Habitat: Temperate Himalayas and the Nilgiris.
Ayurvedic: Vrishchhiyaa-shaaka.Folk: Shisuun (Kumaon).Action: Roots—employed for the treatment of fractures and dislocations. Leaves and inflorescences—prescribed as a tonic and as a cleaning agent after parturition.
Habitat: At high altitudes in Tamil Nadu; up to 2,700 m on the Himalayas.
English: Fumitory.Ayurvedic: Parpata, Parpata- ka, Varatikta, Renu, Kavacha, Sukshmapatra.Unani: Shaahtaraa.Siddha/Tamil: Thura.Folk: Pittapaaparaa.Action: Detoxifying, laxative, diuretic, diaphoretic.
The plant contains isoquinoline alkaloids-including protopine, sangui- narine, cryptopine, d-bicuculline, fu- maridine, fumaramine. The leaves contain kaempferol and quercetin glycosides.Dosage: Whole plant-1-3 g (API Vol. IV); 3-35 g powder; 50-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)... fumaria parvifloraHabitat: Almost throughout India, up to an altitude of 900 m, in the
Ayurvedic: Siddhaka, Siddha, Syandana (provisional synonym).Folk: Dhauraa, Bakli. Chungi (Hyderabad). Lendia (trade).Action: Astringent, fungitoxic.
The bark and leaves contain tannin 7-10 and 16% respectively. The plant contains a pentacyclic triterpene, lag- florin. Aqueous extract of fresh and ethanolic extract of dried and powdered leaves exhibit fungitoxic activity against several fungal pathogens of rice.... lagerstroemia parvifloraHabitat: Dry hot slopes of the Himalayas from Punjab to Nepal and in the hills of Madhya Pradesh and South India.
English: Sumach.Ayurvedic: Tintidi, Tintindeeka.Unani: Sumaaq.Folk: Raitung, Tung (Kumaon).Action: Fruit juice—vermifuge.
The leaves contain the flavonoids, myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol and their 3-O-rhamnosides; the stems and leaves also gave hentriacontane, hentriacontanol, beta-sitosterol, ligno- ceric acid and iso-rhamnetin-3-alpha- L-arvinoside.Smooth Sumach and Sweet Sumach (Canada and USA) are equated with Rhus glabra L. and R. aromatica Ait. Smooth Sumach is astringent and diuretic. Sweet Sumach is used for its antidiabetic activity; the root bark is used for irritable bladder, bed-wetting and urinary incontinence. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)Dosage: Fruit—3-6 g powder. (CCRAS.)... rhus parvifloraHabitat: Garwal region.
Ayurvedic: Bajradanti. Barleria prionitis L. and Potentilla arbuscula D. Don. are also used as Bajradanti.)Action: Used as a tooth powder for strengthening gums and teeth.... sibbaldia parviflora
Habitat: Simla and other hill stations.
English: Roman Nettle.Ayurvedic: Used as a substitute for Vrishchiyaa-shaaka.Unani: Anjuraa.Action: Diuretic, astringent, haemostatic.
The leaves and stems contain an indole alkaloid, bufotenin. 5-hydroxy- tryptamine is located mainly in strings.Urtica urens Linn. (Dog Nettle, Small Nettle) is found in Dehra Dun and is Udhampur district of J. & K. The inflorescence and leaves contain the flavonoid compounds of kaempfer- ol, isorhamnetin, quercetin, apigenin, diosmetin and luteolin. Presence of chlorogenic acid is also reported.The fluid extract of roots has been found to be useful in mild cases of prostate enlargement by improving micturia in men over 60 years.... urtica piluliferaHabitat: North-western Himalaya from Kashmir to Simla at 2,4003,600 m.
English: Stinging Nettle.Ayurvedic: Vrishchhiyaa-shaaka (related species).Unani: Anjuraa.Folk: Shisuun (Kumaon).Action: Plant—diuretic, astringent, antihaemorrhagic; eliminates uric acid from the body, detoxifies the blood. Externally, astringent and haemostatic.
Used internally for the treatment of nephritis, haemoptysis and other haemorrhages.Key application: Above ground parts—as a supportive therapy for rheumatic ailments (internally and externally). Internally, in irrigation therapy for inflammatory diseases of the lower urinary tract and prevention and treatment of kidney gravel. (German Commission E, ESCOP, The British Herbal Compendium, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) Root—in symptomatic treatment of micturition disorders (dysuria, pol- lakiuria, nocturia, urine retention) in benign prostatic hyperplasia at stages I and II. (German Commission E, ESCOP, WHO, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)Clinical experiments have confirmed the utility of the herb as a haemostatic in uterine haemorrhage and bleeding from nose. The herb is also used in sciatica, rheumatism and palsy. The treatment for paralysis comprises slapping the patient with a bundle of twigs. Alcoholic extract of Russian sp. is used in the cholecystitis and habitual constipation.The root exhibits an antiprolifera- tive effect on prostatic epithelial and stromal cells. It may also lessen the effects of androgenic hormones by competitively blocking acess to human sex hormone binding globulin. (Planta Med, 63, 1997; ibid, 66, 2000. Also, ESCOP monograph; Altern Complem Ther, 1998; Simon Mills; Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)In Europe, the juice of the leaves or roots, mixed with honey or sugar, was prescribed forbronchial asthma. In the USA, a freeze-dried preparation of the herb (300 mg gelatin capsules) has been found to improve condition of allergic rhinitis patients. The powdered seeds were considered a cure for goitre. (M. Grieve.)The urticating properties of the hairs are attributed to the presence of acetyl- choline, histamine and 5-hydroxytryp- tamine (5-HT). A histamine-liberating enzyme is also present.Acetylcholine is present in the leaves, rootlets, rhizomes and cortex in the ascending order of concentration. Histamine is not present in the underground parts of the plant. Its concentration in the leaves is about four times than that in the stem-cortex. Betaine and choline are present in the leaves.The leaves gave flavonoids (including rutin), sterols, carotenoids, vitamins (including C, B group, K), minerals, plant phenolic acids. The coumarin scopoletin has been isolated from the flowers and the root.A polysaccharide fraction obtained from aqueous extract showed anti- inflammatory activity in carrageenan- induced rat paw oedema and lymphocyte transformation test. A lectin was found to stimulate proliferation of human lymphocytes. (Planta Med, 55, 1989.)The leaf and root is contraindicat- ed in kidney disease and pregnancy. 5-hydroxytryptamine is a uterotropic constituent. (Francis Brinker.)... urtica dioicaHabitat: Evergreen forests of Kerala up to an altitude of 600 m.
Folk: Saanthu, Kalpottan (Kerala), Kalpootha, Chiddavintai (Tamil Nadu), ulli (Karnataka).Action: Root bark—antiseptic, used for ulcers. Root bark, flowers, fruits—used for oral hygiene.
Fruits of Xylopia aromatica are chewed with betel leaves; also used in cough and cold. The fruits, known as Suvaali Pippali, have no relationship with Pippali of Indian medicine. The plant contains pinenes.... xylopia parviflora
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