pulmonary infection.

Safety: Results of toxicity studies and published literature.

Contraindications: Internal use: pregnancy, lactation, children under 12 y, individuals with inflammatory intestinal disease.

Drug Interactions: Internal use: cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmic drugs (potential potassium loss and intensified drug effect); thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, licorice, corticosteroids (risk of potassium loss); antidiabetic drugs: (risk of hypoglycemia).

Clinical Data: Clinical: anesthetic, antiviral, burn-healing, wound-healing (leaf gel).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, chemomodulatory, hypothyroid, wound-healing (leaf pulp/gel).

In vitro: antileukemic, antimutagenic, antitumor, cytotoxic, enzyme inhibition (chemical constituents).

* See entry for Sábila in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... sábila

Miller.

Family: Liliaceae; Smilacaceae.

Habitat: Native to tropical America and the West Indies.

English: Sarsaparilla.

Unani: Ushbaa Maghrabi (Ushbaa Desi is equated with Decalepis hamiltonii.)

Action: Alterative, anti- inflammatory, antipruritic, blood purifier, antiseptic. (It was first introduced in 1563 as a drug for syphilis.)

In Western herbal, Sarsaparilla is equated with Smilax aristolochiaefo- lia (American, Mexican, Vera Cruz or Grey Sarsaparilla); S. medica, S. regelii (Jamaican, Honduras or Brown Sarsaparilla); S.febrifuga (Ecuadorian or Guayaquil Sarsaparilla). Hemides- mus indicus is equated with Indian Sarsaparilla.

Key application: Preparations of sarsaparilla root are used for skin diseases, psoriasis and its sequel, rheumatic complaints, kidney diseases, and as a diaphoretic and diuretic. (The claimed efficacy has not been established clinically.) Included among unapproved herbs by German Commission E.

The roots and rhizomes of sarsaparil- la contain saponins based on aglycones sarsapogenin and smilagenin, the major one being parillin (sarsaponin), with smilasaponin (smilacin) and sar- saparilloside; beta-sitosterol, stigmas- terol and their glucosides. Chief components of saponins (0.5-3%) are sar- saparilloside, along with parillin as a breakdown product. Parillin shows antibiotic activity.

Sarsaparilla root sterols are not anabolic steroids, nor are they converted in vivo to anabolic steroids. Testosterone, till now, has not been detected in any plant including sarsaparilla. Hemidesmus indicus contains none of the saponins or principal constituents found in sarsaparilla. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)... smilax aristolochiaefolia

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica).

Plant Part Used: Fruit pulp, leaf, root, branch.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Fruit pulp: aqueous extract, orally, for insomnia, hormonal imbalance, hot flashes and nightsweats. Leaf, bark, branch: decoction, orally, liver, kidney and prostate disorders and hepatitis.

Safety: Fruit pulp: widely consumed and generally considered safe; fruit or seed pods may contain an irritating, hypoglycemic alkaloid. Bark/leaves: insufficient information available.

Drug Interactions: Ibuprofen (fruit extract increases bioavailability).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antidiabetic (seed extract), anti-inflammatory (plant extracts), colonic cell proliferation effects (fruit pulp).

In vitro: antioxidant (plant extract).

* See entry for Tamarindo in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... tamarindo

Linden (Tilia species).

Plant Part Used: Flower and attached leaf bract.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Flower and leaf bract: infusion, orally, for relief from anxiety, insomnia, nervousness, stress; women’s health: menorrhagia, uterine fibroids, menopausal hot flashes. Given to children.

Safety: Considered relatively safe; no adverse effects known; if taken in excess or for a long time, may be harmful to the heart.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory (leaf flavonoids); anxiolytic (flower extract).

In vitro: antigenotoxic, antioxidant, GABAa receptor inhibition (water plant extract), iron-absorption promoting (flower extract).

* See entry for Tilo in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... tilo

West Indian snowberry (Chiococca alba).

Plant Part Used: Root, leaf, flower, aerial parts.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Root: ingredient in alcohol-based herbal mixtures or strong infusions for genitourinary or sexually transmitted infections, reproductive disorders, respiratory tract infection, cleansing the body internally. Whole plant used as an astringent, diuretic, emetic, emollient.

Safety: Aqueous root extract given at moderate dosages did not show toxic effects although ethanolic root extract showed signs of toxicity in animal studies.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anti-inflammatory.

In vitro: antibacterial.

