Habitat: Throughout India, in tanks and back waters.
Folk: Barachuli, Chinnambal (Kerala).Action: Plant—bitter, febrifuge, antiscorbutic. Used as a substitute for Swertia Chirata in fever and jaundice.
Action: Emmenagogue, antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant. Leaves and seed— astringent, antispasmodic. Warm infusion of herb—promotes suppressed menstrual flow.
The herb contains about 3% volatile oil comprising sabinene hydrate, sa- binene, linalool, carvacrol, estrogole, eugenol and terpenes; flavonoids including luteolin-7-glucoside, dios- metin-7-glucoside, apigenin-7-gluco- side; rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid; and triterpenoids such as ursolic acid, olea- nolic acid, sterols.Marjoram herb and oil exhibit antibacterial action. (German Commission E.) The herb contains arbutin and hydroxyquinone (a carcinogenic agent) in low concentrations. The herb is not suited for extended use. Topical application of hydroxyquinone leads to depigmentation of the skin. There is no reports of similar side effects with marjoram ointment. (German Commission E.)Origanum vulgare Linn. (Wild Marjoram) contains volatile oil with a widely varying composition; major components include thymol, beta-bisabolene, caryophyllene, linalool and borneol; other constituents are similar to those of O. majorana.The leaves of Wild Marjoram contain phenolic acids. The phenyl propionic acid and the phenyl glucoside showed antioxidant activity comparable to that of BHA, a synthetic antiox- idant.Wild Marjoram preparations are used for bronchial catarrh and disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract in Unani medicine.Sweet Marjoram shows stronger effect on the nervous system than Wild Marjoram and gives better results in anxiety, headaches and insomnia.Both the species have been included among unapproved herbs by German Commission E.... oroxylum indicumHabitat: Throughout the hotter parts of India. Found as a weed in the sub-Himalayan tract and other hills up to 1,200 m.
English: Country Mallow, Flowering Maples, Chinese Bell-flowers.Ayurvedic: Atibalaa, Kankatikaa, Rishyaproktaa.Unani: Kanghi, Musht-ul-Ghaul, Darkht-e-Shaan.Siddha/Tamil: Thutthi.Folk: Kanghi, Kakahi, Kakahiyaa.Action: Dried, whole plant— febrifuge, anthelmintic, demulcent, diuretic, anti-inflammatory (in urinary and uterine discharges, piles, lumbago). Juice of the plant— emollient. Seeds—demulcent (used in cough, chronic cystitis), laxative. Leaves—cooked and eaten for bleeding piles. Flowers— antibacterial, anti-inflammatory. Bark—astringent, diuretic. Root— nervine tonic, given in paralysis; also prescribed in strangury.
Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of the root in gout, polyuria and haemorrhagic diseases.The plant contains mucilage, tannins, asparagines, gallic acid and ses- quiterpenes. Presence of alkaloids, leucoanthocyanins, flavonoids, sterols, triterpenoids, saponins and cardiac glycosides is also reported.Asparagine is diuretic. Gallic acid is analgesic. Mucilages act by reflex, loosen cough as well as bronchial tension. Essential oil—antibacterial, antifungal.The drug exhibits immunological activity. It augments antibody in animals. EtOH (50%) extract of A. indicum ssp. guineense Borssum, synonym A. asiaticum (Linn.) Sweet, exhibits anticancer activity.Related sp. include: Abutilon avicen- nae Gaertn., synonym A. theophrastiiMedic.; A. fruticosum Guill. et al.; A. hirtum (Lam.) Sweet, synonym A. graveolens Wt. and Arn.; A. muticum Sweet, synonym A. glaucum Sweet; and A. polyandrum Wight and Arn., synonym A. persicum (Burm. f.) Merrill (known as Naani-khapaat, Jhinaki- khapaat, Kanghi, Makhamali-khapaat and Khaajavani-khapaat, respectively, in folk medicine).Dosage: Root—3-6 g powder. (API Vol I.)... abutilon indicumHabitat: Native to China and Japan. Cultivated as an ornamental.
