A

Abelmoschus esculentus Abies pindrow Royle. (Linn.) Moench. Synonym  A. pindrow Spach. Synonym  Hibiscus esculentus Linn. A. webbiana Lindl. var. pindrow Brandis. Family  Malvaceae. Pinus pindrow Royle.  Habitat  Native to tropical Africa; Family Pinaceae. cultivated throughout India, up to Habitat  Kashmir, Himachal , m. Pradesh, Tehri-Garhwal and other areas of northern India, at altitudes English  Gumbo, Lady Finger, Okra. of ,–, m. Ayurvedic  Bhaandi, Bhindaka, English  Pindrow-Fir, Silver-Fir, The Bhendaa. West-Himalayan Low-Level Fir.  Unani  Baamiyaa. Ayurvedic Taalisha (related sp.). Folk  Badar, Morinda, Raisalla, Siddha/Tamil  Vendai. Ransla. Folk  Bhindi, Raamturai. Action  Uses similar to those of A. webbiana. Action  Immature pods (decoc- tion)—emollient, demulcent and Terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides diuretic (in catarrhal affections, and steroids of the leaf were found ardor urine, dysuria, dysentery). to have mast cell stabilizing action in Seeds—antispasmodic. rats. Terpenoids and flavonoids of- fered bronchoprotection against his- Fatty fraction of the fresh watery ex- tamine challenge in guinea pigs. The tract of the seeds causes destruction ulcer protective action of petroleum of cancerous cell growth in vitro.The ether, benzene and chloroform frac- pods are reported to exhibit antitu- tion has been attributed to steroidal mour activity. An ethanolic extract contents. Terephthalic acid demethyl of pods was effective against Gram- ester (TADE), isolated from the leaf, positive bacteria. exhibited protection against inflamma- The ripe fruits contain quercetin, tion and bronchospasm in guinea pigs. hyperin (hyperoside), hydrolysate of Ethanolic extract of leaves showed sig- precipitated mucilage, proanthocyani- nificant anxiolytic effects on all the dins,D-glucose,D-glucuronicand paradigms of anxiety, barbiturate hyp- galacturonic acids. nosis potentiation. Fresh flowers contain flavonol gly- Pindrolactone, a lanostane-based cosides and anthocyanins. triterpene lactone, isolated from the 2 Abies webbiana Lindl.

A leaves, showed mild activity against A biflavonoid, abiesin, n-triaconta- Gram-positive bacteria but exhibit- nol, beta-sitosterol and betuloside are ed potent antibacterial activity against present in the leaves. Gram-negative bacteria E. coli. The essential oil from leaves con- tains alpha-pinene, l-limonene, delta- carene, dipentene, l-bornyl acetate and l-cardinene as major constituents. Abies webbiana Lindl. Dosage  Needles—– g powder.  Synonym A. spectabilis (D. Don) (API Vol. IV.) Spach. Pinus webbiana Wall.  Family Pinaceae. Abroma augusta Jacq. Habitat  The Himalayas from Synonym  Ambroma augusta Kashmir to Assam at altitudes of Linn. f. ,–, m. Family  Sterculiaceae. English  Indian Silver Fir, The West-Himalayan High-Level Fir, Habitat  Throughout the hotter and The East-Himalayan Fir. moister parts of India, from Punjab  and Uttar Pradesh, eastwards Ayurvedic Taalisa, Taalisapatra, to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Taalisha, Patraadhya, Dhaatriparni, Meghalaya and Tripura, ascending Dhaatripatra. to , m, southwards in Peninsular Unani  Taalisapattar. India. Siddha/Tamil  Taalispatri. English  Perennial Indian Hemp, Devil’s Cotton. Folk  Badar, Chilrow, Morinda, Raisalla, Taalispatra. (Tallispatra, Ayurvedic  Pishaacha Kaarpaasa, Taalispatri and Talespattre are Pivari. also equated with the leaves of Unani  Ulat-kambal. Cinnamomum tamala Nees.) Siddha/Tamil  Sivapputtuti. Action  Expectorant, bronchial seda- Folk  Kumal, Sanukapaasi. tive, decongestant, anticatarrhal,  antiseptic, carminative. Action Rootbark—emmena- gogue (used for dysmenorrhoea,  Key application Fir (Abies alba amenorrhoea), abortifacient, galac- Miller) needle oil—in catarrhal ill- totrophic. ness of upper and lower respiratory tract (internally and externally); The root contains abromine (be- externally in rheumatic and neu- taine), friedelin, abromasterol, abro- ralgic pains. Contraindicated in masterol A, choline, beta-sitosterol, bronchial asthma and whooping stigmasterol and octacosanol. Leaves, cough. (German Commission E.) reported to be useful in treating uterine Abutilon indicum Linn. Sweet. 3 disorders, contain taraxerol, its acetate antibody-forming cells, bone marrow A and lupeol. cellularity and alpha-esterase-positive bone marrow cells.  Dosage Leaf juice—– ml. Oral administration of agglutinins, Rootbark powder—– g. (CCRAS.) isolated from the seeds, is useful in the treatment of hepatitis and AIDS. The seed extract exhibited antischis- Abrus precatorius Linn. tosomal activity in male hamsters. The methanolic extract of seeds in- Family  Papilionaceae; Fabaceae. hibited the motility of human sperma- Habitat  Throughout the country, tozoa. ascending to an altitude of about The roots contain precol, abrol, gly- , m in the outer Himalayas. cyrrhizin (.%) and alkaloids—abra- sine and precasine. The roots also con- English  Indian Wild Liquorice, tain triterpenoids—abruslactone A, Jequirity, Crab’s Eye, Precatory methyl abrusgenate and abrusgenic Bean. acid. Ayurvedic  Gunjaa, Gunjaka, Alkaloids/bases present in the roots Chirihintikaa, Raktikaa, Chirmi- are also present in leaves and stems. ti, Kakanti, Kabjaka, Tiktikaa, A. fruticulosus Wall. Ex Wight and Kaakananti, Kaakchinchi. (Not to Arn. synonym A. pulchellus Wall., A. be used as a substitute for liquorice.) laevigatus E. May. (Shveta Gunjaa) is Unani  Ghunghchi, Ghamchi. also used for the same medicinal pur- poses as A. precatorius. Siddha/Tamil  Kunri.  Folk  Chirmiti, Ratti. Dosage Detoxified seed—– g powder.Rootpowder—–g.(API  Action Uterine stimulant, abortifa- Vols. I, II.) cient, toxic. Seeds—teratogenic. A paste of seeds is applied on vitiligo patches. Abutilon indicum Linn. Sweet. Along with other therapeutic appli-  cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Synonym A. indicum G. Don. of India has indicated the use of seeds Family  Malvaceae. in baldness. Habitat  Throughout the hotter Seeds contain abrin, a toxalbumin, parts of India. Found as a weed in indole derivatives, anthocyanins, ste- the sub-Himalayan tract and other rols, terpenes. Abrin causes aggluti- hills up to , m. nation of erythrocytes, haemolysis and  enlargement of lymph glands. A non- English Country Mallow, Flowering toxic dose of abrin (. mcg/kg body Maples, Chinese Bell-flowers. weight), isolated from the seeds of red Ayurvedic  Atibalaa, Kankatikaa, var., exhibited a noticeable increase in Rishyaproktaa. 4 Acacia arabica Willd. var. indica Benth.

A Unani  Kanghi, Musht-ul-Ghaul, Medic.; A. fruticosum Guill. et al.; Darkht-e-Shaan. A. hirtum (Lam.) Sweet, synonym A. graveolens Wt. and Arn.; A. muticum Siddha/Tamil  Thutthi. Sweet, synonym A. glaucum Sweet; and Folk  Kanghi, Kakahi, Kakahiyaa. A. polyandrum Wight and Arn., syn- Action  Dried, whole plant— onym A. persicum (Burm. f.) Mer- febrifuge, anthelmintic, demulcent, rill (known as Naani-khapaat, Jhinaki- diuretic, anti-inflammatory (in khapaat, Kanghi, Makhamali-khapaat urinary and uterine discharges, and Khaajavani-khapaat, respectively, piles, lumbago). Juice of the plant— in folk medicine). emollient. Seeds—demulcent Dosage  Root—– g powder. (API (used in cough, chronic cystitis), Vol I.) laxative. Leaves—cooked and eaten for bleeding piles. Flowers— antibacterial, anti-inflammatory. Bark—astringent, diuretic. Root— Acacia arabica Willd. var. nervine tonic, given in paralysis; indica Benth. also prescribed in strangury. Synonym  A. nilotica (Linn.) Delile Along with other therapeutic appli- subsp. indica (Benth.) Brenan. cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Family  Mimosaceae. of India indicates the use of the root in Habitat  Throughout the drier parts gout, polyuria and haemorrhagic dis- of India. eases.  The plant contains mucilage, tan- English Babul, Black Babul, Indian nins, asparagines, gallic acid and ses- Gum arabic tree. quiterpenes. Presence of alkaloids, Ayurvedic  Babbuula, Babbuuri, leucoanthocyanins, flavonoids, sterols, Baavari, Aabhaa, Shuulikaa, triterpenoids, saponins and cardiac Shitaka, Kinkiraata, Yugmakantaka, glycosides is also reported. Sukshmapatra, Pitapushpaka. Asparagine is diuretic. Gallic acid Unani  Aqaaqia, Babuul, Kikar, is analgesic. Mucilages act by reflex, Mughilaan, Samur. loosen cough as well as bronchial ten-  sion. Essential oil—antibacterial, anti- Siddha/Tamil Karu-velamaram, fungal. Karuvelei. Velampisin (gum). The drug exhibits immunological Action  Stembark—astringent, activity. It augments antibody in spasmolytic, hypoglycaemic. animals. EtOH (%) extract of A. Gum—demulcent (soothing agent indicum ssp. guineense Borssum, syn- for inflammatory conditions of the onym A. asiaticum (Linn.) Sweet, ex- respiratory, digestive and urinary hibits anticancer activity. tracts). Pods—used in urogenital Related sp. include: Abutilon avicen- disorders. Seeds—hypoglycaemic nae Gaertn., synonym A. theophrastii in normal rats; no such effect in Acacia catechu (Linn. f.) Willd. 5

diabetic rats. Seed oil—antifungal. Habitat  Drier regions of India, A Flowers, pods and gum resin—used particularly Punjab, Madhya in diarrhoea and dysentery. Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Along with other therapeutic appli- Rajasthan. cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of stembark English  Cutch tree, Catechu. in acute diarrhoea and helminthiasis. Ayurvedic  Khadira, Kadara, Tannin contents of the bark varies Somavalka, Gaayatri, Dantdhaavan, considerably (–%). Several poly- Kantaki, Raktasaara (heartwood phenolic compounds have been re- extract). ported in the bark, also in the pods.  The whole pod contains –% tan- Unani Khair, Kaat, Katthaa nins and –% after the removal of (heartwood extract). seeds. Siddha/Tamil  Karunkaali The seeds of A. benthamii, A. nilotica (bark), Kalippakku, Kadiram. ssp. subulata, probably same as ssp. in- Katthakkaambu, Kaasukkatti dica, are considered hypoglycaemic. (heartwood extract). Some seed components stimulate in-  sulin secretion by beta cells. Action Cutch from wood— The gum contains galactose; l-ara- powerful astringent (in urinary and binose, l-rhamnose and aldobiouronic vaginal discharge), antidiarrhoeal, acids, also arabinobioses. haemostatic; used for treating The flowers contain flavonoids— excessive mucous discharges, kaempferol--glucoside, iso-quercitrin haemorrhages, relaxed conditions and leucocyanidin. of gums, throat and mouth, stomatitis, irritable bowel; also used Dosage  Stembark—– g for as an antileprotic drug. decoction. (API Vol. I.) Along with other therapeutic appli- cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of dried pieces Acacia canescens Grab. of heartwood in inflammations, skin Family  Mimosaceae. diseases and urinary disorders, recom- Habitat  Bihar and South India. mendsitsuseasabloodpurifier,in diseases caused by lipid disorders.  Ayurvedic Aadaari (related sp.) Cutch (the concentrated extract) Folk  Ari, Araara. contains tannins –%, catechin – Action  See A. torta. %, phlobatannins including cate- chutannic acid –%; flavonoids in- cluding quercetin, quercitrin, fisetin; gums, resins, pigments. The gum from Acacia catechu (Linn. f.) Willd. A. catechu is a good substitute for Gum Family  Mimosaceae. arabic. 6 Acacia chundra Willd.

A Seed extract—hypoglycaemic to Andhra Pradesh on dry and rocky normal albino rats, but not effective soils. in diabetic rats. The saline extract of English  Red Cutch. seeds shows leuco-agglutinating activ- ity against leukaemic cells. It agglu- Ayurvedic  Khadira (related sp.). tinates white cells from patients with Siddha/Tamil  Katthakkaambu different types of leukaemia. The acti- (heartwood extract). vity is inhibited by simple sugars. Root  extract shows antibacterial and fungi- Folk Laal Khair. cidal activity. Action  Uses similar to those of A. The heartwood contains a hepato- catechu heartwood extract. protective principle—cyanidanol. Astringent and antibacterial prop- The bark and leaves are used for ul- erties of catechu result from its high cerated abscesses and toothache; wood tannin content. for leucoderma. Gambrine in pale catechu shows hy- EtOH (%) extract—spermicidal potensive effects. and spasmolytic. Fisetininblackcatechuand(+)- catechin in black and pale catechu may protect against liver damage; (+)- Acacia concinna (Willd.) DC. catechin is also thought to protect against experimentally induced ulcers Synonym  Asinuata(Lour.) Merrill; in animals; (+)-catechin (cianidanol) is A. rugata (Lamk.) Ham. associated with fatal anaemia. Methyl- Family  Mimosaceae. catechin, one of the major metabolites of (+)-catechin, inhibits the binding Habitat  Tropical jungles throughout of monocytes to vascular endothelial India, especially in the Deccan. cells; thus, the catechin found in cate- Ayurvedic  Saptalaa, Shitalaa, chu may reduce atherosclerosis. (Natu- Saatalaa, Shrivalli, Kantvalli. ral Medicines Comprehensive Database, .) Unani  Shikaakaai, Kharunb Nabti. Siddha/Tamil  Seekai, Sigakai. Dosage  Heartwood—– g for decoction. (API Vol. I.) Folk  Ban-Reethaa. Action  Febrifuge, expectorant, emetic, spasmolytic, diuretic, Acacia chundra Willd. antidiarrhoeal. Leaves—an infusion is given in malarial fever. Pods and Synonym  A. sundra DC. seeds—decoction is used to remove  dandruff (known as Shikaakaai), Family Mimosaceae. extensively used as a detergent. An Habitat  Rajasthan, Gujarat, ointment is used for skin diseases. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bark—extract is used in leprosy. Acacia leucophloea Willd. 7

The bark yields a saponin which, The ethanolic extract of unripe pods A on hydrolysis, yields lupeol, alpha- yields a glycosidal fraction (.%) spinasterol and acacic acid lactone. which exhibits anti-inflammatory ac- Pods also yield saponins (.%). Sug- tivity. It also shows significant antibac- ars identified are glucose, arabinose terial activity. and rhamnose. Theplantactsasanantisepticagent The leaves contain alkaloids, nico- for curing sores, gums and loose teeth. tine and colycotomine, a triterpenoid The flowers are the source of Cassie saponin and oxalic, tartaric, citric, suc- perfume. cinic and ascorbic acids. The main constituents of the flowers The bark saponins are spermicidal, are benzyl, anisic, decylic and cuminic also haemolytic and spasmolytic. A de- aldehydes, as well as traces of geraniol, coction of pods relieves biliousness and farnesol and linalool. acts as a purgative.

Acacia leucophloea Willd.

Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. Synonym  A. alba Willd. Family  Mimosaceae. Family  Mimosaceae. Habitat  Native to West Indies; now Habitat  Dry regions of the country, occurring throughout India. especially in Punjab, Rajasthan and English  Cassie Flower, Cassie Madhya Pradesh. Absolute, Sweet Acacia. English  White Babul. Ayurvedic  Arimeda, Vitkhadira. Ayurvedic  Arimeda, Arimedaka, Arimanja, Irimeda, Vitakhadir, Unani  Vilaayati Kikar, Gandbabuul, Godhaa-skandha, Raamaka. Guyaa Babuul, Durgandh Khair. Unani  Kath Safed, Vilaayati Babuul, Siddha/Tamil  Kastuurivel, Vedday- Guyaa Babuul. ala. Siddha/Tamil  Valval, Velvayalam. Action  Bark—astringent, demul-  cent, anthelmintic, antidysenteric, Folk Safed Babuul, Safed Kikar, anti-inflammatory (used in stom- Renvaa. atitis, ulcers, swollen gums, dental Action  Bark—bitter, demulcent and caries, bronchitis, skin diseases). cooling; used in biliousness and bronchitis. Seeds—haemaggluti- Ripe pods contain tannins and sev- nating activity has been reported. eral polyphenolic compounds. Essen- Leaves—antisyphilitic and antibac- tial oil from pods—direct muscle relax- terial. Gum—demulcent. ant, cardiac depressant and sedative. Various plant parts are used in in- EtOH (%) extract of aerial parts— sanity, epilepsy, delirium and convul- hypotensive and central nervous sys- sions. tem depressant. 8 Acacia pennata (L.) Willd.

A The rootbark contains leucophleol, Bechic, antihaemorrhagic, anti- leucophleoxol and leucoxol. inflammatory. Stembark—anti- inflammatory, spasmolytic. Root— used for dysentery and urinary Acacia pennata (L.) Willd. discharges.  The gum consists mainly of arabin. Family Mimosaceae. It is the salt of an organic acid, ara- Habitat  Throughout India; ascend- bic acid, with metals such as calcium, ing to , m in the Himalayas. magnesium and potassium. Ayurvedic  Lataakhadira, Aadaari, The stembark gives octacosanol, Ari. beta-amyrin, uvaol, beta-stosterol and  its glucoside and erthrodiol. An al- Siddha/Tamil Indan, Indu. Iyak kaloid, dimethyltryptamine has been Koluntu (tender leaves). isolated from the leaves. Folk  Aila. Action  Bark—antibilious, antiasth- matic. Leaf—stomachic, styptic Acacia suma Buch.-Ham. (for bleeding gum), antiseptic (for Synonym  A. polycantha Willd. scalding of urine). A decoction of  young leaves is taken for body pain, Family Mimosaceae. headache and fever. Habitat  WestBengal,Bihar,western peninsula. The bark contains tannin %, lupe- Ayurvedic  Shveta Khadira, Kadara, ol and alpha-spinasterol. Stem yields Somavalkala. sitosterol. Unani  Khor, Safed Khair. Action  Cutch is prepared from the Acacia senegal Willd. heartwood. See A. catechu. Acacia ferruginea DC. is also equat- Synonym  A. verek Guillem and ed with Shveta Khadira. Perr. Family  Mimosaceae. Habitat  Native to Sudan. Cultivated Acacia torta (Roxb.) Craib. in dry parts of western India. Synonym  A. intsia Willd. English  Gum arabic tree. A. caesia Wright and Arn. non- Ayurvedic  Shveta Babbuula. Willd.  Action  The tree yields the true Gum Family Mimosaceae. arabic of commerce. Mucilaginous, Habitat  Throughout India in the dry demulcent, emulsifying agent. Used and intermediate zones; ascending as an ingredient in compounds for to an altitude of about , m in treatment of diarrhoea, catarrh. the Himalayas. Acanthospermum hispidum DC. 9

Ayurvedic  Aadaari, Lataa Khadira Folk  Chinnivara. A (related sp., see. A. pennata). Action  Leaves—stomachic, al- Siddha/Tamil  Kariyundu, Ingu. terative; prescribed in digestive Folk  Araar, Chilar (Punjab), Aila disorders, dyspepsia, colic, diar- (Maharashtra). rhoea. Action  Flower—emmenagogue. Bark—anti-inflammatory, antisep- Acalypha indica Linn. tic (in skin diseases). Bark contains % tannins, triterpene alcohol, Family  Euphorbiaceae. saponins of acacic acid, lupeol and Habitat  Occurs throughout the a steroid, acaciol. An alkaloid, plains of India, ascending the hills tryptamine, is present in the root in Orissa up to  m. and stem bark. English  Indian Acalypha. Various plant parts are used in Ayurvedic  Kuppi, Muktavarchaa, cough, bronchitis, measles, tubercular Haritamanjari fistula and in the treatment of men- strual disorders. The bark is used for Siddha/Tamil  Kuppaimeni. washing the hair. Folk  Khokli,Kuppi,Aamaabhaaji. Action  Antibacterial (leaf used in scabies). Plant—emetic, expecto- Acalypha ciliata Forsk. rant (used in bronchitis, asthma,  pneumonia). Tincture of fresh Family Euphorbiaceae. plant is used in homoeopathy Habitat  Common in plains, for incipient phthisis with bloody as a weed in gardens; also in expectorations, emaciation and wastelands, especially in Bangalore arterial haemorrhage. and Pachmarhi.  The plant contains kaempferol; Ayurvedic Kuppi (smaller var.). leaves and twigs contain acalyphamide Folk  Daadari (Gujarat). and other amides, quinone, sterols, Action  See A. indica. cyanogenic glycoside. The herb causes intestinal irritation.

