Sonchus asper Health Dictionary

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Sonchus Asper: From 1 Different Sources

Hill

Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat: Waste places and fields throughout India, up to elevation of 3,600 m.

English: Spinyleaved Sow Thistle.

Ayurvedic: Sahadevi (bigger var.).

Folk: Didhi, Mhaataaraa (Maharashtra).

Action: Emollient. Pounded and applied to wounds and boils.

The latex contains rubber, alpha- and beta-lactucerols, ceryl alcohol, mannitol and traces of acetic acid. The whole plant contains the sesquiter- pene glycosides and ionone glycosides. Ascorbic acid (27 mg/100 g) is present in the plant.
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Aspergillosis

Infection caused by the opportunistic saprophytic fungus, Aspergillus. Can include the effects of aflatoxin which is formed by the fungi growing on mouldy foods such as peanuts and which can be associated with cancer of the liver.... aspergillosis

Aspergillus

A group of fungi including the common moulds. Several of these are capable of infecting the lungs and producing a disease resembling pulmonary TUBERCULOSIS.... aspergillus

Asperger’s Syndrome

A rare developmental disorder that is usually first recognized in childhood because of difficulties with social interactions, stilted speech, and very specialized interests.

Intelligence is normal or high.

Asperger’s syndrome is considered to be an autistic spectrum disorder and is also known as pervasive developmental disorder.

Special educational support may be needed, often within mainstream education.

The condition is lifelong.... asperger’s syndrome

Aspermia

See azoospermia.... aspermia

Achyranthes Aspera

Linn.

Family: Amaranthaceae.

Habitat: Throughout the tropical and subtropical regions, up to an altitude of 2,100 m, in the southern Andaman Islands.

English: Prickly Chaff Flower.

Ayurvedic: Apaamaarga, Chirchitaa, Shikhari, Shaikharika, Adahshalya, Mayura, Mayuraka, Kharamanjari, Kharapushpaa, Pratyakpushpaa, Aaghaat, Vashira, Kanihi.

Unani: Chirchitaa.

Siddha/Tamil: Naayuruvi.

Folk: Chirchitta, Chichidaa, Latjeeraa.

Action: Astringent, pectoral (ashes of the plant used in asthma and cough), diuretic, hepatoprotective, emmenagogue. Benzene extract of the plant exhibited abortifacient activity. The flowers, ground and mixed with sugar, are given for menorrhagia. Roots—astringent, haemostatic. Seeds—emetic; used for biliousness. Essential oil— antifungal.

Key application: As astringent, emetic. (Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of the whole plant in lipid disorders and obesity, the root for its blood-purifying property.

The plant juice and ash are used for treating bleeding piles. An alkaline powder of the plant is used in preparing Kshaarasutra of Ayurvedic medicine, which is recommended for treating fistula-in-ano.

The whole plant contains the alkaloids achyranthine and betaine. Achy- ranthine, a water-soluble alkaloid, is reported to dilate blood vessels, lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate and increase the rate and amplitude of respiration. It also shows spasmodic effects on the rectus muscle of frog, diuretic and purgative action in albino rats.

The presence of ecdysterone and oleanolic acid is also reported in the root.

The ashes of the plant yield large quantities of potash. The seeds yield saponins and oleanolic acid and its ester.

The presence of tannins and glyco- sides is also reported in the plant.

Dosage: Whole plant—20-30 g for decoction. Root—5-10 g. (API Vols. II, III.) Ash—500 mg to 2 g. (CCRAS.)... achyranthes aspera

Asperger’s Syndrome

A lifelong personality disorder, evident from childhood and regarded as a mild form of AUTISM. Persons with the syndrome tend to have great di?culty with personal relationships. They tend to take what is said to them as literal fact and have great di?culty in understanding irony, metaphors or even jokes. They appear shy with a distant and aloof character, emotional rigidity and inability to adapt to new situations. They are often mocked and ill-treated at school by their fellows because they appear unusual. Many people with Asperger’s seem to take refuge in intense interests or hobbies, often conducted to an obsessional degree. Many become skilled in mathematics and particularly information technology. Frustration with the outside world which is so hard to comprehend may provoke aggressive outbursts when stressed.... asperger’s syndrome

Ficus Asperrima

Roxb.

Family: Moraceae.

Habitat: Madhya Pradesh and Western Peninsula.

Ayurvedic: Kharapatra (non- classical).

Siddha/Tamil: Kal-arasu.

Folk: Kaala-umar.

Action: Juice of bark—given for enlargement of liver and spleen.... ficus asperrima

Smilax Aspera

Linn.

Family: Liliaceae.

Habitat: The tropical and temperate regions, from Kashmir, Sikkim and Assam to South India.

English: Italian Sarsaparilla.

Action: Roots used as a substitute for Hemidesmus indicus. Rutin has been isolated as a major flavonoid from the plant.... smilax aspera

Leucas Aspera

Spreng.

Family: Labiatae; Laminceae.

Habitat: Throughout India in cultivated fields, wastelands, roadsides.

English: White Dead Nettle.

