Prunus domestica Health Dictionary

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Prunus Domestica: From 1 Different Sources

Linn.

Synonym: P. communis Huds.

Family: Rosaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Kumaon.

English: Prune.

Ayurvedic: Aaruka (Prunus domestica var. insititia). Aaluubukhaaraa.

Unani: Aaluuchaa.

Siddha/Tamil: Alpagada-pungam.

Action: Fruit—refrigerant, laxative, nutritive. Improves haemoglobin levels in iron deficiency. Promotes excretion of excess calcium by the kidneys. An adjuvant for atherosclerosis and arthritis. Root—astringent.

The fruit pulp contains about 44% sugar and malic acid as major constituents. Kernel contains fixed oil about 45% and amygdalin and benzoic acid among others.

The crude extract of the fruit was found effective in controlling centrally induced emesis in dogs. The action was comparable to that of Metoclopramide (Maxolon) and chlorpro- mazine (Largactil).
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Prunus Amygdalus

Batsch var. amara (bitter); var. sativa (sweet).

Family: Rosaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in Kashmir at elevation of 760-2,400 m, also in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

English: Almond.

Ayurvedic: Vaataama, Vaataada.

Unani: Baadaam Shireen, Loz.

Siddha/Tamil: Vaadumai.

Action: Kernels—nutritious, demulcent and stimulant nervine tonic; valuable in diets for peptic ulcer. Unripe fruits— astringent, applied to gums. Oil—nutritive, demulcent, slightly laxative.

Almond flour made from the residue left after expressing almond oil, and almond butter, is used for the preparation of starch-free diabetic food.

The chief protein of almond is a globulin, amandin, an albumin is also reported. Amandin has a high arginine content (11.9%). The primary chemical difference between the sweet and bitter kernel lies in the high content (2.5-3.5%) of amygdalin in bitter kernel; the ripe sweet almond being free of this cyanogenetic glucoside. Owing to the presence of amygdalin, which on enzymatic hydrolysis yields hydrocyanic acid, the bitter almond is not fit for human consumption.

The oil yield from bitter kernels is usually 38 to 45% and from sweet almond 44 to 55%. The bitter almond oil containing hydrocyanic acid finds limited use in medicine as an antispas- modic and sedative. Dissolved in 50 times water, it is applied externally in prurigo senilis. Hydrocyanic acid-free oil is used for flavouring purposes.

Partial replacement of saturated fatty acids with almonds lowers total plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.... prunus amygdalus

Prunus Armeniaca

Linn.

Family: Rosaceae.

Habitat: North-western Himalayas, particularly in the valleys of Kashmir, Chenab and Kullu, and in Simla hills at altitudes of 3,000 m.

English: Apricot.

Ayurvedic: Peetaalu, Aaluka, Urumaana.

Unani: Khuubaani, Mashmash.

Action: Powdered kernels— antitussive, antiasthmatic.

The dried apricot contains, 3,4- dihydroxybenzoic, chlorogenic and vanillic acids, quercetin, quercitrin, rutin, hyperoside and kaempferol. Apricot leaves contain quercetin, cy- nadin, kaempferol, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid.... prunus armeniaca

Prunus Avium

Linn.

Family: Rosaceae.

Habitat: Native to Eurasia; cultivated in Kashmir, Kumaon and Himachal Pradesh.

English: Sweet Cherry.

Ayurvedic: Elavaaluka, Elaya, Harivaaluka.

Folk: Gilaas, Krusbal.

Action: Fruit stalks—diuretic, antiinflammatory, astringent, used for oedema, inflammation of urinary tract, cystitis, nephritis, urinary retention.

The stems contain salicylic acid, organic acids tannins and potassium salts. Protocatechuic, p-coumaric, fer- ulic and diferculic acids have been identified in the shoots.

The fruit contains salicylates and cyanogenic glycosides, and vitamin A, B1 and C. Sugars consist mainly of glucose and fructose, with sucrose as a minor component. Malic acid is the principal acid, small amounts of citric, tartaric and succinic acids are also reported. The lipids of the fruit pulp contain cis-vaccenic acid.