Acalypha fruticosa Forsk. Acanthospermum hispidum Family  Euphorbiaceae. DC.  Habitat Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Family  Compositae; Asteraceae. Karnataka and Kerala. Habitat  Native to Brazil; found as  English Birch-leaved Acalypha. a weed throughout the greater part Siddha/Tamil  Kuppaimeni. of India. 10 Acanthus ilicifolius Linn.

A Ayurvedic  Trikantaka. (Different Habitat  The western Himalayas from Gokshura; also equated with from Kashmir to Kumaon. Martynia diandra, Martineacea, English  Milfoil, Yarrow, Thousand known as Kaakanaasaa.) Leaf.  Action Used in dermatological Unani  Biranjaasif. National affections. Formulary of Unani Medicine also equates Leonurus cardica The essential oil (yield .%) showed Linn. (Labiatae) with Biranjaasif. antibacterial and antifungal activity. Folk  Gandana, Rojmari. Action  Anti-inflammatory, anti- spasmodic (used in cold, flatulent Acanthus ilicifolius Linn. colic, heartburn), emmenagogue, Family  Acanthaceae. cicatrizant, antidysenteric, anti-  haemorrhagic, antipyretic, diapho- Habitat Common in tidal forests retic, diuretic, urinary antiseptic. along the East and West coasts; also  distributed in Meghalaya and the Key application In dyspeptic Andamans. ailments, such as mild, spastic discomforts of the gastrointestinal  English Sea Holly. tract. As astringent, antispasmodic, Ayurvedic  Krishna Saraiyaka. choleretic, antibacterial. (German (Blue-flowered Katasaraiyaa.) Commission E.) As diaphoretic. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) In- Siddha/Tamil  Kollimulli. ternally for feverish conditions, Folk  Hargozaa. common cold and digestive com- Action  Decoction—antacid (used plaints; topically for slow-healing in dyspepsia with acid eructations), wounds and skin inflammations. also diuretic (used in dropsy and (The British Herbal Compendium.) bilious swellings). Aerial parts show The plant contains flavonoids, al- effect on nictitating membrane. kaloids (achilleine), polyacetylenes, The root is a cordial attenuant and triterpenes, coumarins, tannins, sal- is used in debility associated with icylic acid, a volatile oil containing asthma, paralysis, leucorrhoea. linalool, camphor, sabinene, chamazu- lene and other azulenes. The air-dried plant contains an al- Sesquiterpene lactones are bitter and kaloid, acanthicifoline, and a flavone. tonic. Achilleine helps arrest internal and external bleeding. Flavonoids con- tribute to the antispasmodic action. Achillea millefolium Linn. The flavonoid apigenin is anti-in-  flammatory, antiplatelet and spasmo- Synonym A. lanulosa Nutt. lytic. Alkaloids and bases are anti- Family  Compositae; Asteraceae. inflammatory. Alkaloid betoncine is Achyranthes aspera Linn. 11 haemostatic. Salicylic acid is anti- altitude of , m, in the southern A inflammatory. Chamazulene is anti- Andaman Islands. inflammatory and antiallergenic. (Nat- English  Prickly Chaff Flower. ural Medicines Comprehensive Data-  base, .) Ayurvedic Apaamaarga, Chirchitaa, Anextractoftheplantwasfound Shikhari, Shaikharika, Adahshalya, to be rich in luteolin or luteolin - Mayura, Mayuraka, Kharamanjari, glucoside and can be used for the treat- Kharapushpaa, Pratyakpushpaa, ment of hyperpigmentation of skin. Aaghaat, Vashira, Kanihi. Unani  Chirchitaa. Siddha/Tamil  Naayuruvi. Achras zapota Linn. Folk  Chirchitta, Chichidaa, Synonym  Manilkara zapota (Linn.) Latjeeraa. P. v an R oy an Action  Astringent, pectoral (ashes Manilkara achras (Mill.) Fosberg of the plant used in asthma and Sapota achras Mill. cough), diuretic, hepatoprotective, Family  Sapotaceae. emmenagogue. Benzene extract of Habitat  Native to Central America. the plant exhibited abortifacient Cultivated chiefly in Maharashtra, activity. The flowers, ground and Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. mixed with sugar, are given for menorrhagia. Roots—astringent,  English Sapota, Sapodilla Plum, haemostatic. Seeds—emetic; used Chicle. for biliousness. Essential oil— Unani  Sapotaa, Cheeku. antifungal. Siddha/Tamil  Shimai eluppai. Key application  As astringent, Action  Fruit—antibilious. Seed— emetic. (Indian Herbal Pharma- diuretic. Fruit and bark—febrifuge. copoeia.) The bark contains latex (–% Along with other therapeutic appli- of which consists of gutta-percha-like cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia substance); also contains tannin of India indicates the use of the whole (.%). The seeds contain quercitol. plant in lipid disorders and obesity, the Chewing gum consists of approxi- root for its blood-purifying property. mately % chicle, plus sugar, corn The plant juice and ash are used syrup and flavourings. for treating bleeding piles. An alka- line powder of the plant is used in preparing Kshaarasutra of Ayurvedic Achyranthes aspera Linn. medicine, which is recommended for treating fistula-in-ano.  Family Amaranthaceae. The whole plant contains the alka- Habitat  Throughout the tropical loids achyranthine and betaine. Achy- and subtropical regions, up to an ranthine, a water-soluble alkaloid, is 12 Achyranthes bidentata Blume

A reported to dilate blood vessels, low- three mannose units, has been isolated er blood pressure, decrease heart rate from the roots. It enhanced immune and increase the rate and amplitude of response and prolonged survival time respiration. It also shows spasmodic of mice bearing Ehrlich carcinoma. effects on the rectus muscle of frog, di- The roots contain free oleanolic acid uretic and purgative action in albino (.%) and its saponins (.%). An rats. alcoholic extract of the root showed The presence of ecdysterone and presence of amino acids, steroids, tri- oleanolic acid is also reported in the terpenoids, alkaloids and coumarins. root. The seeds afforded achyranthin. The ashes of the plant yield large Extract of the plant—antimicrobial. quantities of potash. The seeds yield saponins and oleanolic acid and its es- ter. Aconitum atrox The presence of tannins and glyco- (Bruchl) Mukherjee. sidesisalsoreportedintheplant. Synonym  Dosage  Whole plant—– g for Aconitum balfourii Stapf. decoction. Root—– g. (API Family  Ranunculaceae. Vols. II, III.) Ash— mg to  g. Habitat  The sub-alpine and alpine (CCRAS.) Himalayas between , and , m. Ayurvedic  Vatsanaabha (related Achyranthes bidentata Blume sp.).  Family Amaranthaceae. Folk  Banwaa.  Habitat The temperate and sub- Action  Poisonous, highly toxic. tropical Himalayas from Kishtwar to Sikkim at ,–, m, Khasi Air-dried roots contain .% total hills. alkaloids of which pseudoaconitine is Ayurvedic  Shveta Apaamaarga. .%. Pseudoaconitine is biological- (Rakta Apaamaarga is equated ly . times as active as aconitine. (A. with Achyranthes rubra-fusca atrox is a poisonous species and is one Hook. f. and A. verschaffeltii Lam., of the common constituents of Aconi- synonym Iresine herbstii Hook. f.) tum ferox of commerce.) Siddha/Tamil  Naayurivi. Action  Astringent, diuretic, Aconitum chasmanthum spasmolytic. Plant is given Stapf ex Holmes. in whooping cough, roots in hemicrania. Family  Ranunculaceae. A water-soluble oligosaccharide, Habitat  The western Himalayas composed of six glucose units and from Hazara to Kashmir and Aconitum falconeri Stapf. 13

Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, interacts with antiarrhythmics, anti- A between altitudes of , m and hypertensives, Digoxin/cardiac glyco- , m. sides. (Sharon M. Herr.)  English Indian Napellus. Dosage  Root—– mg powder. Ayurvedic  Visha, Shringika-Visha, (CCRAS.) Vatsanaabha (related sp.). Folk  Mohri, Meethaa Zahar. Action  Sedative, antirheumatic, Aconitum deinorrhizum Stapf. analgesic, antitussive, antidiar- Family  Ranunculaceae. rhoeal. Ayurvedic Formulary of  India, Part I and Part II, equated Habitat Alpine regions of Chat- A. chasmanthum with Vatsanaabha. tadhar and Bhalesh ranges of (See A. ferox.) It has the same uses Bhadarwah district in Jammu and as A. ferox. The alkaloid content Kashmir. of the root ranges from . to Ayurvedic  Vatsanaabha (related .%; includes chasmaconitine and sp.). chasmanthinine. Folk  Bashahr-Mohra, Dudhiyaa Napellus, equated with Aconitum Bish, Safed Bikh. napellus Linn., is indigenous to Cen- Action  Roots and leaves are used in tral Europe (named after the Black sea rheumatism, rheumatic fever and port Aconis and known as Wolfsbane, acute headache. Monkshood). Aconitum of homoeo- pathic medicine is an alkaloid obtained The roots contain .% total alka- from the roots and stems of A. nepellus. loids, of which .% is pseudoaconi- Used as an analgesic and sedative. It tine. contains terpenoids up to .%, includ- ing aconitine and aconine. Toxic constituents of A. napellus Aconitum falconeri Stapf. are aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconi-  tine, -acetylacoitine, lappaconitine Family Ranunculaceae. (diterpenoid-ester alkaloids), benza- Habitat  The sub-alpine and alpine conine, benzoylaconine. zones of the Garhwal Himalayas. Aconitine, mesaconitine and hyp- Ayurvedic  Vatsanaabha (related aconitine exert widespread effects on sp.). cardiac, neural and muscle tissue by  activitating sodium channels. (Natu- Folk Bikh, Bis, Meethaa Telia. ral Medicines Comprehensive Database, Action  Sedative, carminative, .) anti-inflammatory (used for the Aconitine is absorbed through mu- treatment of nervous system, cus membranes and the skin. (Fran- digestive system; rheumatism, cis Brinker.) It is a cardiotoxin and fever). 14 Aconitum ferox Wall. ex Ser.

A The root alkaloids contain bishati- cardiac depression. Topically, aconi- sine, bishaconitine, falconitine and tine has analgesic, anti-inflammatory mithaconitine. Treatment with cow’s and anaesthetic activity. milk reduces cardiotoxic effect of the root. Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle. Aconitum ferox Wall. ex Ser. Family  Ranunculaceae. Family  Ranunculaceae. Habitat  Cultivated at Manali and Rahla in Himachal Pradesh. Also Habitat  The alpine Himalayas from found in northwestern Himalayas Sikkim to Garhwal and Assam. at altitudes ranging from , to English  Indian Aconite, Wolfsbane, , m. Monkshood. English  Atis Root, Aconite.  Ayurvedic Vatsanaabha, Visha, Ayurvedic  Ativishaa, Arunaa, Amrita, Vajraanga, Sthaavaravisha, Vishaa, Shuklakandaa, Bhanguraa, Vatsanaagaka, Shrangikavisha, Ghunapriyaa, Ghunavallabhaa, Garala. Kaashmiraa, Shishubhaishajyaa Unani  Bish, Bishnaag. (indicating its use in paediatrics), Vishwaa. Siddha/Tamil  Vasanaavi, Karunaab-  hi. Unani Atees. Siddha/Tamil  Athividayam. Folk  Bacchanaag, Bish, Mithaa Zahar, Telia Visha. Folk  Patis.  Action  Narcotic, sedative, antilepro- Action Often regarded as non- tic, anti-inflammatory. Extremely poisosnous, antiperiodic, anti- poisonous. (Roots possess depres- inflammatory, astringent (used sant activity, but after mitigation in in cough, diarrhoea, dyspepsia), cow’s milk for – days, they exhibit tonic (used after fevers), febrifuge, stimulant activity.) antispasmodic (used in irritabil- ity of stomach and abdominal Key application  In neuralgia. pains). (Aconitum napellus L. has been listed by German Commission E Along with other therapeutic appli- among unapproved herbs.) cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of the dried, The root contains diterpenoid alka- tuberous root in emesis and helminthi- loids, which act as a powerful poison asis. that affects the heart and central ner- The roots yield .% of total alka- vous system. Aconitine has a short- loids, of which atisin is .%. Atisine lived cardiotonic action followed by is much less toxic than aconitine and Aconitum violaceum Jacq. ex Stapf. 15 pseudoaconitine. (The inert character Family  Ranunculaceae. A of the plant is well known to the hill Habitat  The alpine Himalayas of people, who often use it as a vegetable.) Sikkim, Nepal, the adjoining parts The plant possesses potent immuno- of southern Tibet, between altitudes stimulant properties. of , m and , m. Dosage  Root—.–. g. (API Ayurvedic  Prativishaa, Shyaamkan- Vol. I.) daa, Patis. Folk  Bikhamaa. Action  Root—antiemetic, antidiar- Aconitum laciniatum rhoeal, antirheumatic, antiperiodic. (Bruhl) Stapf. The root contains diterpenoid alka- Family  Ranunculaceae. loids and a nitrogenous non-alkaloid  compound, benzamide. Alkaloids in- Habitat The sub-alpine and alpine clude vakognavine, palmatisine, vaka- Himalayas of Sikkim between tisine, vakatisinine and vakatidine. altitudes of , m and , m. The root is intensely bitter, like qui- Ayurvedic  Vatsanaabha (related nine, is used with Piper longum for di- sp.). arrhoea and vomiting; used externally Folk  Kaalo Bikhmo. as an application for rheumatism. Action  Poisonous. (Found mixed with the roots of A. ferox and A. spicatum of commerce.) Aconitum spicatum Stapf. Family  Ranunculaceae. Habitat  The alpine zone of the Aconitum luridum Himalayas of Sikkim and Chumbi. Hook. f. and Thoms. Principal source of Bikh or Bish of Kolkata market. Family  Ranunculaceae. English  Nepal Aconite. Habitat  The Himalayas from eastern Ayurvedic  Vatsanaabha (related Nepal to Chumbi at altitudes of sp.). , to , m. Action  Antipyretic, analgesic. Ayurvedic  Vatsanaabha (related sp.). The roots yield .% of alkaloids which contain mainly pseudoaconitine Action  As potent as Aconitum ferox. and bikhaconitine.

Aconitum palmatum D. Don. Aconitum violaceum Jacq. ex Stapf. Synonym  A. bisma (Buch.-Ham.) Rapaics. Family  Ranunculaceae. 16 Acorus calamus Linn.

A Habitat  The alpine zone of the calamus L. var. americanus,adiploid Himalayas from Gilgit to Kumaon. American var.; type II—var. vulgaris Ayurvedic  Vatsanaabha (related L. (var. calamus), a European triploid; sp.). type III and type IV—var. augustatus  Bess. and var. versus L., subtropical Folk Tilia Kachnaag, Dudhia. tetraploids. Action  Nervine tonic. Beta-asarone is carcinogenic in ani- mals. Volatile oil of types II, III and Air-dried roots of the plant are re- IV—major constituent is usually beta- ported to contain % indaconitine. asarone (isoasarone), up to %. In- dian calamus oil contains asarone up to % and its beta-isomer. In type I, Acorus calamus Linn. beta-asarone and other phenylpropa- noids are absent. It is superior in spas- Family  Araceae. molytic activity to the other types. Habitat  Wild and cultivated Indian practitioners mostly use A. throughout India in damp marshy calamus externally. Shveta Vachaa places from  to , m; common (Haimavati, equated with Acorus gra- in Manipur and Naga Hills. mineus Scoland. Ex Ait., a diploid, is English  Sweet Flag, Calamus. used internally. Unani physicians use Paris polyphylla Sim. as Khuraasaani Ayurvedic  Vachaa, Ugragandhaa, Bach. Ugraa, Golomi, Shadgranthaa, The essential oil-free alcoholic ex- Shataparvaa, Tikshnagandhaa, tract of A. calamus possesses sedative Kshudra-patra, Maangalyaa, Ghor- and analgesic properties. bach. Alpha-asarone potentiates pento-  Unani Waj-e-Turki, Waj. barbital, accounts for some, but not all, Siddha/Tamil  Vasambu. neurodepressive activity. Beta-asarone is reportedly hallucinogenic. (Francis Action  Rhizome—nervine tonic, hypotensive, tranquilizer, sedative Brinker.) (with neuroleptic and antianxiety The ethanolic extract of rhizomes properties), analgesic, spasmolytic, show significant antisecretory and an- anticonvulsant; used for bronchial tiulcerogenic activity; also, protective catarrh, chronic diarrhoea and effect against cytodestructive agents, dysentery. experimentally.  Along with other therapeutic appli- Dosage Rhizome—– mg cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia powder. (API Vol. II.) of India indicates the use of the dried rhizomes as a brain tonic in weak mem- ory, psychoneurosis and epilepsy. Acorus gramineus Soland. ex Ait. Four types of Calamus are used in herbal medicine: type I—Acorus Family  Araceae. Actinodaphne hookeri Meissn. 17

 Habitat Native to Japan, occasion- Actiniopteris dichotoma Kuhn. A allymetwithinSikkimatanaltitude of , m, in Khasi Hills up to Synonym  A. australis (L. f.) Link. , m. A. radiata (Sw.) Link. A. dichotoma Kuhn. Ayurvedic  Haimavati (white var. of Vachaa). Family  Adiantaceae.  Action  Antispasmodic (used in Habitat Throughout India, espe- abdominal colic). See A. calamus. cially common in Kumaon Hills and the Nilgiris, below an altitude of , m. English  Peacock’s tail. Actaea spicata Linn. Ayurvedic  Mayurshikhaa, Madhu- Synonym  A. acuminata Wall. ex chhadaa, Sahastrahi, Vahrishikhaa. Royle Action  Styptic, antibacterial, Family  Ranunculaceae. antipyretic. Habitat  Native to Europe; grows in The stems and leaves contain rutin, temperate Himalayas from Hazara a styptic active principle. Anthelmintic to Bhutan. activity, attributed to the fern, was not English  Baneberry Grapewort. observed in experiments on mice. Folk  Visha-phale (Kannada). Dosage  Root—– g powder. (CCRAS.) Action  Root—antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, nerve sedative, emetic, purgative; used in the treatment of rheumatic fever, Actinodaphne hookeri Meissn. lumbago, scrofula, nervous disor- Synonym  A. angustifolia Nees. ders, chorea. Family  Lauraceae. The plant is reported to contain Habitat  The western Ghats, Orissa trans-aconitic acid, which shows a and Sikkim up to , m. strong cytostatic action. Its Me ether  is active against Ehrlich’s ascites tu- Siddha/Tamil Thali, Paratathali. mours. Folk  Pisaa (Maharashtra). In folk medicine, roots are used in Action  Infusion of leaves—urinary cases of ovarian neuralgia, uterine ten- tract disinfectant, antidiabetic, derness and sub-involution. They are spasmolytic. adulterant of the roots of Helleborus niger. Berries are poisonous; used top- The leaves contain a very small ically for skin diseases. The toxic con- amount of an amorphous alkaloid. stituent is protoanemonin (lactone). It They also contain beta-sitosterol, hen- is irritant to mucous membrane. triacontanone, hentriacontanol and 18 Adansonia digitata Linn.