English: Chrysanthemum.Ayurvedic: Shatapatri.Unani: Guldaaudi.Siddha/Tamil: Samanthipoo, Akkarakkaram.Action: Flowers—stomachic, aperient, anti-inflammatory. Leaves— prescribed in migraine (as circulatory stimulant). Uses same as those of chamomile.
The flowers contain daucosterol, cumambrin-A, glyceryl-l-monobehe- nate and palmitic acid. The flowers also contain chrysanthemol which showed strong anti-inflammatory activity in mice. The flavones, apigenin and lu- teolin, are reported to exhibit marked antitumour activity.Flowers yield an essential oil containing camphor (16.0%), trans-cara- ne-trans-2-ol (15.0%), bornyl acetate (12.0%) and sabinene (7%).A related species C. parthenium (Linn.) Berhh., Feverfew, synonym Tanacetum parthenium, used for the management of migraine in Western herbal, is found in Jammu and Kashmir. The plant extracts have a powerful and prostaglandin-independent inhibitory effect on the secretion of granule content by leucocytes and platelets. The inhibition of the agonist-induced serotonins release by platelets could be accounted for the benefit in migraine. The compound responsible for the anti-secretory activity has been identified as sesquiterpene alpha-methylene- gamma-lactone derivatives; partheno- lide being the main constituent of the lactones. (Two fresh or frozen leaves a day are chewed or capsules or pills containing 86 mg of the leaf material is taken for migraine. Fresh leaves may cause mouth sores.)... chrysanthemum indicumHabitat: Kashmir.
English: Fringed Water-Lily.Folk: Kuru, Khairposh (Punjab).Action: Leaf—used in periodic headache.... limnanthemum nymphaeoides
Habitat: Moist parts of India, especially along sea-coasts and back waters.
Siddha/Tamil: Pencolum.Folk: Hurnaa (Maharashtra).Action: Root bark—emetic, acrid and purgative.
The fruit contains aesculetin. A lac- tone and an alcohol has been isolated from the bark.... sapium indicumHabitat: Cultivated as an ornamental throughout India, especially in South and Eastern India.
English: Turk's Turban, Tube- Flower.Ayurvedic: Vaamana-haati (a substitute for Bhaarangi).Siddha/Tamil: Kavalai, Narivalai.Action: Root—used for asthma, cough, scrofulous affections. Leaf— vermifuge. Resin—antirheumatic. The plant is also used in fever, atrophy, emaciation of cachexia and consumption.
The leaves contain flavonoids—scu- tellarein (0.5%), hispidulin (0.1%) and their 7-O-glucuronides; also sterols. Flowers contain beta-sitosterol and tri- terpenoids. The bark yields hexitol and sorbitol.The flavone, pectolinarin and a di- terpene, oncinotine, exhibit antifee- dant activity.... clerodendrum indicumHabitat: Throughout India.
English: Scorpion Tail.Ayurvedic: Hastishundi Shrihastini, Vrischikaali.Siddha/Tamil: Thaelkodukku.Action: Plant—diuretic, astringent, emollient, vulnerary. Used as a local application for ulcers, wounds, sores, gum boils and skin affections. Decoction of leaves is used in urticaria and fevers; that of root in coughs. Flowers—emmenagogue in small doses, abortifacient in large doses. Masticated seeds— stomachic.
Aerial parts of the plant contain alkaloids—indicine (principal base), echinatine, supinine, heleurine, he- liotrine, lasiocarpine and lasiocarpine- N-oxide. Aerial parts and root gave an anticancer principle—indicine-N- oxide.The aqueous and alcohol extracts of the plant possess oxytocic activity. The roots contain significant amounts of estradiol, a sex hormone.The inflorescences are used by trib- als for scorpion bite.... heliotropium indicumHabitat: Throughout India, in fresh water ponds and tanks. (Considered by some authors a synonym of Nymphoides Hill.)
