D. Don.
Synonym: Bistorta affinis (D. Don) Green.
Family: Polygonaceae.
Habitat: Himalayas from Kashmir to Nepal at altitudes of 2,4004,800 m.
Folk: Khukhudi.
Action: Flowers—stimulant.
The inflorescence gave flavonoids, including quercetin, isorhamnetin, lu- teolin and apigenin derivatives. The leaves contain the flavonoids, 8-C- glucosyltricin and isorhamnetin.
Linn.
Family: Polygonaceae.
Habitat: Throughout India in wet places.
English: Water Pepper, Pepperwort, Smartweed.
Folk: Paakur-muula, Paani-maricha (Bengal).
Action: Haemostatic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, lithotriptic, emmenagogue (used as infusion for delayed menses and amenorrhoea), antifungal (root and leaf used externally). Contraindicated during pregnancy.
The herb contains sesquiterpenes, including warburganal and polygodial, in the leaves; polygonal, isodrimeni- nol, isopolygodial and confertifolin in the seeds; and flavonoids including quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin and rhamnesin; polygonolide (an iso- coumarin).Isoquercitrin exhibited significant anti-oxidative activity. Polygodial and warburganal possess significant an- tifungal property. Warburganal also possesses potent cytotoxic and antibiotic activity. (The herb is used against cancer.)
Folk: Muniyaaraa (Bihar), Raani- phool, Macheti, Dubiaa Saaga.
Action: Galactogenic, antidiar- rhoeal. Powdered herb is given in pneumonia.
The whole plant yields 11% tannin. The rootstock contains oxymethylan- thraquinone.Flowers gave oleanolic acid, betulin- ic acid, epi-friedelanol, beta-sitosterol, and flavonoids—quercetin, quercetin- 3-arabinoside and quercetin-3-rutino- side.... polygonum hydropiper