A quercetin--rhamnoside and hydro- The roots contain a flavanone glyco- carbons. side. The bark gives an alkaloid, actino- daphnine. Adenanthera pavonina Linn.

Family  Leguminosae; Mimosaceae. Adansonia digitata Linn. Habitat  The western Ghats, the Family  Bombacaceae. Andamans and sub-Himalayan Habitat  Native to tropical Africa; tract; also cultivated. common along the west coast of English  Coral Wood, Red Wood. India. Ayurvedic  Rakta Kanchana, Rakta  English Baobab, Monkey Bread Kambala. tree, African calabash. Siddha/Tamil  Anai-gundumani. Ayurvedic  Sheet-phala, Ravanaam-  likaa, Gorakshi, Panchparni. Folk Ghumchi (bigger var.).  Unani  Gorakh Imli. Action Astringent and styptic  (used in diarrhoea, haemorrhage Siddha/Tamil Papparapuli. from the stomach, haematuria), Folk  Gorakh Imli; Gorakh anti-inflammatory (in rheumat- Chinchaa. ic affections, gout). Seeds— Action  Cooling, refrigerant (allays anticephalgic; also used for the burning sensation). Leaves— treatment of paralysis. A decoction diaphoretic (used as a prophylactic is given in pulmonary affections. against fevers). Fruit—antidysen- The seed contains an anti-inflam- teric, antiseptic, antihistaminic. matory active principle, O-acetyletha- The fruit pulp is a source of vita- nolamine. The leaves contain octa- min C (.–. mg/ g); dried cosanol, dulcitol, glucosides of beta- pulp contains calcium and vitamin B. sitosterol and stigmasterol. The bark Furfural (.%) is obtained after dis- contains sitgmasterol glucoside. tillation of the fruit. In Africa, dried leaves provide much of the dietary cal- cium. Aqueous extract of the bark is Adhatoda vasica Nees. used for treating sickle cell anaemia. An infusion of the leaves and flow- Synonym  A. zeylanica Medic. ers is given in respiratory disorders. Justicia adhatoda Linn. (Powdered leaves prevented crisis in Family  Acanthaceae. asthma induced by histamine in guinea  pigs.) Dried fruit pulp also gives relief Habitat Throughout India, up to an in bronchial asthma, allergic dermati- altitude of , m. tis and urticaria. English  Malabar Nut, Vasaca. Adiantum capillus-veneris Linn. 19

Ayurvedic  Vaasaa, Vaasaka, more powerful and active than A. vasi- A Vaasikaa, Simhaasya, Simhaparni, ca.Freshleafjuiceisusedinhaemop- Simhavadanaa, Vaajidanta, Vrisha, tysis and menorrhagia, also as an anti- Aataruushaka. asthmatic. Jacobinia tinctoria Henl. is equated Unani  Arusaa. with the red-flowered var. of Vaasaa. Siddha/Tamil  Aadaathodai. Dosage  Leaf—– ml juice.  Folk Vasaakaa. Dried leaves—– g for deoction. Action  Expectorant (used in Root—– g powder. (API Vols. I, bronchial, asthmatic and pulmo- IV.) nary affections), antispasmodic, febrifuge. Key application  As bronchodilatory, Adiantum aethiopicum Linn. expectorant. (Indian Herbal Synonym  A. emarginatum Bedd. Pharmacopoeia.) The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates its Family  Adiantaceae. use in dyspnoea. Habitat  North Kanara and the Nilgiri and Palni hills at higher The chief quinazoline alkaloid vas- elevations. icine is reported in all parts of the  plant, the highest being in inflores- Ayurvedic Hansapadi (related sp.). cence. It is a bitter bronchodilator, res- Action  Rhizomes—decoction piratory stimulant, hypotensive, car- abortifacient. Astringent and diac depressant, uterotonic and aborti- emetic. Emollient in coughs and facient. An aqueous solution of va- diseases of the chest; sudorific. sicinone hydrochloride, when studied in mice and dogs, was found to po- tentiate the bronchodilatory activity Adiantum capillus-veneris Linn. of aminophylline, also that of isopre- naline. Vasicinone exhibited smooth- Family  Adiantaceae. muscle-relaxant properties of airways. Habitat  All along the Himalayas Alkaloids present in the plant from Kashmir to Sikkim between showed significant protection against altitudes of , and , m. allergin-induced bronchial obstruc-  tion in guinea pigs. English American Maidenhair The leaves are found to activate the Fern,VenusHair,RockFern. digestive enzyme trypsin. Ayurvedic  Hansaraaja, Hansapadi An extract of the leaves showed (related sp.). significant antifungal activity against Unani  Parsiaavashaan. ringworm.  Adhatoda beddomei C.B. Clarke, Siddha/Tamil Seruppadai. found in Kerala, is considered to be Folk  Mubaaraka. 20 Adiantum incisum Forsk.

A Action  Astringent, demulcent, English  Walking Maidenhair Fern. expectorant, antitussive, stimulant, Black Maidenhair (A. venustum G. emmenagogue. Fonds used in Don is also known as Hansaraaja.) chronic catarrh (as an ingredient Ayurvedic  Hansapadi, Hansapaadi, of cough and bronchial medicines); Raktapaadi, Kitamaataa, Tri- also in cold imposthumes of uterus, paadikaa, Hansaraaja; a substitute hard swellings and hard tumours of for Taamrachuda-paadikaa. spleen, liver and other viscera. Siddha/Tamil  Seruppadai. The fern contains flavonoid gluco- Folk  Raajhans, Mubaaraka. sides, including rutin, isoquercetin, as-  tragalin, kaempferol; hydroxycinnam- Action Febrifugal, antidysenteric, ic acid esters; terpenoids, including soothing agent in erysipelas. The adiantone. rhizome is also prescribed for strangury, atrophy, emaciation or cachexy, muscular pain; emetic in Adiantum incisum Forsk. large doses. Synonym  A. caudatum Linn. Along with other therapeutic appli- cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia  Family Adiantaceae. of India indicates the use of the dried Habitat  The plains and the lower whole plant in psychosis-related fear. slopes of the hills in Punjab, (It is one of the ingredients of the Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil classical drug Maanasamitra Vataka, Nadu and Maharashtra. prescribed for mental disorders.) Ayurvedic  Nilakantha-shikhaa, The chemical constituents are chlo- Mayurshikhaa, Vahrishikhaa. rophyll-degradation products and higher carotenoids. Action  Used in hemicrania, cough, fever; externally in skin Dosage  Whole plant—- g (API diseases; used as a substitute for Vol. III.) A. capillus-veneris. The fern yields adiantone, isoadian- tone, fernene, hentriacontane, hentri- Adina cordifolia acontanone-, beta-sitosterol. Hook. f. ex Brandis Family  Rubiaceae. Habitat  Indigenous in deciduous Adiantum lunulatum Burm. forests all over India.  Synonym A. philippense Linn. English  Yellow Teak, Saffron Teak.  Family Adiantaceae. Ayurvedic  Haridru, Haraduaa- Habitat  Throughout the greater kadamba, Gaur-kadamba, part of India, up to an altitude of Girikadamba, Dhaaraakadam- , m. ba, Pitadaaru, Kadambapushpa. Aerva javanica (Burm. f.) Juss. ex Schult. 21

Siddha/Tamil  Manjakadambu. use of root in dysuria; stembark in A Folk  Haladu, Kheta Kadam. diabetes and lipid disorders. Action  Antibacterial, antiseptic, Anumberofcoumarins(includ- antidysenteric, antibilious (used ing xanthotoxol and alloimperatorin in biliary colic), febrifuge. Root— methyl ether), flavonoids (including astringent. rutin and marmesin), alkaloids (in- cluding alpha-fagarine), sterols and The heartwood contains indole al- essential oils have been isolated from kaloids; bark .–.% tannin. The plant parts. Pectin is an important leaves contain ursolic acid and querce- constituent of the fruit. tin. Alkaloid aegeline, present in the leaves, is efficacious in asthma. The active principle in aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos leaf shows hypoglycaemic activity sim- (L.) Correa ex Roxb. ilar to insulin. Leaves are also given Family  Rutaceae. in jaundice. Alcoholic extract of seeds shows antiallergic activity. Habitat  The plains and sub- Marmin, a coumarin isolated from mountain regions of India, ascend- the roots, shows anti-inflammatory ef- ingtoanaltitudeof,minthe fects experimentally. Marmin also in- western Himalayas; cultivated all hibited gastric haemorrhagic lesions over India. in rats and exhibited antiulcer effects. English  Bael tree, Bengal Quince. Seed oil showed beneficial effects in Ayurvedic  Bilva, Shriphala, regeneration of tumour cells. Shaandilya, Shailuusha, Shalya, Aurapten is found to be the most Sadaaphala, Mahaakapitha (Kapitha potent inhibitor of heart rate. Rootbark is equated with Feronia limonia), is used for palpitation of the heart. Maaluura, Rudrajataa, Rudranir- Dosage  Pulp of unripe or half maalya, Shivajataakhya. ripe fruit— g powder. Root— g Unani  Bael. powder. (API Vols. I, III.) Siddha/Tamil  Vilvam, Koovilam. Action  Stomachic, antimicrobial (specific for diarrhoea, colitis, Aerva javanica dysentery and enteric infections), (Burm. f.) Juss. ex Schult. digestive, astringent, spasmolytic,  hypoglycaemic. Synonym A. persica (Burm.f.) Merill  Key application As antidiarrhoeal. A. tomentosa Frosk. (Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)  Along with other therapeutic Family Amaranthaceae. applications, The Ayurvedic Phar- Habitat  Punjab, Central and macopoeia of India indicates the Peninsular India. 22 Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult.

A English  Javanese Wool Plant. Aerva scandens Wall., synonym A. sanguinolenta Blume, is also known as Siddha/Tamil  Perumpoolai. Paashaanabheda in the south. Folk  Dholphuli, Khul. Paashaanab- SpeciesusedasPaashaanabheda: heda (southern India). Bergenia ligulata (north), Aerva lanata Action  Anti-inflammatory, diuretic, (south), Coleus amboinicus (east) and anticalculus, insecticidal. Wooly Bryophyllum pinnatum (west). seeds are used against rheumatism. Dosage  – ml decoction. The plant extract contains ascor- (CCRAS.) bic acid, kaempferol, beta-amyrin and beta-sitosterol. The leaves also contain sitosterol and its glucoside. Aesculus hippocastanum Linn.

Family  Hippocastanaceae; Sapinda- ceae. Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult. Habitat  Endemic to the mountains Family  Amaranthaceae. of Balkan Peninsula and western Habitat  The warmer parts of India, Asia. Introduced into India; occa- ascending to , m. sionally grown as an ornamental tree. Ayurvedic  Paashaanabheda.  Gorakshaganjaa, Aadaanpaaki, English Horse Chestnut tree. Shatkabhedi. Unani  Baloot. (Quercus incana and Siddha/Tamil  Sirupeelai. Q. infectoria have also been equated with Baloot in National Formulary  Folk Paashaanabheda (southern in Unani Medicine.) India), Gorakhagaanjaa. Folk  Pu. Action  Anticalculus (used in  lithiasis), diuretic, demulcent, Action Anti-inflammatory, va- anthelmintic, antidiarrhoeal, sodilator, astringent (used for anticholerin, bechic; leaf used rheumatism, venous congestion, in hepatitis, root in strangury. haemorrhoids), febrifuge. Leaf— A decoction of the plant is used in used in whooping cough. catarrh of bladder. The flowers and Key application  In chronic venous roots are used for headache. insufficiency, varicosis, nocturnal Key application  As diuretic and systremma (cramps in the calves) lithontriptic. (The British Herbal and swelling of the legs. (Non- Pharmacopoeia.) invasive treatment measures should also be followed.) (German The plant contains palmitic acid, Commission E, ESCOP, The British beta-sitosterol and alpha-amyrin. Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) Aframomum melegueta (Rosc.) K. Schum. 23

Horse Chestnut contains triterpe- The leaves contain aescin, quercetin A noid saponins (especially aescin, a and beta-sitosterol. Stems also con- complex mixture composed of acylat- tain rutin, astragalin, aesculin. Seeds ed glycosides of protoaesigenin and contain aescin, aesculuside A and B, al- barringtogenol-C, including hippo- so aliphatic esters. Seeds possess anti- caesculin), coumarins and flavonoids. inflammatory activity. Aescin has been shown to eliminate The extract of seeds is considered oedema and reduce exudation. It an- to be active against P- lymphocy- tagonizes the effect of bradykinin, al- tic leukaemia and human epidermoid though it is not a direct bradykinin carcinoma of nasopharynx. antagonist. It causes an increase in plasma levels of ACTH, corticosterone and glucose in rats. Hippocaescu- Aframomum melegueta lin and barringtogenol-C--angelate (Rosc.) K. Schum. show antitumour activity in vitro. The hydroxycoumarin aesculin Synonym  Amomum melegueta leads to increased bleeding time. Rosc. (Roasting seems to destroy the tox- Family  Zingiberaceae. ins.) A few fruits can cause severe Habitat  Native to tropical Africa; toxic symptoms. (Francis Brinker.) In cultivated in Indian gardens. some countries, an intravenous mix- ture containing aescin is used after English  Grains of Paradise, Alligator surgery. (Natural Medicines Compre- pepper, Meleguetta pepper. hensive Database, .) Unani  Heel Habshi. Action  Roots possess cardamom- liketasteandaregivenasadecoction for constipation; also as a vermifuge Aesculus indica Hook. for tapeworms. Juice of young Family  Sapindaceae; Hippocastana- leaves—styptic. The seeds contain ceae. an alkaloid, piperine; also gingerol, paradol, shogaol and zingerone. Habitat  The Himalayas from Kashmir to western Nepal, Kulu Gingerol and shogaol suppress gas- and Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, tric contractions; also have sedative Tehri-Garhwal and Kumaon in and analgesic actions. Pungency of the Uttar Pradesh at –, m. grains is due to paradol. A decoction of the whole plant is English  Indian Horse Chestnut, taken internally as a febrifuge. Himalayan Chestnut. High oxalic acid content in the fruit may cause reduced function of the Folk  Bankhor. heart. Action  Antirheumatic, galacto- Aframomum korarima K. Schum., genic, antileucorrhocic. native to tropical Africa, known as 24 Aganosma dichotoma (Roth) K. Schum.

A False cardamom, is also equated with Active principle is agaric acid (aga- Heel Habshi. ricin), present to the extent of –%.

Aganosma dichotoma Agaricus campestris Linn. (Roth) K. Schum. Synonym  Psalliota campestris Synonym  A. caryophyllata G. Don (Linn.) Fr.  Family  Apocynaceae. Family Agaricaceae.  Habitat  Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Habitat The fungi is distributed in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil many parts of India, particularly Nadu;oftencultivatedinIndian on the hills and plains of northern gardens. and eastern India. Grows during  the rainy weather on dead organic Ayurvedic Madhumaalati. matter, e.g. rotting leaves and Action  Antiseptic; anodyne (an manure. ingredient in massage oils for English  Field mushroom, Edible paraplegia, neuralgia, sciatica); also mushroom. anthelmintic and emetic. Ayurvedic  Chhatraka, Bhuumi- The leaves contain quercetin, kaem- chhatra. pferol and phenolic acids. Shoot tips Unani  Kammat. and flower buds contain tannin. Siddha  Venkodiveli. Aganosma calycina A. DC. is also equated with Madhumaalati. Folk  Khumbi. Action  A protein (.%) supple- ment and an excellent source of Agaricus albus Linn. vitamins of B complex. Vitamins K, C and D are also present. Though Family  Agaricaceae. all the amino acids are reported to be present, the concentration of Habitat  Punjab, Asia Minor. tryptophane is particularly low. English  Purging Agaric.  Extracts of A. campestris contain ty- Unani Gharaiqoon; also equated rosinase; lowered blood pressure of hy- with Fomes officinalis (Vill. ex Fr.) pertensive animals when administered Lloyd. intravenously (exhibited no effect on Action  Diuretic, laxative, deob- normal animals). structant, expectorant; purgative Fungal enzyme preparations have and emetic in large doses; used in been used in digestive diseases. the treatment of night sweats in Field mushroom contains amylase, phthisis, and as a supporting drug maltase, glycogenase, protease, cata- for asthma. lase, tyrosinase, phosphomonoesteras- Aglaia roxburghiana Miq. Hiern 25 es, polyphosphatases, polyphenoloxi- Ageratum conyzoides Linn. A dase and dehydropeptidases. Family  Asteraceae, Compositae. Habitat  Throughout India, up to an altitude of , m. Agaricus ostreatus (Jacq.) Fries English  Goat Weed, White Weed. Family  Agaricaceae. Ayurvedic  Dochunty, Uchunti, Habitat  Artocarpus interifolia, Sahadevi (related sp.). indigenous to the western Ghats. Action  Anti-inflammatory, antibac- English  Oyster Mushroom (grows terial, antifungal, styptic. on Artocarpus integrifolia).  The leaf is reported to contain stig- Action Prevents excessive salivation. masterol (.%) and beta-sitosterol Also given internally in dysentery, (.%) as major component of sterol diarrhoea, stomatitis; as a paste to faction. The dried flowering plant con- gums in apthae. tains the pyrrolizidine alkaloids, lycop- samine and echinatine. An aqueous extract of leaves is re- Agave americana Linn. ported to show haemostatic activity. The plant extract exhibited muscle re- Family  Agavaceae. laxant activity experimentally. The Habitat  Native to America; grown ethanolic extract (%) of roots pos- in gardens for ornamentation. sesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.  English Century Plant, American The aqueous extract of leaves ex- Aloe. hibits antifungal and crude plant ex- Ayurvedic  Kaantala (related sp.). tract antibacterial properties. Siddha/Tamil  Alagai. Folk  Ban-Kevaraa. Aglaia roxburghiana Miq. Hiern Action  Leaf juice—used for  warts, cancerous ulcers and putrid Synonym A. elaegnoidea (A. Juss.) tumours. Leaves are also used as Benth. a resolvant in syphilis and scrofula. Milnea roxburghiana (Miq.) Wight and Arn. The leaves contain ten steroidal sa- Family  Meliaceae. ponins (six of these are spirostanolic  and four furostanolic), also hecogenin Habitat Western Ghats, tropical (.%) and piscidic acid. The seeds forests in the hills of Andhra contain steroid sapogenins including Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and hecogenin. The plant exhibits signifi- Andaman and Nicobar islands. cant antibacterial activity. Ayurvedic  Priyangu (var.) 26 Agrimonia eupatoria auct non L.