Folk: Ghainchu, Tagarmuula; Panchuli, Chandmalla (Bengal); Kumudini (Maharashtra).Action: Plant—used in fevers and jaundice. Seeds—anthelmintic. Stalks and leaves—applied to ulcers and insect bites. A decoction is used as a wash for parasitic skin affections. The plant is used as a substitute for Swertia Chirata.
The rhizomes and roots of Nymphoides macrospermum Vasudevan (Family: Menyanthaceae) are sold in the market as Granthik Tagar. These are used as a substitute for Valeriana hard- wickii Wall. in neurological disorders and colic.... limnanthemum cristatumHabitat: Native of Mediterranean region; grown in Indian gardens.
English: Indian oleander, White oleander.Ayurvedic: Karavira, Viraka, Ashva- maaraka, Hayamaaraka, Gauripush- pa, Divyapushpa, Shatakumbha, Siddhapushpa (white-flowered var.). Raktapushpa, Raktaprasava, Ravipriya (red-flowered var.)Unani: Kaner Safed, Diflaa, Samm-ul-maar, Khar-zaharah.Siddha/Tamil: Arali, Alari, Aatrulari, Karaviram.Action: Root—resolvent and attenuant. A paste of the root is externally applied to haemorrhoids and ulcerations in leprosy. Paste of the root bark and leaves is used in ringworm and other skin diseases. An oil extracted from the root bark is used in skin diseases of scaly nature. Leaves—cardioactive (digitalis-like effect) and diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, insecticidal. Toxic.
The leaves contain several glyco- sides including glycosides of 8 beta- hydroxy-digitoxigenin. Cardenolide glycosides and pregnanolone glyco- sides have been isolated from roots.The ethanolic extract of the flowers inhibits the growth of dermatophytes.The plant shows antifungal activity against ringworm fungus, Microspo- rum nanum.Dosage: Detoxified leaves—30— 125 mg powder (API, Vol. I); root— 30 mg—125 mg powder (API, Vol. III).... nerium indicumHabitat: Kangra and in Simla hills.
English: European Elder, Black Elder.Unani: Khamaan Kabir.Action: Anti-inflammatory, anticatarrhal, diuretic. Flowers and berries—used for common cold, influenza, nasal catarrh, sinusitis; as a gargle in sore throat. Inner bark—cathartic, hydragogue, emetic, diuretic. Infusion of bark and flowers—given in epilepsy; also used as a gentle circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, expectant and anticatarrhal; locally in inflammations.
Key application: In colds, also as a diaphoretic and anticatarrhal. (German Commission E, The British Herbal Compendium, WHO.)The flowers contain triterpenes including ursolic acid; flavonoids (up to 3%) including rutin; phenolic acids; triterpenes; sterols; tannins; mucilage; volatile oil (up to 0.2%); leaves gaveSynonym: S. koetjape (Burm. f.) Merrill.Family: Meliaceae.Habitat: Wild in Kangra and in Simla hills.
English: European Elder.Siddha/Tamil: Sevai, Sayai.Action: Root—astringent, carminative, antispasmodic. Used for diarrhoea. Bark—anthelmintic.
Fruit hulls gave bryonic and bryono- lic acids, mesoinosital and dimethyl mucate; heartwood also gave triter- penic acids including katonic and in- dicic acid.The seeds gave limonoids—sandori- cin and 6-hydroxysandoricin. A sec- otriterpene, koetjapic acid, together with katonic acid, has been isolated from the stem. Sandoricin and 6- hydroxysandoricin exhibited effective antifeedant activity. Katonic acid exhibited significant cytotoxicity against a variety of cultured human cancer cells.... sandoricum indicumHabitat: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
English: Sesame, Gingelly.Ayurvedic: Tila, Snehphala.Unani: Kunjad, Til.Siddha: Ellu (seed), Nallennai (oil).Action: Seeds—an important source of protein; also rich in thiamine and niacine. Nourishing, lactagogue, diuretic, laxative, emollient. Powdered seeds—given internally in amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea. (Black seeds are preferred in Indian medicine.) Paste is applied to burns, scalds, piles. Leaves—used in affections of kidney and bladder. Bland mucilage is used in infantile diarrhoea, dysentery, catarrh and bladder troubles, acute cystitis and strangury.
