n. an enzyme that catalyses the transfer of a group (other than hydrogen) between a pair of substrates.
Habitat: Grown in Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka.
English: Lemongrass.Ayurvedic: Bhuutika, Bhuutikaa.Action: Leaf—stimulant, sudorific, antiperiodic, anticatarrhal. Essential oil—carminative, anticholerin, depressant, analgesic, antipyretic, antibacterial, antifungal.
The lemongrass contains a volatile oil, with citral (about 70%), citronellal, geraniol and myrcene as its main constituents. Cetral and citronellal exhibit marked sedative activity.The lemongrass is taken as a tea for digestive problems; it relaxes muscles of the stomach and gut, relieves spasm and flatulence. In catarrhal conditions, it is taken as a febrifuge.An infusion of fresh leaves on oral administration has been found to produce dose-dependent analgesia in rats. This analgesic acitivity is caused by myrcene present in the leaf.Geraniol and d-limonene from the essential oil induce activity of glu- tathione S-transferase, a detoxifying enzyme, which is believed to be a major factor for chemical carcinogen detoxification.... cymbopogon citratusHabitat: Throughout India, ascending up to 1,800 m in the hills.
Ayurvedic: Ahilekhana, Trikoshaki.Siddha/Tamil: Musumsukkai.Folk: Agmaki.Action: Tender shoots—gentle aperient, diuretic, stomachic; decoction used in biliousness and flatulence.
The root contains columbin; seed oil gave linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids. Fresh aerial parts exhibit potent anti- hepatotoxic activity.In carbon tetrachloride-induced liver dysfunction in albino rats, the recovery of liver, treated with the extract from aerial parts, was significant and there was marked decrease in serum levels of the enzymes, alanine, aminotransferase, aspartate amino- transferase and alkaline phosphatase.Kuruvikizhangu of Siddha medicine, used for acute diarrhoea and fever, is equated with Malothria per- pusilla (Blume) Cogn. Zehneria hook- eriana Arn., found in upper Gangetic plain from Nepal to Assam and in Peninsular India.... melothria maderaspatanaHabitat: Native to Europe, now cultivated throughout India.
English: Parsley.Unani: Fitraasaaliyum, Karafs-e- Kohi.Action: Diuretic (used for bladder disorders, painful urination, retention of excess fluid in the tissues), antispasmodic, uterine tonic, emmenagogue, sedative (used for PMS and menopausal hot flushes, also in prostatitis), carminative, expectorant, aperient, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory.
Key application: For flushing out the efferent urinary tract in disorders of the same and in prevention and treatment of kidney gravel. (German Commission E.) Contraindicated in kidney inflammations.The British Herbal Compendium approves the internal use of the herb for flatulent dyspepsia, dysuria and rheumatic conditions.The leaves and roots contain furo- coumarins—psoralen, 5-and 8-meth- oxy psoralen, imperatorin, oxypeuce- danin, iso-pimpinelin. Myristicin has been isolated from the leaf oil. The plant gave flavonoids—apiin, luteolin, apigenin-7-glucoside, luteolin-7-glu- coside among others.Myristicin showed high activity as an inducer of the detoxifying enzyme system, Glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the liver and small intestines of female mice (may be considered as a cancer chemoprotective agent).The flavonoids, particularly api- genin, have been shown to be anti- inflammatory, to inhibit histamine release and to act as a free radical scavenger. Apiole, a constituent of the volatile oil, is reportedly antipyretic and phthalides of the root, seed and leaf are sedative in mice.Both apiole and myristicin exhibit aquaretic and uterine stimulant activity, while sodium retention has been observed. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)In homoeopathy, the herb is used for the treatment urinary disorders—sudden urge to urinate with severe pain, dribbling of urine after urination, gleet discharge and for amenorrhoea and neuralgic dysmenorrhoea.... petroselinum crispumHabitat: Kashmir and throughout the plains of North India; cultivated in gardens.
English: Corn Poppy, Red Poppy.Ayurvedic: Rakta Posta.Siddha/Tamil: Sivappu, Kasakasa.Folk: Laal Posta, Laal Kaskas.Action: Latex from capsules— narcotic. Petal—expectorant, antitussive, sudorific. Used for diseases of the respiratory tract, for disturbed sleep and as a sedative for the relief of pain. (Included among unapproved herbs by German Commission E.)
The petals contain cyanidine derivatives. An alkaloid rhoeadine is present in leaves and flowers (0.031%), unripe capsules (0.035%) and in rootsFamily: Papaveraceae.Habitat: Native to Asia; now grown in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
English: Opium Poppy.Ayurvedic: Ahiphena, Aaphuuka. Post-daanaa (seed).Unani: Afyum. Tukhm-e- khashkhaash (seed).Siddha/Tamil: Kasakasa (seeds).Action: Opium is obsolete as a drug. Narcotic, sedative, hypnotic, analgesic, sudorific, anodyne, antispasmodic. Crushed poppyheads were in use as a topical poultice for crippling pain in terminal diseases. Poppy seed—nutritive, demulcent, emollient, spasmolytic, devoid of narcotic properties. Specific against obstinate constipation, also used in catarrh of the bladder. Poppy seed oil is also free from narcotic properties. Used against diarrhoea, dysentery and scalds.