A Siddha/Tamil  Gnaazhal. (Dried and discharging skin, psoriasis and flowers of Myristica malabarica seborrhoic eczemas. Lam. are also used as Priyangu.) Key application  In mild, non- Action  Fruit—cooling (in febrile specific, acute diarrhoea and complaints), antipyretic, astringent, in inflammation of oral and antidiarrhoeal, antidysenteric, pharyngeal mucosa; as astringent. anti-inflammatory (seeds used for (German Commission E, The British painful micturition). Fruits are Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) also used for treating obstinate skin The herb contains condensed tan- diseases and tumours. nins up to %, coumarins, flavonoids Bisamide alkaloids of the leaves ex- (glucosides of luteolin, apigenin and hibit anticancer activity (by inhibiting quercetin), polysaccharides, volatile the growth of vinblastine-resistant KB oil. Luteolin -glucoside shows a chole- cells). gogic action. Aqueous extracts inhibi- ted Mycobacterium tuberculosis,also strains resistant to streptomycin and p-aminosalicylate. Essential oil is an- Agrimonia eupatoria auct non L. tibacterial, active against Bacillus sub- Synonym  A. pilosa Hook.f. non tilis. Ledeb. The ethanolic extracts of the herb A. pilosa Ledeb. var. nepalensis (D. are used for their antiviral proper- Don) Nakai ties. (Natural Medicines Comprehen- sive Database, .) Family  Rosacae. Coumarins interact with anticoagu- Habitat  The Himalayas from lants, and drugs that increase the risk Kashmir to West Bengal at – of bleeding Furanocoumarin content , m, and in Arunachal Pradesh, increase photosensitivity. (Sharon M. Nagaland and Meghalaya. Herr.) English  Agrimony, Stickle Wort. Unani  Ghaafis. Agropyron repens Beauv. Folk  Belu.  Action  Astringent, anti- Synonym Triticum repens L. inflammatory, hepatic, cholagogue, Family  Gramineae; Poaceae. diuretic, mild haemostatic, an- Habitat  The western Himalayas and tibacterial. Used for irritations and Kashmir at altitudes between , infections of the intestinal tract, and , m. gallbladder diseases, hyperacidity,  colic, urinary disorders (bed- English Couch grass, dog grass, wetting, incontinence), sluggish wheat grass. liver, mucus membrane inflam- Action  Demulcent (used in mations; externally for ulcerated cystitis, nephritis), aperient, Ailanthus glandulosa Desf. 27

diuretic and urinary antiseptic, Action  Bark—bitter, astringent, A anticholesterolaemic. febrifuge, anthelminitic, antispas- Key application  In irrigation modic, expectorant (used in asthma, therapy for inflammatory diseases bronchitis). Also used for dysentery of the urinary tract and for the as a substitute for Holarrhena prevention of kidney gravel. antidysenterica. (German Commission E, The British Barkandleaves—usedastonicin de- Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) It is bility, especially after childbirth. contraindicated in oedema due to Leaves—used as adulterant for Ad- cardiac or renal insufficiency. hatoda zeylanica leaves. Along with other therapeutic appli- The juice of rhizomes is used for cys- cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia titis, nephritis, scirrhous liver; decoc- of India indicates the use of stembark tion for tonsils and as an adjuvant for in high fevers and giddiness. cancer; also used for gout and rheuma- The bark contains several quassi- tism, and chronic skin disorders. noids including ailanthone derivatives. The rhizome contains triticin, a car- They exhibit antitumour activity bohydrate allied to starch, a fruc- against P- lymphocytic leukaemia tosan polysaccharide, inositol, manni- and are cytotoxic against KB test sys- tol; volatile oil up to about .%, con- tem. sisting mainly of agropyrene; vanillin glucoside; mucilage, gum, large quan- Dosage  Stembark—– g (API tities of silica; iron, minerals, vita- Vol. III.) Decoction—– ml. mins, K salt. Agropyrene is reported (CCRAS.) to have broad antibiotic properties. Ex- tracts show uric acid solvent proper- ties. Agropyrene is antifungal. Ailanthus glandulosa Desf.

Synonym  A. altissima (Mill.) Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. Swingle Family  Simaroubaceae. Family  Simaroubaceae. Habitat  Native of China and Japan. Habitat  Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Found in the hills of northern India Gujarat, Orissa and southern India. up to an altitude of , m. English  Tree of Heaven, Maharukh. English  Tree of Heaven, Ailanto. Ayurvedic  Aralu, Katvanga, Ayurvedic  Aralu (related sp.). Dirghavranta, Puutivrksha, Bhallu- Action  Bark—astringent, anti- ka. (Mahaanimba is a synonym of spasmodic, parasiticidal, narcotic, Melia azedarach Linn.) cardiac depressant (exercises power- Siddha  Perru, Perumaruttu, ful depressing influence on nervous Peruppi. system similar to that of tobacco). 28 Ailanthus malabarica DC.

A Leaves produce dermatitis; their ac- Ainsliaea aptera DC. cumulation in well-water produces chronic gastritis. Family  Compositae; Asteraceae.  Many quassinoids and ailanthone Habitat The Himalayas from derivatives are vermifuge and amoe- Kashmir to Bhutan at altitudes of bicidal. Constituents of the bark and , m, extending to Khasi hills of stem, particularly ailanthone, have an- Meghalaya. timalarial activity in vitro against Plas- Folk  KaruiBuuti(Garhwal). modium falciparum andin miceagainst Action  Powdered roots—used for P. b e r g h e i . (Alkaloids do not appear to quick relief from acute stomach have these properties.) Some quassi- ache; diuretic. noids are antineoplastic, and are re- ported to have antileukaemic proper- A related sp., A. latifolia Sch-Bip., is ties. used as an adulterant to Podophyllum The rootbark is used in traditional emodi. Chinese medicine for dysentery and leucorrhoea. In Africa, rootbark is used in epilepsy. Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth.

Family  Labiatae Lamiaceae. Ailanthus malabarica DC. Habitat  The sub-Himalayan tract, plains of Punjab and the upper Synonym  A. triphysa (Dennst.) Gangetic plain. Alston. Ayurvedic  Neelkanthi. Family  Simaroubaceae. Folk  Ratapaati (Kumaon), Khur- Habitat  The evergreen forests banti (Punjab). of western Ghats from Konkan southwards. Action  Astringent, febrifugal (given in intermittent fever), stimulant, Siddha  Perumaram. aperient, diuretic. Used for the  Folk Guggul-dhuupa. (Maharash- treatment of gout and rheumatism; tra.) also for amenorrhoea. Juice of Action  Bark—febrifuge, carmina- the leaves—blood purifier. The tive (given in typhoid, dyspepsia powder is used for burns and boils. and constipation). Oleo resin— The leaves are used in fever as used for dysentery and bronchitis. a substitute for cinchona. The bark and roots give a number An aqueous extract of the leaves of beta-carboline alkaloids. The resin- showed diuretic activity. An alkaloidal uous exudates from trunk give sever- fraction showed stimulant action on al triterpenoids, including malabaricol the perfused frog heart. The plant and malabaricanediol. exhibited anticancer activity. Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boivin 29

Alangium begoniaefolium hypoglycaemic. Fruits—acidic, A (Roxb.) Baill. astringent, laxative and refrigerant. Used in haemorrhages, strangury Synonym  A. chinense (Lour.) and consumption. The bark is Harms. used as a substitute for Cephaelis Family  Alangiaceae. ipecacuanha.Itisarichsource of alkaloids structurally related to Habitat  The plains and foothills, up to an altitude of , m. ipecac alkaloids (emetin). Ayurvedic  Ankola (related sp.). The bark contains the alkaloid alan- Folk  Akhani. gine which shows a selective action of the parasympathetic mechanism, the Action  Bark and roots—sedative, action being more marked on gastro- anthelmintic. intestinal tract. The root extract shows A triterpenoid was responsible for hypotensive action. Flowers contain the sedative effect on motor activity of deoxytubulosine, a potent antiplatelet rat brain. aggregation component, which has Chloroform extract of the drug, astrongbindingwithDNA. which was devoid of anabasine, ex- The plant extract possesses antineo- hibited prominent sedative effect in plastic properties. rat. It significantly decreased concen-  tration of norepinephrine in cortex, Dosage Rootbark—– g powder. of dopamine and serotonin (-HT) in (CCRAS.) brain stem, but increased concentra- tion of -HT in cortex. Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boivin  Alangium lamarckii Thw. Family Mimosaceae. Habitat  Throughout southern India Synonym  A. salviifolium (Linn. f.) in dry forests, up to  m, and in Wang. some parts of Madhya Pradesh. Family  Alangiaceae. Ayurvedic  Shirish (bark—grey or  Habitat The drier parts of India, greenish). in plains and foothills of southern  India. Siddha/Tamil Thuringil.  Ayurvedic  Ankola, Ankota, Action Leaf and flower—anti- Taamraphala, Guptasneha, Dirgha- inflammatory, used for boils and keelaka. ulcers. Leaf—used for erysipelas. Seeds—astringent, antidiarrhoeal, Siddha/Tamil  Azinjil. antibacterial. Action  Rootbark—astringent, spasmolytic, hypotensive, also dia- The seed extract showed DNA bind- phoretic and antipyretic. Leaves— ing activity, which has been found to 30 Albizia lebbeck (Linn.) Willd.

A be due to pithecolibine alkaloids, bud- Along with other therapeutic appli- munchiamines. Budmunchiamines cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia are antibacterial, and they inhibit pla- of India indicates the use of stembark telet aggregation and human lympho- in rhinitis, sinusitis and migraine. cyte transformation. They also show Analysis of the plant revealed the anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activ- presence of flavonoids, triterpenoids ity. and triterpenoid saponins; oleano- The leaves contain prodelphinidins, lic acid, albigenic acid, albigenin and myricitrin, hyperin, quercitrin, trans- acacic acid. The bark contains –% p-coumaric acid, cis-p-coumaric acid condensed tannin; also d-catechin and and trans-ferulic acid. d-leucocyanidin. The seeds contain echinocystic acid Aqueous extract of the bark de- and taxifolin--O-beta-D xylopyrano- creased histamine-induced broncho- syl-beta-D-arbinopyranoside. spasm in guinea pigs. The oil from the seeds is said to cure Alcoholic extract of stembark con- leprosy and leucoderma. tains cardenolide glycosides of digitox- in nature. It showed antidermatophyt- ic activity. Anthraquinone glycosides and its aglycone exhibited antibacteri- Albizia lebbeck (Linn.) Willd. al activity. Family  Mimosaceae. A saponin from seeds exhibited spermicidal activity in animals. EtOH Habitat  All over India, from the (%) extract of pods was found to plains up to  m in the Himalayas; be spermicidal against rat and human also in the Andamans. spermatozoa at % concentration. English  Siris tree, East Indian The therapeutic properties of Albizia walnut. julibrissin Durazz, Pink Siris, found in the outer Himalayas from the Indus  Ayurvedic Shirisha, Bhandi, eastwards to Sikkim, are the same as Bhandila, Shitapushpa, Mridu- those of A. lebbeck. pushpa, Kapitana (bark—dusty black). Dosage  Stembark—– g powder. Unani  Siras. – g for decoction. (API Vol. III.) Siddha/Tamil  Vaagei. Action  Antiseptic, antibacteri- al, antiallergic, antidermatosis, Albizia procera Benth. antidysenteric. Bark—used in bron- chitis; bark and seeds in piles; root Family  Mimosaceae. in hemicrania; flowers in cough, Habitat  All over India. bronchitis, tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, and asthma. Pod— Ayurvedic  Shveta Shirisha (bark— antiprotozoal. white or greenish-white). Alhagi pseudalhagi (Bieb.) Desv. 31

 Action Bark—a decoction is given Alhagi pseudalhagi (Bieb.) Desv. A in rheumatism and haemorrhage. Synonym  A. camelorum Fisch. ex The bark contains beta-sitosterol DC. and yields –% tannins. A. maurorum Medic. An oleanolic acid saponin, proceric  acid saponin mixture from seeds and Family Papilionaceae; Fabaceae. root saponin exhibit spermicidal activ- Habitat  The drier parts of Rajasthan, ity. Gujarat, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. English  Camel Thorn, Persian Manna Plant. Aleurities moluccana Ayurvedic  Yavaasaka, Yavaasa, (Linn.) Willd. Yaasa, Duhsparshaa, Duraalab- haa, Kunaashak. Substitute for Synonym  A. triloba J. R. and G. Dhanvayaasa. Yaasa-sharkaraa Forst. (Alhagi-manna). Family  Euphorbiaceae. Unani  Jawaansaa. Turanjabeen Habitat  Native to China; now (Alhagi-manna). mostlygrownontheteaestatesof Siddha/Tamil  Punaikanjuri, Kan- Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh, chori. and also in Assam and Bengal to provide shade for tea bushes. Action  Laxative, antibilious,  diuretic, diaphoretic, expectorant. English Candlenut tree. Leaves—used for fever, headache, Ayurvedic  Akshota, Jangali rheumatism. Flowers—blood Akharot. coagulant, used for piles. Alhagi- manna—expectorant, antiemetic, Siddha/Tamil  Naatuakrottu. laxative. Action  Oil from seeds—purgative; employed externally in rheumatism; Along with other therapeutic appli- ulcers; also as a hair tonic. Leaves— cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia applied in acute rheumatism. of India indicates the use of dried whole Fruit—carminative and expecto- plantingoutandhaemorrhagicdis- rant. Bark and flowers—used for orders. asthma. The aerial parts contain flavonoids, tannins, sterols, triterpenes, saponins Aleurites fordii Hemsl., Tung Oil and anthroquinones. tree, native to China, is also equated The proanthocyanidins derived with Jangali Akharot. from the plant possess hypolipidemic The tree was introduced on the tea and antiatherosclerotic properties. The estates of Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Coorg compounds prevented an increase in and Mysore. rat serum cholesterol and triglycerides, 32 Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch.

A and they decreased the manifestation Allemanda cathartica Linn. of atherosclerosis. A polymeric proanthocyanidin, ex- Family  Apocynaceae. tracted from the plant, improved ener- Habitat  Native to Central America gy metabolism and increased the work and Brazil. Grown in Indian capacity in rats. gardens. Ethanolic extract of the aerial parts produced positive inotropic effect on English  Golden Trumpet. rabbit heart. Folk  Zahari Sontakkaa. (Maha- Dosage  Whole plant—– g rashtra). for decoction. (API Vol. II.) Action  Leaves—cathartic (in Decoction—– ml. (CCRAS.) moderate doses; emetic in large doses). Bark—hydragogue, in ascites. Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch. The purgative property of the aque- Family  Boraginaceae. ous extract of leaves was confirmed pharmacologically in rats. The extract Habitat  Cultivated in Central and southern Europe. also showed antifungal activity against ringworm causing fungi. Flower ex- English  Alkanet, Dyers’ or Spanish tract inhibits fungal growth. Bugloss. EtOH extract of roots showed in- Unani  Ratanjot. National Formulary vivo activity against P- leukaemia of Unani Medicine equated Ratanjot in mouse and in vitro against human with Onosma echioides Linn., found carcinoma cells of nasopharynx (KB). in Kashmir and Kumaon. The root contains antileukaemic iri- doid lactone, allamandin and two other  Siddha/Tamil Ratthapaalai, Surul- iridoids, allamandicin and allamdin. pattai, Dineshavalli. The stems and leaves contain beta- Action  Astringent, antimicrobial amyrin, beta-sitosterol and ursolic (used for indolent ulcers, wounds, acid. Petals gave flavonoids—kaem- erysipelas). pferol and quercetin.

The root contains up to % alkan- nins, which are lipophilic isohexenyl- naphthazarin red pigments; tannins Allium ascalonicum Linn. and wax. A pyrrolizidine (hepatotox- ic) alkaloid has also been isolated from Fam  Liliaceae; Alliaceae. the herb. The alkannins have antimi- Habitat  Native to Palestine; crobial and wound-healing properties cultivated in India. and are non-toxic in mice. They have been used clinically for indolent ulcers. English  Shellot. Allium cepa Linn. 33

Ayurvedic  Grnjana. spasmodic, diuretic, hypotensive, A antidiabetic. Unani  Gandanaa, Ek-daanaa Lehsun, Ek-potia Lehsum. (Also Key application  For the preven- equated with Asphodelus tenuifolius tion of atherosclerosis (German Cav.) Commission E) and age-dependent changes in the blood vessels, and Action  Anticoagulant, fibrinolytic, loss of appetite (WHO). hypocholesterolaemic. The official onion bulb of the Phar- The aqueous extract of the bulbs macopoeia of the People’s Republic of contains mainly fructose (%), be- China is a different species, Allium sides glucose, arabinose, galactose, macrostemon Bge., than that of the mannose, rhamnose, glucosamine and German Commission E monographs, uronic acid. It also contains lysine, glu- A. cepa. Chinese onion is used for tamic acid and aspartic acid. It shows cough, dyspnoea, angina pectoris and significant activity against P- lym- dysentery. phocytic leukaemia in mice. Scallions or Spring Onion of Chi- In experiments on rabbits, the alco- nese medicine are equated with Allium holic extracts of the bulb showed sig- fistulosum. nificant anticoagulant, fibrinolytic and Onion bulbs contain a volatile oil hypocholesterolaemic properties. with sulphurous constituents, includ- ing allylpropyldisulphide; sulphur- containing compounds, including al- Allium cepa Linn. licin, alliin; flavonoids; phenolic acids and sterols. Family  Liliaceae; Alliaceae. Hypoglycaemic activity of the onion is attributed to the allylpropyldisul- Habitat  Cultivated as an annual phide and allicin. Diphenylamine, iso- all over the country. The most lated from mature bulbs, also exhibits important onion-growing states are potent antihyperglycaemic activity. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Alliin and allicin have an inhibito- Pradesh., Karnataka and Madhya ry effect on platelet aggregation. An- Pradesh. tibiotic activity is due mainly to alli- English  Onion. cin. Regular use of onion ( g/day) re- Ayurvedic  Palaandu, Durgandh. duces insulin requirement of a diabetic Unani  Piyaaz. patientfromtounitsaday. Siddha/Tamil  Venkaayam. Thiosulphinates, isolated from on- ion juice, exhibited antiasthmatic acti- Action  Antibiotic, antibacteri- vity in vivo. al, antisclerotic, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antiasthmatic, Dosage  Juice of bulb—– ml. expectorant, carminative, anti- (CCRAS.) 34 Allium macleanii Baker.

