Linea nigra Health Dictionary

(Linn.) Koch.

Family: Cruciferae; Brassicaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

English: Black Mustard.

Ayurvedic: Banarasi Raai, Raajika (var.).

Unani: Khardal Siyah. Siddha/Tamil: Kadugu. Folk: Raai.

Action: Seeds are used for treating coryza with thin excoriating discharge with lacrimation, sneezing and hacking cough, nostril blockage and dry and hot feeling of pharyngitis.

The seeds contain glucosinolate sin- igrin, which produces allyl isothio- cyanate when mixed with warm water. Allyl isothiocynate acts as a counterir- ritant when diluted (1:50).

Brayera anthelmintica Kunth.

Synonym: Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J. F. Gmelin.

Family: Rosaceae.

Habitat: Indigenous to north-east Africa. Imported into Mumbai.

English: Cusso, Brayera.

Folk: Kusso.

Action: Anthelmintic. Administered in the form of an infusion for the expulsion of tapeworm (ineffective against hookworm, roundworm, whipworm). Irritant to mucous membrane; produces nausea, vomiting and colic in large doses.... brassica nigra

The line of ?brous tissue stretching down the mid line of the belly from the lower end of the sternum to the pubic bone (see PUBIS). The linea alba gives attachment to the muscles of the wall of the stomach.... linea alba

Linn.

Family: Moraceae.

Habitat: Native to West Asia; cultivated in Kashmir, also grown in Darjeeling.

English: Black Mulberry.

Unani: Tuut Siyaah.

Action: Berries and root bark— mild laxative and used in the treatment of respiratory catarrh. Berries—refrigerant, given during convalescence.

The fruit contains invert sugar, pectin, fruit acids (including malic and citric acid), ascorbic acid, and fla- vonoids (including rutin). Leaves contain flavonoids, including rutin (26%). Root bark contains calcium malate; the bark of branches contains tannins, phlobaphenes, a sugar, a phy- tosterol, ceryl alcohol, fatty acids and phosphoric acid.

An infusion of leaves causes a drop in blood sugar, sometimes diuresis and a reduction in arterial pressure. It shows no effect on glucosuria.

Morus acidosa Griff., M. australis Poir and Morus indica L. have also been equated with Tuut Siyaah of Unani medicine.... morus nigra

Linn. var. italica Kochne.

Family: Salicaceae.

Habitat: North-western Himalaya at 900-3,700 m.

English: Black Lombardy Poplar.

Action: Bark and balsam from leaf bud— used for cold. Bark— depurative. Leaf bud—antiseptic, anti- inflammatory.

The bud exudate contains dimethyl- caffeic acid, which was found active against herpes simplex virus type 1.

A 50% ethanol extract of a mixture of flowers and buds showed 11% inhibition of enzymatic conversion of testosterone into 5 alpha-dihydrotesterone and 4-androstene-3,17-dione. The extract was partitioned between ethylac- etate and water and the resultant ethy- lacetate fraction contained the active compounds, pinobanksin, demethyl- quercetin and pinocembrin. It exhibited 15% inhibitory activity on the enzyme. Pinocembrin was the most potent, almost equal to estradiol, which was used as a control.

The bark of all Populus species contains, phenolic glycosides, salicin and populin (salicinbenzoate). Tannins are also present (5-9%).

Both salicin and populin cause elimination of uric acid. Salicin is antiperi- odic and is used like quinine in intermittent fever, also in coryza, rheumatism and neuralgia.... populus nigra

n. (pl. lineae) (in anatomy) a line, narrow streak, or stripe. The linea alba is a tendinous line, extending from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis, where the flat abdominal muscles are attached.... linea

Marsh.

Family: Salicaceae.

Habitat: Native to America (New York and Pennsylvania).

English: Black Willow.

Unani: Bed-Siyaah.

Action: Astringent, febrifuge, sedative, nervine tonic. Anaphrodisiac (used for reducing sexual activity; in spermatorrhoea). Largely used in the treatment of nocturnal emissions.

The bark contains tannin, about 1% of glucoside salinigrin. Once considered a substitute for potassium bromide, but without a depressant effect.... salix nigra