Non-saponifiable fraction of the seed oil gave sterols, a lignans, sesamin and a nitrolactone, sesamolin. Sesamin and sesamolin are not found in any other vegetable oil. Sesamin is present in a concentration of 0.5 to 1.0%. The oil from the white seeds from West Bengal and Assam is reported to contain about 2.5% sesamin. Sesamol, a phenolic antioxidant, is present in traces.The leaves gave a flavonoid, pedalin. Pinoresinol has also been reported from the plant.The seed contains thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, folic acid, biotin, pyridoxine, in- ositol, choline, p-aminobenzoic acid, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, alpha-and beta-tocopherol. Sugars present are glucose, surcose, galactose, planteose, raffinose. Fatty acid in the seed are myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic, hexadecenoic, oleic, linoleic and lig- noceric.Basic aroma compounds of the roasted seeds consisted of mainly dimethyl thiazole and substituted pyrozines.Dosage: Seed—5-10 g powder. (API, Vol. IV.)... sesamum indicumHabitat: Outer hills of the Himalayas in Kumaon and in the plains from Punjab to Bengal, and in Tamil Nadu and Mysore.
Ayurvedic: Vanya-yamaani.Action: Seeds—stimulant, an- thelmintic (used for round worms), carminative.
Seselin, isolated from the seeds, exhibited significant and dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity in carragee- nan-induced acute inflammation in rats. It also exhibited significant analgesic activity and was found to be safe in oral doses up to 6 g/kg (body weight) in 72 h mortality test in mice.A sample of commercial oil, available as Ajmod Oil, is reported to contain (+)-limonene (50%), seselin, (-)- beta-selinene andbeta-cyclolavendulic acid.... seseli indicumHabitat: Throughout India in the plains and foot hills.
English: Poison Berry.Ayurvedic: Brihati, Kshudra- bhantaaki, Kateri (bigger var.).Unani: Hadaq, Kataai Kalaan.Siddha: Mullamkatti, Papparamulli (root).Folk: Barahantaa.Action: Root—carminative, expectorant; used for colic, dysuria, coughs and catarrhal affections.
A decoction is prescribed in difficult parturition.The fruits and leaves contain gly- coalkaloid, solasonine; the presence of solanine in roots, leaves and fruits has been reported. Diosgenin is also present in leaves, stems and fruits.The total alkaloid content of fruit varies from 0.2 to 1.8% (dry weight basis); plants growing in Jammu and Kashmir bear fruits with high alkaloid content (total alkaloid 1.8%).An alcoholic extract of fruits is active against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. The extract of leaves is also active against E. coli.The bigger var. of Kateri (Indian Nightshade) is also equated with S. an- guivi Lam., synonym S. indicum auct. non L. It contains salasonine, dios- genin, beta-sitosterol, lanosterol, sola- margine, solasodine and tomatidenol. The seed oil contains carpestrol.Dosage: Root—10-20 g for decoction. (API, Vol. II.)... solanum indicumHabitat: The greater part of India in the plains.
Ayurvedic: Adah-pushpi, Adho- mukha, Gandhapushpika, Andhaka.Siddha/Tamil: Kalhudaitumbai.Folk: Andhaahuli.Action: Herb—Diuretic, emollient, febrifuge. Leaf—depurative. Root— anti-inflammatory, astringent, antidysenteric. Pounded and applied to swelling of joints. Flower—sudorific and pectoral.
The seeds gave linoleic, linolenic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids. Hex- acosane, ethylhexacosanoate, 21,24- hexacosadienoic acid ethylester have been isolated from the leaves.Dosage: Root—5-10 g paste. (CCRAS.)... trichodesma indicum
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