 A Allium macleanii Baker. English Garlic. Ayurvedic  Lashuna, Rasona, Family  Liliaceae, Alliaceae. Yavaneshta, Ugragandha, Ma- Habitat  Native to Afghanistan. haushadh, Arishta. (A bulbous plant related to onion.) Unani  Seer, Lahsun. English  Oriental Royal Salep. Siddha/Tamil  Ullippoondu, Vellaip- Unani  Baadshaahi Saalab. pondu.  Action Anabolic and gastrointesti- Action  Antibiotic, bacteriostatic, nal tonic. fungicide, anthelmintic, antithrom- bic, hypotensive, hypoglycaemic, hypocholesterolaemic. Also used Allium porrum Linn. for upper respiratory tract infections and catarrhal conditions. Synonym  A. ameloprasum  Hook. f. non Linn. Key application As a supportive to  dietary measures for elevated levels Family Liliaceae, Alliaceae. of lipids in blood; as a preventive Habitat  Native to the Mediterranean measure for age-dependent vascular region; cultivated in India. changes. (German Commission E, English  Leek. ESCOP, WHO, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) Also as an Folk  Vilaayati Piyaaz. Praan antimicrobial. (The British Herbal (Kashmir). Seemevangayam (Tamil Pharmacopoeia). Garlic has been Nadu). shown to be effective in respiratory Action  Expectorant; used as infections and catarrhal conditions. a substitute for garlic. (The British Herbal Compendium.) Leek is poor in volatile oil content in The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of In- comparison with garlic, but it contains dia indicates the use of the bulb as sufficient amounts of non-toxic sapo- a brain tonic in epilepsy and psychic nins, which perhaps give it expectorant disorders. properties. Heavy consumption of garlic pri- The bulbs contain several thiosul- or to surgery led to increased clotting phinates, and also potentially anticar- time or reduced platelet aggregation cinogenic flavonoids, quercetin and (in human case reports). Garlic tablets kaempferol. atadoseofmgtwicedailyfor  weeks reduced platelet aggregation % compared with placebo in  pa- Allium sativum Linn. tients (in human clinical study). (Fran- cis Brinker.)  Family Liliaceae, Alliaceae. Garlic cloves are high in sulphur- Habitat  Native to Central Asia. containing amino acids known as al- Cultivated all over India. liin (no taste, no smell, no medicinal Alocasia indica (Lour.) Spach. 35 action). With crushingorchewingalli- The aerial parts (chives) gave alliins A in comes into contact with the enzyme (alkylcysteine sulfoxides), particularly alliinase. Alliinase, in less than  s, methyl alliin and pentylalliin. transforms alliin into allicin (strong- Allium tuberosum Rottl. ex Spreng, ly medicinal), which breaks down into found in eastern India and western a number of sulphur compounds in- Himalayas, is equated with Chinese cluding ajoene, vinyldithin and diallyl Chives. It is available in Meghalaya. disulfide, and trisulfide. The antibiotic effect is attributed to allicin; hypogly- caemic effect to allicin and allylpro- phyldisulphide (also to S-allyl cysteine Alocasia indica (Lour.) Spach. sulfoxide); anticarcinogenic activity to Synonym  A. macrorrhiza (Linn.) diallyl monosulfide; platelet aggrega- G. Don tion inhibitory effect to diallyl-di- and tri-sulphides. Ajoene inactivated hu- Family  Araceae. man gastric lipase, which is involved Habitat  AgenusoftopicalAsia, in digestion and absorption of dietary Malayasia and the Pacific. Found fats. wild and cultivated all over India. Diallyltetra, penta-, hexa- and hep- tasulphides are potential antioxidants. English  Giant Taro. Allium leptophyllum Wall. is equated Ayurvedic  Maanaka, Maana, with Vana Lashuna, Jangali Lahsun. Maankanda, Kasaalu, Hastikarni. Dosage  Bulb— g (API Vol. III.) Siddha/Tamil  Merukan kizhangu. Action  Rootstock—mild laxative, diuretic (in anasarca); used in inflammations and diseases of Allium schoenoprasum Linn. abdomen and spleen. Leaf—astrin- Family  Liliaceae, Alliaceae. gent,styptic,antitumour.Rootand leaf—rubefacient. Tubers—used as Habitat  Native to temperate vegetable after eliminating oxalate northern Europe and the U.S.; content. distributedin thewestern Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon at All parts of the plant, except tu- altitudes of ,–, m. bers, contain cyanogenic principle,  a mixture of triglochinin and iso- English Chives. triglochinin. The tubers contain sterols Action  Used in place of young and high concentration of soluble oxa- onions. lates (prolonged use may lead to cal- cium deficiency and oxaluria.) The An alcoholic extract of the bulbs tubers contain a trypsin/chymotrypsin exhibited hypotensive and cardiac de- inhibitor. The plant contains HCN pressant activity. (.%). It is found to be mitogenic 36 Aloe barbadensis Mill.

A to human peripheral blood lympho- The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of cytes. India recommends the use of dried juice of leaves in dysmenorrhoea  Dosage Tuber—– g powder. and diseases of the liver. (CCRAS.) Aloe vera improved the hypogly- caemic effect of glyburide (gliben- Aloe barbadensis Mill. clamide) when one tablespoonful aloe juice was given orally in the morning  Synonym A. vera Tourn. ex Linn. and at bedtime to  diabetic patients A. indica Royle for  days. The juice (same dose) A. littoralis Koening showed antihyperglycaemic activity Family  Liliaceae; Agavaceae. (independently). (Francis Brinker.) Anthraquinone glycosides, known Habitat  Cultivated throughout as aloin, in small doses act as a tonic India, wildon coastsof Maharashtra, to the digestive system, and at high- Gujarat and South India. er doses become a strong purgative, as English  Curacao Aloe, Barbados well as increase colonic secretions and Aloe, Indian Aloe, Jaffarabad Aloe. peristaltic contractions. Resin fraction Ayurvedic  Kanyaasaara, Eleyaka is also as important as aloin in cathar- (dried juice of the leaves). Kumaari, tic action. In A. barbadensis the highest Kumaarikaa, Kanyaa, Grihkanyaa, percentage of aloin is .%. Ghritkumaarika (plant). Aloe produces pelvic congestion and is used for uterine disorders, generally Unani  Gheekwaar, Sibr. with Fe and carminatives. The pulp is Siddha/Tamil  Sotru Kattraazhai, used in menstrual suppressions. Kumaari. Moosaambaram (dried A molecule in the Aloe vera gel, ace- juice). mannan, stimulates macrophages and Folk  Elwaa, Musabbar (dried juice releases immune system potentiators; of leaves). enhances function of T cells and in- terferon production. Animal studies  Action Purgative (causes griping), have shown promising results in sar- emmenagogue. Gel—topically coma. emollient, anti-inflammatory, The carboxypeptidase and salicylate antimicrobial (used for wound components of Aloe gel can inhibit healing, sunburn). bradykinin, a pain-producing agent; Key application  In occasional C-glycosyl chromone appears to re- constipation; contraindicated duce topical inflammation. Aloe gel in intestinal obstruction and also slows or inhibits the synthesis acutely inflamed intestinal diseases, of thromboxane, which may accel- ulcerative colitis, appendicitis. erate the healing of burns. (Natu- (German Commission E, ESCOP, ral Medicines Comprehensive Database, WHO.) .) Alpinia officinarum Hance 37

Dosage  Leaf pulp juice—– ml. a significant gain in the weight of sexual A (CCRAS.) Dried leaf pulp juice— organs and increased sperm motility – mg powder. (API Vol. I.) and sperm count. Plants used as Raasnaa in Indian medicine: Alpinia galanga Willd. (Zin- Alpinia galanga Willd. giberaceae)insouthernIndia;Pluchea lanceolata C. B. Clarke (Compositae; Family  Zingiberaceae. Asteraceae)inUttarPradesh; Van- Habitat  The Himalayas and da roxburghii R. Br. (Orchidaceae)in southern region of western Ghats. eastern Uttar Pradesh and West Ben- gal; Blepharispermum subsessile DC. English  Greater Galangal. (Compositae; Asteraceae)inMadhya  Ayurvedic Kulanjana, Sthuula- Pradesh; and Dodonaea viscosa (Linn.) granthi, Sugandhaa, Ugragandhaa, Jacq. (Sapindaceae)inAndhraPradesh. Malaya Vachaa, Mahaabhari- Vachaa. Substitute for Raasnaa Dosage  Rhizome—– g powder. (Pluchea lanceolata). Decoction—– ml. (CCRAS.) Unani  Khulanjaan. Siddha/Tamil  Perarattai. Alpinia malaccensis Rosc. Action  Rhizome—carminative (in dyspepsia), stomachic, circulatory Family  Zingiberaceae. stimulant, diaphoretic, anti- Habitat  Eastern Himalayas, Assam, inflammatory. Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, up to Throughout southern India, the rhi- , m, and western Ghats of zome of Alpinia galanga is used as Kerala. Raasnaa for rheumatism, intermittent Folk  Saliyeridumpa (Tamil). fever, dyspepsia and respiratory ail- Action  Rhizome—employed to ments. (In the north, Vanda tessellata cure sores. Fruits—emetic (used or Pluchea lanceolata is used as Raas- with salt). naa.) EtOHextractoftheplantshows The rhizomes yield essential oil con- anti-inflammatoryactivity. Theethano- sisting of methyl cinnamate as chief lic extract also showed significant anti- constituent. ulcer activity in rats, which has been attributed to the antisecretory and cy- toprotective properties of the plant. Alpinia officinarum Hance Major constituents of the essential Family  Zingiberaceae. oil are methyl cinnamate, cineole and  d-pinene. In moderate doses, the oil Habitat Native to China; cultivated exhibits antispasmodic action. in northern India. Unani physicians use A. galanga as English  Lesser Galangal, Alpinia, a sex tonic. In mice, the drug caused Catarrh Root, Chinese Ginger. 38 Alpinia speciosa (Wendl.) K.Schum.

A Ayurvedic  Kulanjan (var.). Siddha/Tamil  Chitraraththai. Unani  Khulanjaan (smaller var.). Action  Rhizomes are used as Siddha/Tamil  Chitrarattai. a substitute for A. galanga and  even for ginger; antiulcerative, Action Rhizome—a circulatory spasmolytic. stimulant and carminative. Key application  As a carminative. The leaves and rhizomes yield an (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) essential oil which contains alpha-and beta-pinene, borneol, campene and ci- Aqueous and methanolic extracts of neole as major constituents. the rhizome, on oral administration, exhibited significant decrease in gastric secretioninrabbitsandshowedan- ticholinergic effect in pylorus-ligated Alstonia scholaris R. Br. rats. Family  Apocynaceae. Flavones from rhizomes are strong- ly antifungal against a wide variety Habitat  Throughout moist regions of pathogenic fungi, responsible for of India, especially in West Bengal major skin diseases in eastern India. and west-coast forests of southern Flavones were also found to be active India. against a number of Gram-positive and English  Devil’s tree, Dita Bark tree. Gram-negative bacteria.  The gingerols and diaryheptanoids Ayurvedic Saptaparna, Sapta- constituents of the rhizome are potent chhada, Saptaparni, Saptaahvaa, inhibitors of PG synthetase (prosta- Vishaaltvak, Shaarada, Visham- glandin biosynthesizing enzyme); they chhada. can also be active against -lipoxyge- Unani  Chhaatim, Kaasim (Kaasim nase, an enzyme involved in leuko- Roomi, Anjudaan Roomi is equated triene biosynthesis. (Natural Medicines with Myrrhis odorata Scope.) Comprehensive Database, .) Siddha/Tamil  Ezhilamippalai, Mukkampalai. Folk  Chhitavan, Sataunaa. Alpinia speciosa (Wendl.) K.Schum. Action  Bark—febrifuge, antiperi- odic, spasmolytic, antidysenteric,  Synonym A. Zerumbet Burtt and uterine stimulant, hypotensive; used R.M. Smith for internal fevers. Family  Zingiberaceae. Along with other therapeutic appli-  Habitat Native to East Indies. cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Occurs in the eastern Himalayas of India indicates the use of stembark from West Bengal eastwards. in phosphaturia and recommends it as English  Light Galangal. a blood purifier. Alternanthera sessilis (Linn.) R. Br. ex DC. 39

Alstonia sp. is known as Fever Bark. major alkaloid, shows monoamine A A. constricta is native to Australia; oxidase-inhibitory activity both in vit- A. scholaris to Australia and South- ro and in vivo. east Asia. The bark of both the species contains indole alkaloids. A. constric- ta contains reserpine (a hyptotensive Alternanthera sessilis agent). A. scholaris contains echita- (Linn.) R. Br. ex DC. mine, which has also demonstrated  hypotensive effects. Though A. schol- Synonym A. triandra Lam. aris produces fall in the temperature A. denticulata R. Br. of human patients with fever, there A. repens Gmel. Non-Link. are conflicting reports about the activ- Family  Amaranthaceae. ity of echitamine against Plasmodium Habitat  Throughout the hotter berghei. parts of India, especially around Dosage  Stembark—– g for tanks and ponds. decoction. (API Vol. I.) Ayurvedic  Matsyaakshi, Matsyaak- shika(amultimeaningname, also indicating Braahmi, Ain- Alstonia venenata R. Br. dri), Matsyagandhaa, Matsyaa- dini, Minaakshi, Bahli, Gandali, Family  Apocynaceae. Gartkalambukaa, Vaahlikaa.  Habitat Peninsular India. Unani  Machhechhi.  Folk Pazh-munipala (Tamil), Siddha/Tamil  Ponnonkanni keerai. Addasarpa (Kannada), Palamunpala Folk  Gudari Saag. (Malyalam). Action  Febrifuge, galactagogue, Action  Stembark and fruit— cholagogue. antiepileptic. Along with other therapeutic appli- The plant is a rich source of indole cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia alkaloids. Major alkaloids in the stem- of India indicates the use of dried whole bark are alstovenine, venenatine, - plant in diseases due to vitiated blood dehydroalstovenine, reserpine (.– and obstinate skin diseases. .%), venoxidine and kopsinine. Young shoots contain protein % Alstovenine, in lower doses, exhibits and iron . mg/ g. Leaves also monoamine oxidase inhibitor activity; contain a good amount of alpha- and in higher doses, shows marked central beta-tocopherols. stimulant effect (reversal of reserpine The plant gave stigmasterol, beta- effects). Venenatine exhibits reserpine- sitosterol, a saturated aliphatic hydro- like profile of activity (sedation, ptosis, carbon and aliphatic ester. reduction in motor activity). The fruit contains vincadifformine Dosage  Whole plant—– g type of alkaloids. Echitovenidine, the powder. (API Vol. II.) 40 Althaea officinalis Linn.

A Althaea officinalis Linn. kaempferol, quercetin and diosmetin glucosides. Polyphenolic acids include Family  Malvaceae. syringic, caffeic, salcyclic, vanillic and Habitat  Native to eastern Europe; p-coumaric acids. found in Kashmir and Himachal The mucilages have proven biologi- Pradesh. cal activity including stimulation of phagocytosis in vitro.  English Marshmallow, Hollyhock. The root counters excess stomach Unani  Khatmi, Gul-Khairu (also acid, peptic ulceration and gastritis. equated with Althaea rosea Linn.). Siddha/Tamil  Shemai-tutti. Altingia excelsa Noronha Action  Demulcent, emollient, antitussive (used for cough, Family  Altingiaceae. bronchitis, gastritis, enteritis and Habitat  Assam and Arunachal cystitis), antilithic, diuretic. Pradesh.  Key application (leaf and root) In English  Storax, Oriental Sweet irritation of the oral and pharyngeal Gum. mucosa and associated dry cough; Ayurvedic  Shilaarasa, Turushka, in mild inflammation of the gastric Silhaka (substitute for Liquidamber mucosa. (German Commission E, orientalis, Hamamelidaceae). ESCOP.) As demulcent. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) Siddha/Tamil  Neriyurishippal. In gastroenteritis, peptic and Action  Resin—carminative, stom- duodenal ulceration, common achic, antiscorbutic expectorant, and ulcerative colitis. (The British antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti- Herbal Compendium.) Topically stress, hepatoprotective. Externally for varicose veins, skin ulcers, used in scabies and leucoderma. abscesses, cuts, burns. The ethyl acetate extract of the root Althaea rosea (L.) Cav., synonym Al- of A. excelsa was studied for antistress cea rosea L., Hollyhock flower, is used effect in a variety of biological models as mucilage for prophylaxis and ther- of stress; also in stress-induced ulcers apy of diseases and discomforts of the and CCl-induced hepatotoxicity. An- respiratory and gastrointestinal tract tistress was the most significant phar- and for urinary complaints. (It is in- macological property of the Storax. cluded among unapproved herbs by German Commission E.) The root contains starch, mucilage, Amanita muscaria Linn. pectin, flavonoids, phenolic acids, su-  crose, tannins and asparagines. Muci- Family Agaricaceae; Amanitaceae. lage (–%) consists of a number of English  Fly Agaric (mushroom), polysaccharides. Flavonoids include Aga, Soma. Amaranthus spinosus Linn. 41

 Ayurvedic Identified as Soma of Amaranthus caudatus Linn. A Rigveda (controversial). (Sushruta described  varieties of Soma and Family  Amaranthaceae.  other drugs as its substitutes.) Habitat  Grown as vegetable in Intensely poisonous; used for northern India. intoxication. English  Love-Lies-Bleeding, Tassel The fungus has been used in Russia Flower. for preparing an intoxicating drink. Ayurvedic  Raam-daanaa (grain). Toxic principles arecholine, mus- carine and mycetoatropine (muscari- Siddha/Tamil  Pungikeerai, Siru- dine). Muscarine stimulates postgan- keerai. glionic, cholinergic and neuroeffector Folk  Chuko. junctions. The isoxazole constituents Action  Blood-purifier, diuretic; are psychoactive. used in piles, strangury, dropsy – Fly Agaric (more than  g fresh) and anasarca; tea has been used are toxic;  (more than  g fresh) are for relieving pulmonary conditions; lethal. (Francis Brinker.) also given in scrofula and applied A. pantherina is used in Japan for to scrofulous sores. Antimicrobial intoxication. peptides have been isolated from Agaisnotatruehallucinogen.The seeds. illusions are a misinterpretation of sen- sory stimuli due to isoxazole, ibotenic In Western herbal medicine, Love- acid, muscimol, muscazone and traces Lies-Bleeding is equated with Amaran- of muscarine. (Natural Medicines thus hypochondriacus,andisusedfor Comprehensive Database, .) ulcers, diarrhoea, as well as inflamma- tion of the mouth and throat. Preliminary evidence suggests that Amaranthus blitum Linn. var. Amaranth seed can reduce total choles- oleraceus Duthie terol and LDL, while increasing HDL, but Amaranth muffins failed to re-  Family Amaranthaceae. duce cholesterol levels in hypercholes- Habitat  Throughout India. terolemic adults beyond the reduc- English  Trailing Amaranth, Wild tion achieved by low-fat diet. (Natu- Blite. ral Medicines Comprehensive Database, .) Ayurvedic  Maarisha. Siddha/Tamil  Aarumathathandu, Kiraitandu. Amaranthus spinosus Linn. Folk  Marasaa.  Action  Cooling, stomachic, Family Amaranthaceae. emollient. Used in biliousness, Habitat  Cultivated fields, waste haemorrhagic diathesis. places and along roadsides. 42 Amaranthus tricolor Linn.

