Rhamnus purshiana Health Dictionary

  1. Health Encyclopedia
  2. Rhamnus Purshiana

Rhamnus Purshiana: From 1 Different Sources

DC.

Synonym: Frangulapurshiana (DC) A. Grey.

Family: Rhamnaceae.

Habitat: Native to Europe; introduced in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Bhutan and the Nilgiris.

English: Buckthorn (related species), Cascara Sagrada, Sacred Bark.

Action: Bark—stool-softener, non-habit forming stimulant laxative, pancreatic stimulant. Used for dyspepsia and habitual constipation.

Key application: In occasional constipation. (German Commission E, ESCOP, WHO.) As a stimulant laxative. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)

The bark contains up to 10% an- thraquinone glycosides, consisting of the cascarosides A, B, C and D, about 70% of the total; other glycosides in minor concentrations include barbaloin, frangulin, chrysanol, glycosides based on emodin, aloe-emodin, emodin- oxanthrone and chrysophanol; dianthrones, and free aglycones.

The cascarosides act on large intestines and stimulate peristalsis. The emodin exhibits antispasmodic activity in isolated rat intestine. Its anti- inflammatory and antiseptic action was also demonstrated.

Rhamnus catharticus Linn., is equated with common Buckthorn, R. purpurea Edgew. with Purple Buckthorn. R. purpurea is found in the Himalayas from Kashmir to Nepal.

Dried bark of Rhamnus frangula L. (Alder Buckthorn) and dried ripe berries of Ramnus catharticus are also used against constipation. (German Commission E, WHO.)

Long term use or excessive amounts may cause albuminuria, haematuria, slowing ofintestinal transit and cardiac irregularities. (Sharon M. Herr.)

Rhamnus triquetra Brandis (known as Gudlei, Fagoraa, Gardhan in Punjab; Gaunt in Garhwal and Kumaon and Katheraa in Jaunsar) is found in the Himalayas from Kashmir to Nepal. The bark is used as a tonic, astringent and deobstruent. Kaempferol, its 7-O- methyl ether and 4'-O-methyl ether, physcion-8 beta-D-glucoside, emodin and its 8 beta-D-glucoside were isolated from the whole plant. Emodin exhibited CNS depressant activity. (Fi- toterapia, 65, 1994.) The plant exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and a nonspecific antispasmodic activity. It induced cardio-stimulation which might be due to the endogenous release of catecholamines.

Rhamnus napalensis Wall. ex M. Laws. (known as Archal in Nepal; Biringa and Birringguli in Assam) is found in eastern Himalayas and the hills and plains ofAssam, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and northern Andhra Pradesh, ascending up to an altitude of 2,000 m. The fruit, pounded and macerated in vinegar, is prescribed for the treatment of herpes.
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Rhamnus Procumbens

Edgew.

Family: Rhamnaceae.

Habitat: Western Himalayas from Simla to Kumaon at an altitude of 2,300 to 2,600 m.

English: Buckthorn (related species).

Action: Plant—anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer.

The plant contains kaempferol, kaempferol-7-O-methyl ether and kaempferol-4'-O-methyl ether.

The ethyl acetate soluble portion of the alcoholic extract showed anti- nociceptive, anticonvulsant and anti- inflammatory activity. Kaempferol-4'- O-methyl ether was found to exhibit central nervous system depressant, cardiac stimulant, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory activity

The plant also contain emodin, which exhibited cardiac and intestinal stimulant, central nervous system depressant and analgesic activity in experimental animals.... rhamnus procumbens

Rhamnus Virgatus

Roxb.

Family: Rhamnaceae.

Habitat: Throughout Himalayas, Khasi and Jaintia Hills, hills of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, and the Nilgiris.

English: Indian Buckthorn.

Folk: Chhaduaa, Tadru (Punjab), Chadolaa (Garhwal).

Action: Ripe fruit—purgative, emetic. Given in the affections of spleen. (Purgative action not found in the bark.)

The bark showed only traces of hy- droxymethyl anthraquinones and did not exhibit purgative action on experimental animals.

The plant contains the enzyme, rhamnodiastase, capable of hydrolyz- ing flavonoid glycosides.... rhamnus virgatus

Rhamnus Wightii

Wight & Arn.

Family: Rhamnaceae.

Habitat: Hills of Peninsular India, up to an altitude of 2,000 m.

Ayurvedic: Rakta-Rohidaa (a name applied to several other astringent herbs).

Action: Bark—bitter, astringent and deobstruent.

The leaves gave chrysophanol, phys- cion, musizin, lupeol, rhamnazin, rhamnocitrin, emodin, frangulin A and beta-sitosterol. A naphthalene- glucoside lactone—beta-sorigenin-1- O-beta-D-glucoside has been isolated from the stem bark. Cynodontin, chrysophanol, physcion, musizin, lu- peol, emodin, beta-syriogenin, beta- sitosterol and its glucoside were also isolated.... rhamnus wightii

Health encyclopedia icon Health Encyclopedia

Recent Searches