The acetone extract of peduncle gave an isoflavone, prunetin, which on hydrolysis yielded an aglycone identified as prunetin and sugar as glucose.

The seeds contain a cyanogenic gly- coside and are toxic. The bark contains tannins up to 16%.

Dosage: Seed—3-5 g powder. (CCRAS.)... prunus avium

Prunus Cerasoides

D. Don.

Synonym: P. puddum Roxb. ex Brandis. non-Miq.

Family: Rosaceae.

Habitat: The temperate Himalayas from Garhwal to Sikkim, also in Ootacamund.

English: Wild Himalayan Cherry, Bird Cheery.

Ayurvedic: Padmaka, Padma- gandhi, Padmaadyaa, Padmaakha, Padmakaashtha.

Action: Kernel—antilithic. Stem— refrigerant, antipyretic. Tender branches are crushed and soaked in water and taken internally to avert abortion. Oil—similar to that of bitter almond oil.

The plant contains a flavone glu- coside, puddumin-A. The root bark contains beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, ursolic acid, prunetinoside, glucogen- kwanin and neosakuranin. Seeds contain flavonoid glycosides.

The leaves, twigs, bark and kernels contain a cyanogenetic substance.

Dosage: Heartwood—1-3 g powder. (API, Vol. III.)... prunus cerasoides

Prunus Cerasus

Linn.

Family: Rosaceae.

Habitat: Native of Eurasia; cultivated in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Kumaon for edible fruits.

English: Sour Cherry.

Ayurvedic: Elavaaluka (var.).

Folk: Aalu-baalu, Gilaas.

Action: Fruit—diuretic, anti- inflammatory. Used for genitourinary inflammations, cystitis and urine retention. Bark—febrifuge, antidiarrhoeal. Fruit stalk—diuretic. Fruit stalk and stem—pectoral. Bark and fruit stalk—astringent. Kernel—nervine. Leaf—an infusion is given for convulsions in children.

Key application: Heartwood—in skin eruptions, erysipelas, obstinate skin diseases, haemorrhagic diseases. As a tonic for promoting conception. (The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.)

The leaves, fruits and bark gave flavone glycosides. The bark contains 5-7% tannin. The kernel contains a considerable proportion of hydrocyanic acid. The leaves contain amyg- dalin. (Amygdalin, a nitrile glycoside, has been reported to inhibit the growth of Sarcoma-180 cells in culture.)... prunus cerasus

Prunus Mahaleb

Linn.

Family: Rosaceae.

Habitat: Native to Europe and West Asia, introduced in India and grown as an ornamental.

English: Mahaleb Cherry.

Ayurvedic: Gandha-priyangu. (Priyangu is equated with Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl.)

Unani: Mahlib, Habb-ul-Mihlab.

Folk: Ghaulaa (Maharashtra).

Action: Kernel—paste applied externally for treating freckles and blemishes. Contains coumarin, salicylic acid, amygdalin and hydrocyanic acid as major constituents; the oil gave alpha-elecsteric acid.... prunus mahaleb

Prunus Persica

Batsch.

Synonym: Persica vulgaris Nutt. Amydgala persica Linn.

Family: Rosaceae.

Habitat: Native to China; cultivated in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Kumaon.

English: Peach.

Ayurvedic: Aaluka, Aaruka, Aru, Pichuka.

Action: Fruit—mild tranquillizer, expectorant, diuretic, antipyretic. Bark or leaves—used as tea for morning sickness, dry and hard cough, whooping cough and bronchitis. Leaves—used in leucoderma.

Flowers—galactagogue. Peach seeds are a constituent of a traditional Chinese herbal drug which has been used for the treatment of gynaecological disorders such as hypermen- orrhea, dysmenorrhoea and infertility.

Peach fruit extract containing nitrile glycosides, such as prunasin and amyg- dalin, has been reported to inhibit the growth of Sarcoma-180 cells in culture.

Fast-acting, wrinkle-eliminating cosmetic formulations contain peach kernel extract as one of the components.

The heartwood contains beta-sitos- terol and its D-glucoside, hentriacon- tane, hentriacontanol, and the flavo- noids naringenin, dihydrokaempferol, kaempferol and quercetin.... prunus persica

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