Opium contains isoquinoline alkaloids; the major one is morphine with narcotine, codeine, papaverine and thebaine. Poppy seeds, used in Indian medicine, do not contain alkaloids. The seeds contain thiamine 420, riboflavin 49, folic acid 30, pantothenic acid 2667 and niacin 1877 mcg/100 g. The seed oil (from Turkey) contains gamma-tocopherol 220, alpha-toco- pherol 40 and beta-tocopherol 20 mcg/ 100 g. Some low-molecular proteins (15% of total protein) have been isolated, along with cysteine, glutamic acid and arginine. The seeds yield a fatty oil (45%) containing palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids.The extract of seeds showed highly significant antisecretory (antidiarr- hoeal activity) against E. coli entero- toxin-induced secretory responses in experimental animals.The triglycerides isolated from seeds showed anti-tumour activity against Ehrlichs ascites in mice.The aqueous extract of seeds showed marked hypoglycaemic activity when administered to glucose-loaded and al- loxan diabetic rats.The seeds were found to increase the activity of carcinogen detoxifying enzyme, glutathione-S-transferase by more than 78% in the stomach, liver and oesophagus in mice.Following Papaver sp. are found in India:P. argemone Linn. (indigenous to the Mediterranean region; commonly grown in gardens in India) contains 0.15% of alkaloids including rhoeadine, protopine, and anthocyanins. Petals are sudorific.P dubium Linn. (North-western Himalaya form Kashmir to Garhwal; as a winter weed in North Indian plains) contains rhoeagenine as the principal alkaloid, besides rhoeadine, protopine. Petals contain cyanidin B and pelargonidin C. Petals are sudorific.P. hybridum Linn. (gardens of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh) is diaphoretic (petals). Plant latex contains alkaloids including berberine, coptisine, pahybrine, papaverrubines A, B, D and E and sanguinarine. Plant also gave glaucine and glucamine.P. nudicaule Linn. (Gulmarg, Kashmir, at altitudes of 3,300-3,600 m), known as Iceland Poppy, gave alkaloids including papaverrubines B and D; leave gave cyanogenic glycosides including dhurrin and triglochinin. The flower and fruit are mild diaphoretic.P. orientale Linn. (indigenous to Mediterranean region; grown in Indian gardens), known as Oriental Poppy, contains 0.16% of alkaloids including thebaine, isothebane, protopine, glaucidine and oripavine. Latex from poppy capsule is narcotic.... papaver somniferumHabitat: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab.
English: Sugarcane, Noble Cane.Ayurvedic: Ikshu, Dirgha-chhada, Bhuurirasa, Morata, Asipatra, Madhutrna, Gudamuula, Trnarasa.Unani: Gannaa, Naishakar.Siddha/Tamil: Karumbu, Nanal.Action: Cane Juice—restorative, cooling, laxative, demulcent, diuretic, antiseptic. Used in general debility, haemophilic conditions, jaundice and urinary diseases.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the juice of the stem in haemorrhagic diseases and anuria; and the root in dysuria.Sugarcane juice contains surcose (70-80% of soluble solids in the juice), glucose and fructose. Non-sugar constituents present in the cane juice are carbohydrates other than sugars. As- paragine and glutamine are prominent amino acids in the juice. Other amino acids include alanine, gamma- amino butyric acid, aspartic and glutamic acids, glycine, leucine, lysine, serine and tyrosine. The presence of phenylalanine, histidine, valine, proline, threonine and arginine, pipecolic acid, methionine and tryptophan has also been reported.Aconitic acid constitutes about three-fourths of the total carboxylic acid present in the juice.Vitamins present in the juice are: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, and vitamin D; enzymes include diastase, invertase, lac- tase, peroxidase, tyrosinase.Phenols in the cane juice are mainly polyphenols from tannin and antho- cyanin from the rind.Cane juice contains glycolic acid which improves skin complexion as it has antiwrinkle effect, prevents scaly growth and increases natural collagen and elastin in the skin.Enzymes present in the seeds include large quantities of diastase and invertase.An ester, vanilloyl-l-O-beta-D-glu- coside, has been isolated from the bagasse.The leaves contain alpha-amylase and glutathione-S-transferase.Dosage: Stem—200-400 ml juice; rootstock—15-30 g for decoction. (API, Vol. IV.)... saccharum officinarumHabitat: Cultivated in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
English: Clove.Ayurvedic: Lavanga, Devakusum, Devapushpa, Shrisangya, Shripra- suunaka.Unani: Qaranful, Laung.Siddha/Tamil: Kiraambu, Lavangam.Action: Carminative, antiinflammatory, antibacterial. Flower buds—antiemetic, stimulant, carminative. Used in dyspepsia, gastric irritation. Oil—employed as a local analgesic for hypersensitive dent- lines and carious cavaties; internally as a carminative and antispasmodic.
Key application: In inflammatory changes of oral and pharyngeal mucosa; in dentistry; for topical anesthesia. (German Commission E.)Eugenin, triterpene acids, crategolic acid and steroid glucosides afford anti- inflammatory and antiseptic proper ties to the buds. Eugenol, a major component of the oil, is antibacterial. Acetone extract of clove, eugenol and acetyleugenol possess cholagogue activity. The eugenol and acetyleugenol components of the clove oil inhibit arachidonate-, adrenalin- and collagen- induced platelet aggregation.Clove terpenes show significant activity as inducers of detoxifying enzyme, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in mouse liver and intestine and bring about carcinogen detoxification.Whole cloves might have chemopro- tective activity against liver and bone marrow toxicity. (The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons, 1999.)Dosage: Dried flower-bud—0.5-2.0 g powder. (API, Vol. I.)... syzygium aromaticum
Health Encyclopedia