* See entry for Timacle in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... timacle

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, branches.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaves: infusion, orally, for digestive and gastro-intestinal disorders, cough, upper-respiratory tract infection; bath, externally, for skin conditions.

Safety: Widely consumed as a culinary seasoning; generally considered safe; potential for allergic reaction.

Contraindications: Acute urinary tract or gastro-intestinal inflammation: avoid internal use of herb. Severe skin conditions or injuries, high fevers and heart conditions: avoid whole-body baths.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antioxidant (essential oil), liver enzyme activity (leaf constituents).

In vitro: antibacterial (essential oil, plant extracts), antifungal (essential oil), anti-inflammatory (plant extracts), antioxidant (leaf extract), anti-platelet aggregant (leaf constituents), antiprotozoal (essential oil), antispasmodic (plant and ethanol extract), spasmolytic (flavonoids).

* See entry for Tomillo in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... tomillo

Grapefruit (Citrus • paradisi).

Plant Part Used: Fruit.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Fruit: juice, orally, for diabetes, constipation, indigestion and intestinal obstruction.

Safety: Fruit and juice are widely consumed and generally considered safe.

Drug Interactions: Cytochrome P450-metabolized drugs (may inhibit potency or potentiate activity).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anticancer, chemopreventive (essential oil); anti-ulcer, gatroprotective (seed extract).

In vitro: inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity (essential oil), inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes (fruit juice).

* See entry for Toronja in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... toronja

Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa).

Plant Part Used: Inner bark, stem, root.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Bark, root, stem: infusion or multi-herb tincture, orally, for arthritis, cancer, diabetes, kidney disorders, leukemia, obesity and women’s health.

Safety: No toxicity shown in clinical and animal studies; long-term use may affect hormone levels.

Contraindications: Pregnancy, lactation; autoimmune disorders or implanted organs (immune stimulating properties).

Drug Interactions: Anticoagulants, antiplatelet and thrombolytic agents and low molecular weight heparins (potential risk of excessive bleeding); immunosuppressants (may interfere with drug); P450 3A4-metabolyzed drugs (potential inhibition).

Clinical Data: Clinical: DNA repair, immune enhancement, immunostimulant, rheumatoid arthritis treatment (bark extract).

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anti-amnesic (alkaloids), anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimutagenic, antinociceptive, DNA repair, immune enhancement, immunomodulatory (plant extracts).

In vitro: anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral, cytoprotective, immunomodulatory (bark or leaf extracts).

* See entry for Uña de gato in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... uña de gato

Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis).

Plant Part Used: Aerial parts: leaf, stem, flower.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf: tea, orally, for indigestion, flatulence, diarrhea, anxiety, nervousness, stress and menopausal symptoms and to cleanse the blood.

Safety: Animal studies show low to moderate toxicity; leaves considered relatively atoxic.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: analgesic, antioxidant, antispasmodic, hypotensive, hypertensive (plant/leaf extracts).

In vitro: antioxidant, antispasmodic, insecticidal, nematicidal, spasmogenic (plant/leaf extracts).

* See entry for Verbena in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... verbena

Carrot (Daucus carota). Plant Part Used: Root.Dominican Medicinal Uses: Root: juice, orally, for diabetes, anemia, cancer, improved vision, tumors, uterine fibroids, menopausal hot flashes, nourishment, to strengthen the blood, diarrhea, stomach ailments, gastrointestinal inflammation and liver disorders.Safety: Generally considered safe; root is widely consumed.Clinical Data: Human clinical trials: antioxidant, colonic motility, dental caries, hypocholesterolemic (root).Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: hepatoprotective (root).In vitro: antibacterial, antispasmodic, antitumor (seed extract or constituents), antioxidant, carotene bioavailability, hormonal effects (root).Nutrition: vitamin A precursors.* See entry for Zanahoria in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... zanahoria

A method of treating infertility in which an egg (ovum) is surgically removed from the ovary and fertilized outside the body.

The woman is given a course of fertility drugs to stimulate release of eggs from the ovary. This is followed by ultrasound scanning to check the eggs, which are collected by laparoscopy immediately before ovulation. They are then mixed with sperm in the laboratory. Two, or sometimes more, fertilized eggs are replaced into the uterus. If they become safely implanted in the uterine wall, the pregnancy usually continues normally.

Only about 1 in 10 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization achieves pregnancy at the 1st attempt, and many attempts may be needed before a successful pregnancy is achieved. Modifications of the technique, such as gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), are simpler and cheaper than the original method. in vivo Biological processes occurring within the body. (See also in vitro.)... in vitro fertilization