A English  Spiny Amaranth, Thorny Folk  Laal Shaak, Laal Marashaa. Amaranth, Spiny Pigweed. Action  Astringent (in menorrhagia, Ayurvedic  Tanduliya, Tandulaka, leucorrhoea, dysentery, diarrhoea, Meghnaad, Megharava, Vishaghn, haemorrhagic colitis); also used in Alpamaarish. cough, bronchitis and consumption; externally emollient. Siddha/Tamil  Mullukkeerai. Folk  Katili-chaulai. The plant contains amarantin, isoa- marantin, betaine, amino acids, sterols. Action  Galactogenic, laxative, emollient, spasmolytic, diuretic. Dosage  Leaf, seed, root—– ml Pollen extract—used for allergic juice. (API Vol. III.) Powder—– asthma and allergic rhinitis. Root— g.(CCRAS.) used in menorrhoea. Plant contains sterols. Leaves and stems contain alpha-spinasterol and Amberboa divaricata Kuntze hentriacontane. Leaves also contain  amino acids with high content of ly- Synonym Volutarella divaricata sine. Benth. and Hook. F. Family  Compositae; Asteraceae. Dosage  Whole plant—– ml  juice; – mg powder. Habitat Distributed in the Mediter- (CCRAS.) ranean region, extending to Central Asia and India. Ayurvedic  Brahmadandi (Tri- cholepis glaberrima DC. of the Amaranthus tricolor Linn. same family is also equated with Synonym  A. gangeticus Linn. Brahmadandi.) A. melancholicus Linn. Unani  Baadaavard. A. polygamus Linn. Hook. f. in part.  A. tristis Linn. Action Deobstruent, aperient, febrifuge, nervine (used in debility),  Family Amaranthaceae. antiseptic (used in leucoderma). Habitat  Cultivated throughout India. English  Chinese Spinach, Garden Ammannia baccifera Linn. Amaranth, Fountain Plant. Family  Lythraceae. Ayurvedic  Maarisha-rakta (red  var.). Habitat Marshy areas throughout India, as a weed. Siddha/Tamil  Arai-keerai, Siru-  keerai, Thandu-keerai, Mulakkerai English Blistering Ammannia. (Tamil). Ayurvedic  Agnipatri. Ammi visnaga (Linn.) Lam 43

 Folk Daadmaari. (Also known as Ammi visnaga (Linn.) Lam A Paashaanabheda.) Synonym  Daucus visnaga Linn.  Action Stomachic, laxative, Visnaga daucoides Gaertn. antirheumatic, febrifuge. Leaves—  used externally for ringworm, Family Umbelliferae; Apiaceae. herpic eruptions and other skin Habitat  Cultivated as a garden diseases; rubefacient. ornamental; runs wild at many places in Jammu region. Leaves contain lawsone. Plant ex-  tract—antibacterial. Extracts of stem, English Khella. leaf and inflorescence are more effec- Folk  Paashaanabhedi (controversial; tive as compared with the seed and root Bergenia ligulata has been equated extract. with the classical Paashaanabheda). Action  Antispasmodic in renal colic, bronchial asthma, whooping Ammi majus Linn. cough (used by Unani physicians), vasodilator (in angina pectoris).  Family Umbelliferae; Apiaceae. Key application  German Habitat  Cultivated in Jammu and Commission E approved the Himachal Pradesh. herb on  March , but due to information on potential risks, its English  Biship’s Weed-Amee, status was changed to unapproved Greater Ammi. on  April .  Unani Itarilaal, Khalah. Khella contains khellin (%), vis- Action  Source of xanthotoxin, nagin, khellol glycoside, flavonoids, a drug employed in the treatment of sterols, volatile oil (.%). Khellin and leucoderma. Dried fruit powder or visnagin exert a powerful antispas- extractoftheplantisusedtopically modic effect on the smaller bronchial in vitiligo. muscles, the coronary arteries and on the urinary tubules. Khellin provides The fruits contain ammoidin (xan- relief to asthmatic patients. The drug thotoxin), ammidin (imperatorin) and also relieves painful spasm of stone in majudin (bergapten). All the three kidney and bladder (no more used for compounds are used in leucoderma. expelling kidney stones). Maximum xanthotoxin content (%) is Khella does not reduce blood pres- found in green fruits from Jammu. sure in spite of being a vasodilator. The -MOP, methoxypsoralen con- Khellin is toxic at  mg. (Francis stituent of the weed is one of the first Brinker.) agents used along with UVA radiation Khella is used topically for vitili- to treat psoriasis. (Natural Medicines go and psoriasis. The Khellin con- Comprehensive Database, .) stituent is similar to the psoralen nucle- 44 Amomum aromaticum Roxb.

A us and might be useful as a photosensi- Unani  Heel Kalaan, Qaaqule tizer in patients with psoriasis. (Natu- Kubaar. ral Medicines Comprehensive Database, Siddha/Tamil  Peria Elam, Kattu .) Elam, Beraelam. (Several modern drugs including amiodarone, nifedipine and cromolyn Action  Stomachic, antiemetic, an- have been developed from Khella.) tibilious, astringent, alexipharmic; used for the treatment of indi- gestion, biliousness, abdominal pains, vomiting, in congestion of Amomum aromaticum Roxb. liver. Pericarp—in headache and Family  Zingiberaceae. stomatitis. Habitat  North Bengal and Assam. The seeds contain a chalcone (carda- English  Bengal Cardamom, monin), a flavonoid (alpinetin), petu- Cardamom. nidin-, -diglucoside and leucocyani-  din glucocide; also a aurone glycoside Ayurvedic Sthula-elaa (var.) subulin. The essential oil (.%) con- Siddha/Tamil  Perelam. tains cineole. Folk  Morang-elaaichi. Dosage  Seed–– g powder. Action  Similar to that of A. subula- (CCRAS.) tum. The seeds yield on essential oil (.– .%) containing cineole as the princi- Amoora cucullata Roxb. pal constituent.  Chinese practitioners avoid the use Family Meliaceae. of cardamom in conditions marked by Habitat  Coastal forests of West symptoms of excessive heat. Bengal and Andaman Islands. Folk  Amur, Latmi, Natmi (Bengal). Action  Leaf—anti-inflammatory. Amomum subulatum Roxb.

Family  Zingiberaceae. Habitat  Cultivated in swampy Amphicome emodi Lindl. places in Bengal, Sikkim, Assam Family  Bignoniaceae. and Tamil Nadu. Habitat  Temperate Himalaya from English  Greater or Nepal Car- Kashmir to Kumaon at – m. damom. Folk  Ayurvedic  Sthula-elaa, Bhadraa, Kaur (Kashmir). Bhadrailaa, Bahulaa, Prithivikaa, Action  Plant—febrifuge; used as Triputaa, Truti. a substitute for Swertia chirayita. Amygdalus persica Linn. 45

An iridoid glycoside named amph- Amorphophallus sylvatius Kunth. is A icoside is reported from the plant. equated with the wild var. of Suu- rana, used especially in the treatment of piles.

Amorphophallus campanulatus Dosage  Dried corm—– g (Roxb.) Blume ex Decne. powder. (API Vol. III.) – g powder. (CCRAS.) Family  Araceae. Habitat  Native to tropical Asia; cultivated throughout India. Amygdalus communis Linn. English  Elephant-foot Yam. Synonym  Prunus amygdalus Baill. Ayurvedic  Suurana, Kanduula, A. communis var. dulcis (sweet Arshoghna, Kand-ayak, Kandala. almond). Unani  Zamin-qand, Zamikand. A. communis var. amara (bitter Siddha/Tamil  Chenaikkizhangu. almond). Kaathukarunai (wild var.) Family  Rosaceae. Action  Corm is prescribed in Habitat  Native to Asia Minor and bronchitis, asthma, abdominal pain, Persia; cultivated in India in cooler emesis, dysentery, enlargement of parts of Punjab and Kashmir. spleen, piles, elephantiasis, diseases English  Almond due to vitiated blood, rheumatic swellings. Ayurvedic  Vaataama, Vaataada. Unani  Badaam, Loz. Along with other therapeutic appli- cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Siddha/Tamil  Vaadumai. of India indicates the use of corm in Action  Sweet almonds—nutrient, prostatic hyperplasia. nervine tonic, demulcent. Oil— (Thecormisirritantduetothepres- externally for skin. Bitter almonds— ence of calcium oxalate. It can be con- not used medicinally. sumedafteritiswashedwellandboiled in tamarind water or butter milk.) Almondflourandalmondbutterare The corm contains an active di- free from starch and used in foods for astatic enzyme amylase, betulinic acid, diabetics and for patients with peptic tricontane, lupeol, stigmasterol, beta- ulcers. Chief protein in kernels is glob- sitosterol and its palmitate and glucose, ulin. galactose, rhamnose and xylose. Intake of .-. g of konjac (Amor- phophallus konjac tuber) mannan for Amygdalus persica Linn.  days reduced the dose of insulin or  hypoglycaemic drugs (in human clini- Synonym Prunus persica Batsch. cal study). (Francis Brinker.) Family  Rosaceae. 46 Anacardium occidentale Linn.

A Habitat  Native to China; cultivated of heart, rheumatic pericarditis, in Himalayan regions; grows in sexual debility. tropical and semi-tropical regions and temperate climates. The nut contains % fat and %  protein. Leaves contain flavonoids, English Peach tree. mainly glycosides of quercetin and Ayurvedic  Aaruka. kaempferol, and hydroxybenzoic acid. The bark contains a balsam-containing Unani  Aaaduu, Khokh. anacardic acid, anacardol, cardol and Action  Leaves and bark—expec- ginkgol. The caustic liquid in the torant (used in cough, whooping shell contains about % anacardic cough, and chronic bronchitis), acid, a mixture of alkyl salicylic acid sedative, stomachic, demulcent, derivatives. The leaves are febrifuge. antiscorbutic, diuretic. Fresh Anacardic acid is bactericidal, fungici- leaves—anthelmintic. Powder of dal, vermicidal and protozoicidal. The leaves—styptic (externally). Fruit— leaves and bark exhibited hypotensive stomachic, antiscorbutic. activity in rats. The phenolics of the cashew-nut shell oil have inhibited the enzymic activity of alpha-glucosidase, invertase Anacardium occidentale Linn. and aldose reductase (anacardic acids Family  Anacardiaceae. being the most potent). Cardols have also shown antifilarial activity in vitro. Habitat  Native to tropical America, Anacardic acids, cardols and methyl from Mexico to Peru and Brazil. cardols have been found to exhibit Cultivated largely in Malabar, moderate cytotoxic activity. Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and to some extent in Maharashtra, Goa, Orissa and West Bengal. Anacyclus pyrethrum DC. English  Cashew Nut. Synonym  A. officinarum Hayne Unani  Kaaju. Family  Compositae; Asteraceae. Siddha/Tamil  Mindiri. Habitat  Native to the Mediterranean Action  Leaves and bark—fungi- region; cultivated in Algeria. cidal, vermicidal, protozoicidal,  antimicrobial (used for toothache, English Spanish, Pellitory, sore gums). Karnel—eaten for Pyrethrum Root. its high protein content. Cashew Ayurvedic  Aakaarakarabha, apple—antiscorbutic. Resinous Aakallaka, Aakulakrit, Agragraahi. juice contained in the seeds—used Unani  Aaqarqarhaa. in cases of mental derangement, memory disturbances, palpitation Siddha/Tamil  Akkiraakaaram. Anamirta cocculus (Linn.) Wight and Arn. 47

Action  Stimulant, cordial, rubefa- English  Bird’s Eye, Bird’s Tongue, A cient.A gargle of infusion is pre- Blue Pimpernel, Scarlet Pimpernel. scribed for relaxed vulva. Root— Unani  Anaaghaalis. used for toothache, rheumatic and  neuralgic affections and rhinitis. Folk Jonkmaari (Maharashtra), Roots, along with the root of Witha- Dhabbar (Punjab), Jighanaa, nia somnifera and Vitis vinifera,are Jenghani. used in epilepsy. Action  Plant—anti-inflammatory, Along with other therapeutic ap- astringent, deobstructant, an- plications, Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia tifungal, nematocidal; toxic to of India indicates the use of the root leeches. in sciatica, paralysis, hemiplegia and The plant yields anagalligenone B. amenorrhoea. The presence of quaternary alkaloids, The root contains anacycline, isobu- gluco-fructoside and tannin have been tylamide, inulin and a trace of essential reported. The root yields glycosidic oil. saponins, including cyclamin. An The local anaesthetic activity of the acetyl saponin, isolated from the plant, alcoholic (%) extract of the root was was found to possess marked taenici- found to be comparable to that of xy- dal activity but had no effect on round- locaine hydrochloride (%) in dental worms. patients. A methanolic extract of the aerial Use of the drug in patients with parts showed activity against herpes insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus simplex I, adenovirus type II and po- reduces the dose of insulin. It de- lio type II. Triterepene saponins have creased the plasma glucose and serum oestrogenic activity. cholesterol levels after oral adminis- tration for – weeks. (The plant is mixed with Helleborus nigar in a ra- tio of :.) The plant extract inhibited Anamirta cocculus tobacco-induced mutagenesis by .% (Linn.) Wight and Arn. at a concentration of  mg/plate. Synonym  A. paniculata Colebr.  Dosage Root— mg to  g Family  Menispermaceae. powder. (CCRAS.) Habitat  The Khasi Hills, Orissa and peninsular India. Anagallis arvensis Linn. English  Fish Berry, Levant Berry, Poison Berry, Crow Killer. Family  Primulaceae. Ayurvedic  Kaakaadani, Kaakamaari. Habitat  Northwestern Himalayas  from Kashmir eastwards to Nepal, Siddha/Tamil Kaakkaikkollividai. hills of West Bengal; Central and Action  Insecticide, antifungal; southern India. highly valued in skin diseases; used 48 Ananas comosus (Linn.) Merrill

A externally to kill lice and other Key application  Bromelain, the parasites. proteolytic enzyme, is used in acute postoperative and post-traumatic The leaves and fruit contain picro- conditions of swellings, especially toxin (up to %) and alkaloids. Pi- of the nasal and paranasal sinuses. crotoxin (sesquiterpene glycoside) is (German Commission E.)InEurope, a powerful poison and nerve stimulant. a patented tape that contains It is rarely taken internally. Coccu- bromelain is used for debriding lus (a tincture prepared from the pow- escharotic skin. (Internally, dered seeds of Cocculus indicus)isused bromelain’s bioavailability has been internally as a homoeopathic medicine questioned.) for convulsions, neurological disorders and psychosis-related fear. Picrotoxin at  mg is toxic, and two to three berries are lethal. (Francis Anaphalis neelgerriana DC. Brinker.) Family  Compositae; Asteraceae. Habitat  The Nilgiri Hills at ,– , m. Ananas comosus (Linn.) Merrill Ayurvedic  Raktaskandana. Family  Bromeliaceae. Folk  Kaatplaaster (Nilgiri hills). Habitat  Native to South America; Action  Antiseptic. Fresh leaves are cultivated mostly in Tamil Nadu, bruised and applied to wounds and coastal Andhra Pradesh, Assam, cuts as plaster. Kerala, Karnataka, West Bengal, Tripura and Orissa. An acyl flavonoid glycoside, ana- English  Pineapple. phaloside, along with isoquercitrin and astragalin, has been isolated from the  Ayurvedic Anaanaasa, Bahunetra. flowers of a related sp. Anaphalis con- Unani  Anannaas. torta, used as an antibacterial and styp- Siddha/Tamil  Annanshippazham, tic. Annasi. Action  Anti-inflammatory (fresh Anastatica hierochuntica Linn. juice used as a gargle for sore throat). A proteolytic enzyme, Family  Cruciferae. bromelain, is derived from the Habitat  Arabia,Palestine,Syria. stem—anti-inflammatory, smooth muscle relaxant, digester, inhibitor English  Jericho Rose. of blood platelet aggregation. (It is Unani  Kafemariyam, Kafe-aaishaa. used for cellulitis, post-operative  oedema, sinusitis and for promoting Folk Garbha-phool. digestion of proteins.) Action  Used in difficult labour. Andrographis panicultata Wall. ex Nees 49

Anchusa italica Retz. Andrographis panicultata A Wall. ex Nees Synonym  A. azurea Mill.  Family  Boraginaceae. Family Acanthaceae.  Habitat  Indian gardens, and hills. Habitat Throughout India, from Himachal Pradesh to Assam and English  Cow’s Tongue Plant. Mizoram, and all over southern Ayurvedic  Gojihvikaa (considered India. as a vegetable, equated with Launaea English  Creat. asplenifolia Hook. f., Compositae, Asteraceae.) Unani Gaozabaan is Ayurvedic  Kaalmegha, Bhuunimba, a different drug. Bhuuminimbaka, Vishwambharaa, Yavtikta, Kalpanaatha, Kiraata-tikta Unani  Gaozabaan. (Now equated with species of Boraginaceae, (var.). particularly Borago officinalis Linn. Unani  Kiryaat. Imported Unani drug Gaozabaan Siddha/Tamil  Nilavembu. consists of the leaves and nutlets of  Anchusa strigosa Labill and Echium Action Hepatoprotective, cholin- amoenum Fisch. and Mey.) ergic, antispasmodic, stomachic, anthelmintic, alterative, blood  Action Stimulant, tonic, demulcent; purifier, febrifuge. It acts well on used in bilious complaints, fever, the liver, promoting secretion of cough, asthma; as diuretic in bile. Used in jaundice and torpid bladder and kidney stones. Oil—a liver, flatulence and diarrhoea of rich source of vitamin E (.%), children, colic, strangulation of more than that of wheat-germ oil intestines and splenomegaly; also (.%). The nutlets show positive for cold and upper respiratory tract tests for alkaloids and tannins. The infections. flowers yield anthocyanins and the  leafy stems yield bornesitol. Key application As bitter tonic, febrifuge and hepatoprotective. (Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) Andrographis echioides Nees Kaalmegha, officinal in IP, consists of dried leaves and tender shoots, Family  Acanthaceae. which yield not less than % andro- Habitat  Warmer parts of India. grapholide on dry-weight basis. Folk  Ranchimani (Maharashtra). Several active constituents have been identified from the leaf and rhizome, Action  Febrifuge, diuretic. including andrographolide, deoxyan- The plant contains a flavone, echio- drographolide and other diterpenes. dinin, and its glucoside, echioidin. Andrographolide exhibited strong EtOH (%) extract of the plant exhib- choleretic action when administered ited diuretic activity in animal studies. i.p. to rats. It induces increase in bile 50 Andropogon muricatus Retz.