Ayurvedic: Dronpushpi, Phalepush- paa, Kutambaka.

Siddha/Tamil: Thumbai.

Folk: Guumaa, Halkusa (smaller var.), Tumbaa.

Action: Carminative, antihis- taminic, antipyretic, febrifuge, antiseptic. Used in jaundice, anorexia, dyspepsia, fever, helminthic manifestation, respiratory and skin diseases.

Flowers—given with honey for coughs and colds to children. Leaves— juice is used as an external application for psoriasis, chronic skin eruptions and painful swellings.

An alcoholic extract of leaves shows antibacterial activity.

The plant gave oleanolic acid, urso- lic acid and beta-sitosterol. The root contains a triterpenoid, leucolactone, and the sterols, sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol.... leucas aspera

Sonchus Arvensis

Linn.

Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat: Waste places and fields throughout India, up to an altitude of 2,400 m.

English: Corn Sow Thistle.

Ayurvedic: Sahadevi (bigger var.). (Vernonia cinerea is equated with Sahadevi.)

Action: Plant—sedative, hypnotic, anodyne, expectorant, diuretic. Used for nervous debility. Seeds— used for asthma, bronchitis, cough, pertussis, fever; decoction in insomnia. Leaves—applied to swellings. Root—used for diseases of the respiratory tract.

The plant contains amino acids, lipids, polymeric hydrocarbons, polyphenols, protein; alpha- and beta- amyrins, lupeol, pseudotaraxasterol, taraxasterol. The latex contains manni- tol, alpha-and beta-lactucerols. Aerial parts and fruits contain ceryl alcohol, choline, palmitic, tartaric and stearic acids.... sonchus arvensis

Sonchus Oleraceus

Linn.

Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat: Waste places throughout India, up to elevation of 2,400 m.

English: Milk Thistle (a confusing synonym. Silybum marianum has been equated with Milk Thistle.)

Folk: Duudhi, Dodaka, Dudhaali.

Action: Galactagogue, febrifuge, sedative, vermifuge. Used in indigestion and in the treatment of diseases of the liver. An ointment is made from the decoction for wounds and ulcers.

The leaves contain luteolin, luteolin- 7-O-glucoside; hydroxycoumarins, cichoriin and scopoletin. Apigenin-7-O- glucoside was also obtained from the leaves and stems. Young leaves are reported to contain 4.1 mg/100 g of vitamin C.... sonchus oleraceus

Streblus Asper

Lour.

Synonym: Epicarpurus orientalis Bl.

Family: Moraceae.

Habitat: Drier parts of Peninsular India.

English: Siamee Rough Brush.

Ayurvedic: Shaakhotaka, Shaakho- ta, Pitaphalaka. Bhuutavaasa, Kharachhada.

Siddha/Tamil: Piraayan, Pirai.

Folk: Sihor.

Action: Stem bark—febrifuge, antidiarrhoeal. Root—applied on inflamed swellings and syphilitic eruptions. Latex—applied on glandular swellings and elephantiasis.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the use of the stem bark in cervical lymphadenitis, also in lipid disorders.

The root bark contained cardenolide glycosides, including asperoside and strebloside; also yielded 6-deoxyallose. Stem bark yielded alpha-amyrin acetate, lupeol acetate, lupeol and beta- sitosterol.

Asperoside and strebloside exhibited antifilarial activity, former being... streblus asper

Tacca Aspera

Roxb.

Synonym: T. integrifolia Ker-Gawl.

Habitat: Aka hills in Arunachal Pradesh.

Ayurvedic: Vaaraahikanda (substitute), Vaaraahi. (Dioscorea bulbifera is equated with Vaaraahikanda.)

Folk: Duukarkand (Gujarat).

Action: Tuber—nutritive and digestive; applied to haemorrhagic diathesis, cachexia, leprosy and other cutaneous affections.

The tuber contains gamma-amino- butyric acid, glycine, leucine, valine, quercetin-3-arabinoside, D (-)-ribose, n-triacontanol, betulinic acid, castano- genin and taccalin.

Habitat: Entire Deccan Peninsula, extending into Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

English: Fiji Arrowroot, Tahiti Arrowroot.

Ayurvedic: Suurana. (Instead of wild var., cultivated elephant-foot- yam, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius var. campanulatus, is used.)

Siddha/Tamil: Karachunai.

Action: Tuber—acrid, astringent, carminative, anthelmintic. Used in the treatment of piles, haemophilic conditions, internal abscesses, colic, enlargement of spleen, vomiting, asthma, bronchitis, elephantiasis and intestinal worms.

The tuber, macerated and repeatedly washed with water, yield a starch (76.0%).

The presence ofbeta-sitosterol, ceryl alcohol and taccalin (a bitter principle) has been reported in the tuber.

Taccagenin and leontogenin have been isolated froma acid hydrolysate of leaf extract. Diosgenin and its derivatives, isonarthogenin and isonu- atigenin together with nuatigenin have also been isolated.

A bitter extract, prepared by washing the grated tubers in running water, is a rubefacient; and is also given in diarrhoea and dysentery.... tacca aspera

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