A flow together with change in physi- Unani  Khas. cal properties of bile secretion. It was Siddha  Vettiveru. found to be more potent than sily-  marin. Action Roots—refrigerant, Andrographolide was found to be febrifuge, diaphoretic, stimu- almost devoid of antihepatitis-B virus lant, stomachic and emmenagogue; surface antigen-like activity (when used in strangury, colic, flatulence, compared with picroliv.) obstinate vomiting; paste used as The leaf and stem extracts of Kaal- a cooling application in fevers. megha/andrographolide given s.c. or Major constituents of the essential orally did not change blood sugar level oil are vetiselinenol and khusimol. Sev- of normal or diabetic rats. eral sesquiterpenoids, including vetid- Alcoholic extract of the plant ex- iol, are also present. The two types of hibited antidiarrhoeal activity against oils, laevorotatory and dextrorotatory, E. coli enterotoxins in animal models. from northern India and southern In- Clinical evidence of effectiveness of dia, respectively, are biochemically dif- andrographis in humans is limited to ferent. the common cold. Preliminary evi- Andropogon sp.: see Cymbopogon dence suggests that it might increase sp. antibody activity and phagocytosis by macrophages, and might have mast cell-stabilizing and antiallergy activi- ty. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Anemone obtusiloba D. Don Database, .) Synonym  A. pulsatilla Linn. The herb is contraindicated in bleed-  ing disorders, hypotension, as well as Family Ranunculaceae. male and female sterility (exhibited in- Habitat  Native to Europe; thrives fertility in laboratory animals). in dry grassland in central and northern parts of the continent. Dosage  Whole plant—– ml  juice; – ml decotion; – g English Wind-Flower, Wood powder. (CCRAS.) Anemone, Pasque Flower, Pulsatilla. Unani  Gul-laalaa, Shaqaaq-un- Nomaan. Andropogon muricatus Retz. Action  Nervine and sedative (used for anxiety neurosis, nervous  Synonym Vetiveria zizanioides exhaustion, tension, headache, (Linn.) Nash. migraine, insomnia), antispasmodic Family  Poaceae. (in catarrh); used for amenorrhoea, Habitat  All over India. inflammation of ovaries, painful menstruation and genito-urinary  English Vetiver, Cuscus. infections. The rootstock is given Ayurvedic  Ushira. with milk for concussions. The Angelica archangelica Linn. var. himalaica (C.B.Clarke)KrishnaandBadhwar 51

seeds cause vomiting and purging. among unapproved herbs by German A The seed oil is used in rheumatism. Commission E.) An aqueous dill extract, adminis- Pulsatilla contains ranunculin, tered intravenously, lowers blood pres- which hydrolyzes to a toxic, unsta- sure, dilates blood vessels, stimulates ble compound protoanemonin, which respiration and slows heart rate in an- readily dimerizes to non-toxic ane- imals. (Natural Medicines Comprehen- monin. sive Database, .) Anemonin and protoanemonin ex- Dill seeds contain up to % volatile hibit sedative and antipyretic activity. oil (about half of which is carvone), Protoanemonin is also antimicrobial. flavonoids, coumarins, xanthones and (Topically, Pulsatilla is used for infec- triterpenes. The yield of the oil from tious diseases of the skin.) Indian A. sowa varies from . to .%. Carvone is the major constituent (.– .%).Theoilfromseedsisusedfor Anethum sowa Roxb. ex Flem. flatulence in children and enters into the preparations of gripe water. The oil  Synonym A. graveolens Linn. var. is also antimicrobial and antifungal. sowa Roxb. Dill apiol is considered undesir- A. graveolens DC. able and toxic. Vizag fruit var. from Peucedanum sowa Roxb. Andhra Pradesh is dill-apiol-free and Peucedanum graveolens Benth. with –%, carvone content having Family  Umbelliferae; Apiaceae. same flavonoid pattern as A. sowa. Habitat  Cultivated all over India. Dosage  Dried fruit—– g powder. English  Indian Dill, Sowa. (API Vol. III.) Fruit, leaf—– g powder. (CCRAS.) Ayurvedic  Shataahvaa. Shata- pushpaa (also accepted as Foenicu- lum vulgare Mill., equated with Mishreya, Mishi, Madhurikaa). Angelica archangelica Linn. var. himalaica (C.B.Clarke)Krishna  Unani Shibt, Soyaa. and Badhwar Siddha/Tamil  Sadakuppai. Family  Umbelliferae; Apiaceae. Action  Carminative, stomachic, Habitat  Native to Syria; now grown antispasmodic. in Kashmir at ,–, m. Key application  In dyspepsia. Ayurvedic  Chandaa, Chandaam- (German Commission E.) shuka, Kathachoraa. The fresh and dried leaf is used for Action  Expectorant, carminative, prevention and treatment of diseases digestant, cholagogue, antispas- and disorders of the gastrointestinal modic, diaphoretic, diuretic, tract, kidney and urinary tract, for anti-inflammatory, smooth muscle spasms and sleep disorders. (Included relaxant, antifungal, antibacterial. 52 Angelica glauca Edgew.

 A Key application In flatulence and Angelica glauca Edgew. peptic discomforts. The root is a component in numerous Family  Umbelliferae; Apiaceae. gastrointestinal, cholagogue and Habitat  Kashmir and Chamba in biliary remedies in Germany. Himachal Pradesh, between ,– (Angelica root is an approved herb, , m. whereas the seed and above-ground English  Angelica. parts have been included among unapproved herbs by German Ayurvedic  Choraka, Chorakaa, Commission E.) Kopanaa, Chorakaakhya, Nishaachara, Dhanhar, Taskara, Chinese angelica root, Dong Quai, Kshemaka. is equated with Angelica sinensis. It Action  Root—cordial and stimu- is prescribed internally for menstrual lant, carminative (used in constipa- irregularity, lack of menstruation and tion), expectorant, diaphoretic. painful menstruation. The roots from Kashmir yield furo- The root contains furocoumarins, coumarins, phenol compounds and also dimeric, lingusticum lactone. flavonoids. Dosage  Root—– g powder. Xanthotoxol exhibited antihista- (CCRAS.) mintic and antinicotinic activities on guinea-pig ileum. The dry extract has been shown to have anti-inflammatory activity. Anisochilus carnosus Wall. The root is reported to inhibit bac- Family  Labiatae; Lamiaceae. terial and fungal growth.  Furocoumarins, especially psoralen Habitat The western Himalayas, and -methoxypsoralen, are used in Central and southern India. the photochemotherapy of psoriasis Folk  Karpuravalli (southern and vitiligo. The biological activi- region). ty is due to covalent linkage formed Action  Stimulant, expectorant and with DNA by irradiation with long- diaphoretic. Juice of fresh leaves is wavelength UV light. used in urticaria and other allergic Most of the coumarins have shown conditions; a domestic remedy for significant calcium antagonistic activi- coughs and cold. Alcoholic extract ty in vitro. of the whole plant—antibacterial. Angelicin, a resin, is stimulating to Essential oil—antitubercular. the lungs and skin. contraindicated in bleeding disorders, peptic ulcers and The oil exhibits antihistaminic prop- pregnancy. (Sharon M. Herr.) erty in vitro on smooth muscles of the uterus and the intestines. It also pos- Dosage  Root—– g powder. sesses muscle-relaxant action; bacteri- (CCRAS.) cidal and fungicidal properties. The Annona squamosa Linn. 53 leaves contain glucosides of luteolin Action  Leaves—insecticide, an- A and apigenin. thelmintic, styptic, externally used as suppurant. Unripe and dried fruit—antidysenteric. Bark— powerful astringent, used as Anisomeles malabarica antidysenteric and vermifuge. (Linn.) R. Br. ex Sims Rootbark,leavesandstemsgaveiso- Family  Labiatae; Lamiaceae. quinoline alkaloids. Two acetogenins, Habitat  The western Ghats from annoreticuin and isoannoreticuin, iso- Maharashtra to Karnataka; Andhra lated from the leaves, were found to be Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. selectively cytotoxic to certain human English  Malabar Catmint. tumours. The leaves and stems also gave al-  Ayurvedic Sprikkaa. kaloids—dopamine, salsolinol and co- Siddha/Tamil  Irattaipeyameratti. claurine. Annona reticulata, Annona muri- Action  Antispasmodic (used cata, Annona squamosa and Annona in dyspepsia, colic), antipyretic, cherimola are known as Raampha- diaphoretic, antiperiodic, emme- la, Lakshman-phala, Sitaa-phala and nagogue, antirheumatic. The oil is Hanumaan-phala, respectively. used externally as an embrocation in rheumatic arthritis.

The plant contains beta-sitosterol, Annona squamosa Linn. letulinic acid, ovatodiolide and ani- somelic acid. The essential oil from Family  Annonaceae. tops and flowers yield a terpene hydro- Habitat  A native to South America carbon, citral and geranic acid. and the West Indies; now cultivated throughout India. English  Custard Apple, Sugar Annona reticulata Linn. Apple, Sweet-sop.  Family  Annonaceae. Ayurvedic Gandagaatra, Sitaa phala (also equated with Curcurbita Habitat  Native to the West Indies. maxima). Cultivated in Bengal, Assam, Khasi Hills and southern India. Unani  Sharifaa.  English  Bullock’s Heart, Common Siddha/Tamil Sitaaphalam, Atta. Custard Apple. Action  Leaves—insecticide (seed Ayurvedic  Raamphala. powder, mixed with leaf juice is  used for removing lice from scalp). Siddha/Tamil Aninuna. Seeds—abortifacient. Root— Folk  Luvuni. purgative, used in blood dysentery. 54 Anogeissus latifolia Wall. ex Bedd.

A Fruit—invigorating, sedative to The leaves, bark and heartwood heart, antibilious, antiemetic, yield quinic and shikmik acids; leaves expectorant. Dried, powdered contain gallotannin (–% of the unripe fruits—used for treating tannins). The young leaves and shoots ulcers. Ripe fruit made into paste contain % tannins (dry basis). The withbetelleavesisappliedto bark contains –% tannins. Heart- tumour to hasten suppuration. wood contains gallic acid, ellagic acid, Leaves, bark, unripe fruit—strongly its derivatives, quercetin and myricetin. astringent; used for diarrhoea and Thegumismainlythecalciumsalt dysentery. of a complex, high molecular weight polysaccharic acid (ghattic acid). The A fraction of total alkaloid from gum is a substitute for Gum arabic. roots exhibits antihypertensive, anti- spasmodic, antihistaminic and bron- chodilatory properties. Leaves con- tain a cardiotonic alkaloid, quinoline. Anthemis nobilis Linn. Squamone and bullatacinone were se-  lectively cytotoxic to human breast car- Synonym Chamaemelum nobile (L.) cinoma. Allioni. In Cuban medicine, leaves are taken Family  Asteraceae. to reduce uric acid levels. Habitat  The temperate regions of the Himalayas. Wild at several places. Anogeissus latifolia English  Roman Chamomile, Double Wall. ex Bedd. Chamomile.  Family Combretaceae. Unani  Gul-e-Baabuuna.  Habitat Central and southern India. Siddha/Tamil  Shimai chamantipu.  English Axle-wood, Button tree, Action  Mild sedative, anticon- Ghatti tree. vulsant, antispasmodic, anti- Ayurvedic  Dhava, Dhurand- inflammatory, mild analgesic; hara, Shakataahya. Indravrksha used externally for skin disorders, (A. acuminata Wall. ex Bedd. is poultice of flowers in sprains and a related sp. of Dhava). rheumatism. Unani  Dhaawaa. Key application  Used mainly Siddha/Tamil  Vellaynaga. in France for mild spasmodic gastrointestinal disturbances and  Folk Ghatti (Gum). sluggishness of bowels, also for Action  Astringent, cooling, used nervousness. (PDR.) (German in diarrhoea, dysentery, ulcers, Chamomile has been included piles, urinary disorders and dysuria. by German Commission E among Gum—used as a tonic after delivery. approved herbs, whereas Roman Antiaris toxicaria Lesch. 55

chamomile remains unapproved Flowers and root—abortifacient. A due to lack of clinical evidence.) Leaves—astringent. A decoction is The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia used for gargling in stomatitis and recognizes antispasmodic activity aphthae. of Anthemis nobilis. Along with other therapeutic appli- The flower heads contain volatile cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia oil (including azulenes and bisabolol); of India indicates the use of dried stem- sesquiterpene lactone (nobilin); flavo- bark in disorders of female genital tract noids, cyanogenic glycoside, bitter glu- and bleeding disorders. coside (anthemic acid); acetylenic sali- The dried bark contains alkaloids, cylic derivatives, coumarins (including steroids, reducing sugars and also tan- scopolin), valerianic acid; tannins. nins (.%). The ether-soluble alka- Azulenes and bisabolol are anti- loid of the bark shows antibacterial ac- inflammatory and antispasmodic, re- tivity. ducing histamine-induced reactions, including hay fever and asthma. Flavo- Dosage  Stembark—.–. g noids, especially anthemidin, are also powder. (API Vol. II.) antispasmodic. Valerianic acid and cyanogenic glycosides are sedative. Antiaris toxicaria Lesch.  Anthocephalus cadamba Miq. Family Moraceae. Habitat  Western Ghats from  Synonym A. indicus A. Rich. Konkan southwards to Trivandrum, A. chinensis (Lam.) A. Rich. ex up to  m. Walp. English  Sacking tree, Upas tree. Family  Rubiaceae. Ayurvedic  Valkala vrksha. Habitat  Assam, Bengal, southwards to Andhra Pradesh and western Siddha/Tamil  Aranthelli, Mara-uri, Ghats. Nettavil.  English  Kadam. Folk Jangali Lakuch, Jasund, Chaandakudaa. Ayurvedic  Kadamba, Priyaka, Vrtta-pushpa, Nipa, Halipriya. Action  Seed—febrifuge, antidysen- Kadambaka is equated with Adina teric (in minute doses). Latex— cordifolia. circulatory stimulant (in minute Siddha/Tamil  Venkadambu, Vellai doses.) Kadambam. The latex contains a series of poi- Action  Stembark—febrifugal, sonous cardenolides, of which alpha- antidiuretic, anthelmintic, hypo- and/orbeta-antiarin are the main com- glycaemic. Fruit—cooling; anti- ponents. The total amount of crys- catarrhal, blood purifier, analgesic. talline cardiac glycosides in the latex 56 Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) Parker.

A ranges from . to .%; alpha-antiarin An aqueous extract of the bark, from . to .% and beta-antiarin when injected i.p. in normal guinea from . to .%. Antiarins are said pigs, showed reduction in absolute to act on the heart more powerfully lymphocyte count and an increase in than digitalin. Beta-antiarin is more spleen weight. The bark appears to be potent than alpha-antiarin. an effective immunosuppressive drug Latex, in small quantities, is a mild similar to prednisolone. cardiac and circulatory stimulant, The stembark contains a limonoid, whereas in large quantities it acts as ammorinin and a saponin, poriferas- a myocardial poison. It stimulates in- terol--rhamnoside. testinal and uterine contractions. As many as  Kedde-positive sub- stances were reported in the seed sam- Apium graveolens plefromIndonesia.Thelatexsam- Linn. ple showed the presence of  Kedde- Family  Umbelliferae; Apiaceae. positive substances. Habitat  Native to Europe; cultivated in northwestern Himalayas and in hills of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Aphanamixis polystachya Pradesh and southern India. (Wall.) Parker. English  Celery. Synonym  Amoora rohituka W. a n d Ayurvedic  Ajmodaa, Ajmoda, A. Ajmodikaa, Dipyaka. Family  Meliaceae. Unani  Karafs. Habitat  The sub-Himalayas tracts,  Sikkim, Assam, Bengal, western Siddha/Tamil Celery-keerai. Ghats and the Andamans. Folk  Ajmodaa.  Ayurvedic Rohitaka, Daadima- Action  Anti-inflammatory (used in chhada, Daadima-pushpaka, rheumatic disorders, inflammation Plihaghna. Tecoma undulata G. of the urinary tract), diuretic, Don., Bignoniaceae, is also equated carminative, nervine, sedative, with Rohitaka. antiemetic, antispasmodic, antisep- Siddha/Tamil  Malampuluvan. tic (used in bronchitis, asthma, as well as liver and spleen diseases), Action  Bark—strongly astringent, emmenagogue. Essential oil from used in the diseases of the liver and seeds—tranquilizer, anticonvulsant, spleen, and for tumours, enlarged antifungal. Seeds are used in the glands. Seed oil—used in muscular treatment of chronic skin disorders pains and rheumatism. All parts including psoriasis. of the plant exhibit pesticidal activity. Seed extract—antibacterial, Key application  As diuretic. (The antifungal. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) Aquilaria agallocha Roxb. 57

Celery yields an essential oil (%), Aquilaria agallocha Roxb. A major constituent being d-limonene (%) and phathalides and beta-seli- Synonym  A. malaccensis Lamk. nene; coumarins, furanocoumarins Family  Thymelaceae. (bergapten); flavonoids (apiin and api-  genin). Alkaloid fraction of seeds Habitat The hills of Assam, showed tranquilizing activity in ani- Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur and mals. The phthalides are sedative in Tripura. mice and exhibit antiepileptic activity English  Aloewood, Eaglewood, in rats and mice. The aqueous ex- Agarwood. tract of the celery has been shown to Ayurvedic  Aguru, Krimij, Krish- reduce adjuvant-induced arthritis in naaguru, Jongaka, Maaliyaka, Loha, rats, and to be hypotensive in patients Kaalaloha, Asitaka. as well as animals. The tincture of the plant exhibits drop in blood pressure Unani  Ood-ul Hindi, Ood Gharqi. accompaniedbyanincreaseinurine Siddha/Tamil  Akil kattai, Agil. output. Action  Heartwood—astringent, carminative, antiasthmatic, anti- diarrhoeal, antidysenteric; used in Apium leptophyllum gout, rheumatism and paralysis; as (Pers.) F. Muell. ex Benth. a stimulant in sexual debility; as a liniment in skin diseases. Family  Umbelliferae. The agarwood or eaglewood of com- Habitat  Native to America; culti- merce is derived from the fungus- vated in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, infected tree through wounds caused Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka. by the species of Aspergillus, Fusarium, Ayurvedic  Ajmodaa, Dipyaka. Penicillium, and also by some of Fungi Unani  Ajmod, Karafs-e-Hindi. Imperfecti. Agarwood on distillation yields an essential oil, known as Agar Siddha  Omam. Oil. Action  See Apium graveolens. The essential oil yields a number of agarofurans, sesquiterpene alcohols The essential oil contains Meethers and spirosesquiterpene alcohols. of thymol, carvacrol and thymoquinol; The stemwood yields sesquiterpe- used as a carminative. The oil shows noids—gmelofuran and agarol; also strong antifungal activity against Can- a coumarinolignan—aquillochin. dida albicans,andmoderateactivi- (Agar is a different drug—extract of ty against Gram-positive and Gram- a seaweed, Gelidium Amansii,usedas negative bacteria. a mild laxative.)

Dosage  Dried fruit—– g powder. Dosage  Heartwood—– g powder. (API Vol. II.) (API Vol. IV.) 58 Arachis hypogaea Linn.

 A Arachis hypogaea Linn. Folk Taapamaari (Maharashtra). Action  Family  Papilionaceae; Fabaceae Stimulant, aphrodisiac, antipyretic, dyspeptic, expectorant. Habitat  Native to Brazil, but widely grown for its pods in southern India, Maharashtra and Gujarat. English  Groundnut, Peanut, Arctium lappa Linn. Monkeynut. Family  Compositae; Asteraceae. Ayurvedic  Mandapi, Tailamudga,  Bhuumimudga. Habitat Native to northern Europe; now found in western Himalayas,  Unani Moongphali. Kashmir and Simla. Siddha/Tamil  Nelakadalai, English  Common or Great Burdock. Verkadalai. Folk  Phaggarmuul (Kashmir). Action  Kernels—contain pro- tease inhibitors. Peanut skin— Action  Hypoglycaemic (plant haemostatic. extract caused reduction of blood sugarwithanincreaseincarbohy- There is a haemostatic principle in drate tolerance). Roots—inhibitory the peanut flour, which is said to im- of tumour growth, cardiac stimu- prove the condition of haemophiliacs. lant, diuretic, spasmolytic. Leaves The protease inhibitor acts on the fib- and seeds—anticutaneous (used in rinolytic system, primarily as an an- psoriasis, seborrhoic eczema). tiplasmin. It is reported to form com- plexes not only with the enzymes, but Key application  As dermatolog- also with the corresponding zymogens. ical agent. (The British Herbal The peanut (red) skin contains bio- Pharmacopoeia.) flavonoids, which possess vitamin– P activity; tannins; a lipoxidase and Important constituents of Burdock aproteaseinhibitor.Capricacid,ob- roots are fatty acids, organic acids, phe- tained from the (red) skin, showed nolic acids, lignans, sesquiterpenes, antifungal activity against Aspergillus tannin, inulin and mucilage. niger. Extracts of the fruit are reported to have hypoglycaemic activity in rats. Arctigenin (lignan) is a weak inhibitor of experimental tumour growth. The Aralia binnatifida (Seem.) Clarke. antimicrobial properties are due to Synonym  A. pseudo-ginseng Wall. polyacetylenes (of the root). The root ssp. himalaicus Hara. exhibits antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus, and is used for fungal  Family Araliaceae. and bacterial infections. A flavonoid, Habitat  Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, arctiin, shows smooth muscle relaxant Khasi Hills. properties. Areca catechu Linn. 59

 Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Spreng. Action Taeniacide (confined to A veterinary medicine), astringent, Family  Ericaceae. stimulant. Habitat  Native to North America, Europe and Asia. Along with other therapeutic appli-  cation, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia English Bearberry. of India indicates the use of dried ripe Unani  Inbud-dub, Angur-e-khiras, seed in leucorrhoea and vaginal laxity. Reechh Daakh. Arecanut contains several alkaloids Action  Astringent, dirutic; used for belonging to pyridine group, the most urinary tract infections, dysuria, important being arecoline (.–.%). cystitis, urethritis, pyelitis. Arecaidine, guvacine and isoguvacine are also present. Arecoline is an- The leaves gave .–% of a flavanol thelmintic (in animals, not in hu- glucoside, isoquercitin, arbutin and mans). Arecaidine has no parasympa- methyl arbutin. Total arbutin content thomimetic effects, but only stimulat- varies from . to .%; tannins  ing properties; sedative in higher dos- to %. Arbutin hydrolyses to hydro- es. Isoguvacine produces hypotension. quinone, a urinary antiseptic. Contraindicated in asthma due to Arbutin is antimicrobial, but the bronchoconstrictive effects of the al- crude extract of uva-ursi is more effec- kaloid arecoline (human case reports). tive than isolated arbutin. In rats, uva- (Francis Brinker.) ursi showed anti-inflammatory activi- Arecanut tannins (.–.%) are ty against experimentally induced in- predominantly catechol tannins which flammation. (Natural Medicines com- closely resemble Mimosa bark tan- prehensive Database, .) nins. Powdered nuts are prescribed in diarrhoea and urinary disorders. In combination with other astringent and stypticherbs,arecanutisusedasama- Areca catechu Linn. jor constituent in confections of Indian Family  Palmae; Arecaceae. medicine for gynaecological disorders. Aqueous extract of the nut exhibits Habitat  Native to Malaysia; now direct vasoconstriction and adrenaline grown along the coasts of Karnataka, potentiation in rats. Antimicrobial Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, activity is due to polyphenolic frac- Assam and Maharashtra. tion. Tannins potentiated the action of English  Arecanut, Betel Nut. acetylcholine in ileum and uterus of rat Ayurvedic  Puuga, Puugi, Kramuka, and noradrenaline on seminal vesicle Ghontaa, Guwaak, Ghorant. at low concentration.  Due to increased incidence of oral Unani Fufal, Chhaalia, Supaari. cancer associated with betel chewing, Siddha/Tamil  Kottai Paakku, the use of arecanut as a masticatory is Kamugu. being discouraged. 60 Argemone mexicana Linn.

A Seeds are toxic at – g, fluid extract Family  Convolvulaceae. at . ml; and arecoline hydrobromide Habitat  Found all over India, at .–. mg. (Francis Brinker.) ascending to  m.  Dosage Dried ripe fruit—– g English  Elephant Creeper. powder. (API Vol. I.) Ayurvedic  Vriddhadaaruka, Vriddhadaaru, Vriddhadaaraka, Bastaantri, Sthavira, Sthaviradaaru, Argemone mexicana Linn. Atarunadaaru, Samudrashosha. Family  Papaveraceae. (Seeds of Salvia plebeia R. Br. are also known as Samudrashosha.) Habitat  Native to America; naturalized throughout India. Unani  Samunder sokh. English  Prickly Poppy, Mexican Siddha/Tamil  Ambgar, Samuddira- Poppy. pacchai  Ayurvedic Katuparni, Svarnkshiri, Folk  Bidhaaraa. Kaanchan-kshiri, Pitadugdhaa.  Hemaahvaa, Himaavati, Hemavati. Action Root—aphrodisiac (con- (Not to be equated with Brah- sidered as a rejuvenator), nervine madandi—Tricholepis glaberrima.) (used in diseases of nervous sys- tem, sexual disorders), diuretic  Unani Satyaanaashi. (used in strangury), antirheumatic. Siddha/Tamil  Piramathandu, Seeds—hypotensive, spasmolytic. Kudiyotti. Leaves—used externally in skin Action  Seed—responsible for diseases (ringworm, eczema, boils, epidemic dropsy. Causes diarrhoea swellings); rubefacient, topically and induces toxicity. Oil, leaf stimulant. juice and root—used externally for The seeds contain hallucinogenic indolent ulcers and skin diseases. ergoline alkaloids, the main ones be- The herb contains isoquinoline alka- ing ergine and isoergine. EtOH (%) loids. The fresh latex contains protein- extract of seeds exhibits hypotensive dissolving constituents and is used ex- activity. (Seeds of all species of Ar- ternally to treat warts, tumours and gyreia contain ergoline alkaloids and cancer. Latex contains alkaloid berber- are hypotensive.) Leaves of Argyreia ine (.%), protopine (.%) and free sp. contain sitosterol and are antiphlo- amino acids. Sanguinarine is the toxic gistic. factor in seeds. In Indian medicine, A. speciosa is not used as a single drug for sexual disorders in men, but as a support- Argyreia speciosa Sweet. ingdrugforexertingitsantiphlogistic, spasmolytic and hypotensive actions Synonym  A. nervosa (Burm. f.) Boj. on the central nervous system. The Aristolochia indica Linn. 61 drug, in itself, did not show anabolic- Leaves and fruit contain ceryl alco- A cum-androgen-like or spermogenetic hol, aristolochic acid and beta-sitos- activity experimentally. terol. Aristolochic acid is insecticidal, Ipomoea petaloidea Chois and Ipo- poisonous, nephrotoxic. Leaf juice— moea biloba Forsk of the Convolvulacae vermifuge. Seeds—strong purgative. family are also used as Vriddhadaaru. Products containing aristolochic acid In Western herbal medicine, Hawai- are banned in the U.S., Canada, Great ian Baby Woodrose is equated with Britain, European countries and Argyreia nervosa (synonym Argyreia Japan. speciosa; grows in Florida, California The seed compounds, aristolochic and Hawaii). The seed is used for pain acid and magnoflorine, induce con- relief and as a hallucinogen. tractions in the isolated uterus of preg- The seeds contain hallucinogens in- nant rat and stimulate the isolated cluding ergonovine, isoergine (isoly- ileum of guinea pig. They also acti- sergic acid amide) and ergine (lyser- vate the muscarinic and serotoner- gic acid amide). Four to eight seeds gic receptors in a variety of organs. are equivalent to – mcg of LSD, Magnoflorine decreases arterial blood a potent serotonin-A (-HTA) ago- pressure in rabbits, and induces hypo- nist. The effects last – h.Natu- ( thermia in mice. ral Medicines Comprehensive Database, See also A. longa. .)

Dosage  Root—– g powder. (CCRAS.) Aristolochia indica Linn.

Family  Aristolochiaceae. Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. Habitat  Throughout the country, mainly in the plains and lower hilly Synonym  A. bracteata Retz. regions. Family  Aristolochiaceae. English  The Indian Birthwort. Habitat  Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and western Ayurvedic  Ishvari, Gandhnaakuli, peninsular India. Naagadamani, Arkamuula. English  Bracteated Birthwort. Unani  Zaraavand-Hindi.  Ayurvedic Kitamaari, Dhumrapa- Siddha/Tamil  Adagam. traa, Naakuli. Folk  Isarmuula, Isrola. Unani  Kiraamaar. Action  Oxytocic, abortifacient, Siddha/Tamil  Aadutheendaappaalai, emmenagogue. Kattusuragam. Action  Oxytocic, abortifacient, Aristolochia sp. contain aristolochic emmenagogue. acids and aristolactams. 62 Aristolochia longa Linn.

 A Aristolochia longa Linn. English Horseradish. Action   Circulatory stimulant, Family Aristolochiaceae. diaphoretic, diuretic, antibiotic. English  European Birthwort. Used for both urinary and respira- tory tract infections. Root—liver, Unani  Zaraawand Taweel. spleen and pancreatic stimulant; Action  Oxytocic, abortifacient, an alternative to Cayenne pepper; emmenagogue. urinary antiseptic; diuretic; used in the treatment of gout, increases Aristolochic acid and its Me es- excretion of uric acid; also for ter—strongly abortifacient, showed proteinura and vaginal discharges. damage to liver and kidney. Roots— An infusion is used for hepatitis. anti-oestrogenic. A cytotoxic lignan,  savinin, has been isolated from the Key application In catarrhs of the roots. respiratory tract and as a supportive Aristolochic acid also has an effect therapy for infections of the urinary against adenosarcoma and HeLa cells tract; externally for catarrhs of the in culture; however, it is suspected to respiratory tract and hyperaemic be carcinogenic. treatment of minor muscle aches. Aristolochia extracts show a pro- (German Commission E.)Itis nounced enhancement of phagocytosis contraindicated in stomach and by leucocytes, granulocytes and peri- intestinal ulcers and kidney toneal macrophages, due to the pres- disorders; not to be administered to ence of aristolochic acids. children under  years. Tardolyt-coated tablets, which con- The root contains glucosinolates, tain . mg of aristolochic acid, in- mainly sinigrin, which releases allyl crease phagocytosis in healthy men. isothiocyanate on contact with the en- Aristolochic acid also exhibits re- zyme myrosin during crushing. The duction of some of the toxic effects oil exhibits broad-spectrum antibiot- of prednisolone, chloramphenicol and ic activity due to allyl isothiocyanates tetracycline in experiments in vitro, and allied compounds; used internal- and a reduction in the rate of recur- ly as stimulant, sudorific and diuretic. rent herpes lesions in vivo. Antibiotic activity is stronger against Gram-positive bacteria than against Gram-negative bacteria. The oil also exhibits cytotoxic activity. Armoracia lapathifolia Gilib. The root produces an inhibitory ef- Synonym  A. rusticana Gaertn et al. fect on the growth of Gram-negative  bacteria of the typhoid-paratyphoid- Family Cruciferae; Brassicaceae. entertitis group. Habitat  Native to Europe; grown Kaempferol, a component of Horse- in gardens in northern India and in radish, inhibits thyroid peroxidase, hill stations of southern India. which is involved in the biosynthe- Artemisia absinthium Linn. 63 sis of thyroid hormone. (Sharon M. The extract of the pericarp showed A Herr.) a positive ionotropic and chronotropic effect on all types of experimental an- imals. The cardiac stimulant and uter- Arnebia benthamii ine stimulant activity is attributed to the glycosides, whereas the relaxant ac- (Wall. ex G. Don) Johnston. tion on plain muscles and hypotensive Synonym  Macrotomia benthamii A. effect, which could be partly choliner- DC. gic and partly resulting from vasodila- tory action, are probably due to the Family  Boraginaceae. presence of the volatile oil. Habitat  The alpine Himalayas from The leaves are found to contain an Kashmir to Kumaon, at altitude of antifertility principle. The root con- ,–, m, and in Nepal. tains an antimalarial agent. Folk  Kashmiri Gaozabaan, Kash- miri Kahzabaan. Action  Stimulant, cardiac tonic, Artemisia absinthium Linn. expectorant, diuretic (syrup and Synonym  Absinthium vulgare jam, used in diseases of the mouth Gaertn. and throat, also in the treatment A. officinale Lam. of fevers and debility.) The roots possess antiseptic and antibiotic Family  Compositae; Asteraceae. properties. Habitat  Kashmir at altitudes of – m. English  Wormwood, Maderwood. Artabotrys hexapetalus Unani  Afsanteen, Vilaayati Afsan- (Linn. f.) Bhandari. teen.  Synonym A. odoratissimus R. Br. Siddha/Tamil  Machipatri. Family  Annonaceae. Folk  Mastiyaaraa (Punjab), Titween Habitat  Southern India, largely (Kashmir). growningardens. Action  Choleretic (bile and gastric Ayurvedic  Panasagandhi, (Harit) juice stimulant), anthelmintic, Champaka. stomachic, carminative, antispas-  modic, anti-inflammatory, emme- Siddha/Tamil Manoranjidam. nagogue, mild antidepressant; used Folk  Haraa champaa (north), in chronic fevers. Kathari champaa; Hirvaa champaa Key application  In loss of appetite, (Maharashtra). dyspepsia, biliary dyskinesia. (Ger- Action  Cardiacstimulant,uterine man Commission E.)Inanorexia, stimulant, muscle relaxant. for example, after illness, and 64 Artemisia maritima Linn.

A dyspeptic complaints. (ESCOP.) Folk  Kirmaani Ajawaayin, It is contraindicated in gastric Kirmaani-owaa, Kirmaani-ajmo. and duodenal ulcers. Excessive Action  Deobstructant, stomachic, doses may cause vomiting, severe anthelmintic (effective against diarrhoea, retention of urine or roundworms), antifungal. dazed feeling and central nervous system disturbances. (ESCOP.) A decoction of the fresh plant is giv- en in cases of intermittent and remit- The herb contains a volatile oil of tent fever. variable composition, with alpha- and A. maritima var. thomsoniana C. B. beta-thujone as the major compo- Clarke is a santonin-yielding var.; A. nent, up to about %; sesquiterpene maritima var. fragrans (Willd.) Ledeb. lactones (artabasin, absinthin, anab- is a non-santonin var. sinthin); azulenes; flavonoids; pheno- Immature flowerheads and leaves licacids;lignans. contain santonin. Roots, stems and Thujone is a toxic constituent which twigs are devoid of santonin. San- shows hallucinogenic and addictive ac- tonin, a sesquiterpene lactone, is used tivity found in Indian hemp. It stim- for the treatment of ascaris and oxyuris ulates the brain; safe in small doses, infections. Large doses (. g is adults toxic in excess. The azulenes are anti- and . in children) are toxic. inflammatory. The sesquiterpene lac- Beta-santonin is less anthelmintic in tones exhibit an antitumour effect and action than santonin; pseudosantonin are insecticidal and anthelmintic. is devoid of anthelmintic property. Essential oil from leaves—antibac- Studies is albino mice revealed that terial, antifungal. The oil is toxic at santonin had no androgenic, estro-  ml. genic, antiestrogenic, progestational and antiprogestational effects. Santonin is toxic at  mg in chil- Artemisia maritima Linn. dren;  mg in adults. (Francis Brinker.) Family  Compositae; Asteraceae. Dosage  Whole plant—– g Habitat  The western Himalayas powder. (CCRAS.) from Kashmir to Kumaon. English  Wormseed, Santonica. Ayurvedic  Chauhaara, Kirmaani Artemisia vestita Wall. ex DC. Yavaani, Chuhaari Ajawaayin; not Family  Compositae, Asteraceae. related to Ajawaayin. Habitat  Western Himalayas at  Unani Dirmanah, Kirmaalaa, ,–, m. Afsanteen-ul-bahar. (Dirmanah  Turki is equated with A. stechmani- Ayurvedic Gangaa Tulasi. ana Besser.) Folk  Kundiyaa, Chamariyaa. Artocarpus integrifolia Linn. f. 65

Action  Leaf—haemostatic. Essen- An infusion of flower tops is admin- A tial oil—antibacterial, antifungal (in istered in nervous and spasmodic : dilution). affections. The herb is also used as an antilithic. Oil from leaves— The major components of the essen- antibacterial, antifungal in : tial oil from leaves and flowering tops dilution. are alpha-terpinene, thujyl alcohol, ter-  penyl acetate, nerol, phellandrene, ci- Key application As emmenagogue. neol,neral,thujylacetate,beta-thujone (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) and artemisol. The plant yields about .% of an Related sp., known as Gangaa Tu- essential oil. Plants at lower altitude lasi, are Artemisia lacrorum Ledeb. and had more percentage of cineol, thu- A. parviflora Wight. jone, thujyl and citral, whereas from higher altitude terpenes are in high- er percentage. The highest amount of Artemisia vulgaris Linn. var. cineol was reported to be %. nilagirica Clarke. The plant is also used as an inferior substitute for cinchona in fevers. Synonym  A. nilagirica (Clarke) Pamp. Family  Compositae; Asteraceae. Artocarpus integrifolia Linn. f. Habitat  The hilly regions of India, Synonym  A. heterophyllus Lam. also in Mount Abu in Rajasthan, in Family  Moraceae. western Ghats, and from Konkan  southward to Kerala. Habitat Cultivated throughout the hotter parts of India. English  Indian Wormwood,  Fleabane, Dungwort, Mugwort, English Jackfruit, Jack tree. Wild Wormwood. Ayurvedic  Panasa, Kantakiphala, Ativrihatphala, Aamaashayaphala. Ayurvedic  Damanaka, Pushpachaa- mara, Gandhotkata. (Related sp.: Siddha/Tamil  Murasabalam. A. siversiana Ehrh. ex Willd.) Folk  Katahal, Phanasa.  Unani Afsanteen-e-Hindi. (Na- Action  Latex—bacteriolytic, tional Formularly of Unani Medicine promotes healing of abscesses. clubbed it with Baranjaasif.) Juice of the plant—applied to Siddha/Tamil  Maasipattiri. glandular swellings and abscesses  for promoting suppuration. Root— Folk Daunaa, Damanaa. used for diarrhoea, asthma, skin Action  Leaf—emmenagogue, men- diseases. Unripe fruit—acrid, strual regulator, nervine, stomachic astringent. Ripe fruit—cooling, (in anorexia and dyspepsia), an- laxative, difficult to digest. Seeds— thelmintic, choleretic, diaphoretic. diuretic. Lactin extraction showed 66 Artocarpus lacucha Buch.-Ham.

A potent and selective stimulation of matter; heals boils, cracked skin distinct human T and B cells. and pimples. Seeds—purgative, haemagglutinating. Stems— The seed extract stimulates the heart vermifuge. and causes a fall in arterial blood pres- sure of experimental animals pretreat- The stembark contains oxyresvera- ed with physostigmine. The seeds show trol, used for tapeworm. equal inhibitory activity against trypsin A lectin, artocarpin, isolated from and chymotrypsin. (The activity is de- seeds, precipitates several galactoman- stroyed when the seeds are boiled or nans. It agglutinates rat lymphocytes baked.) and mouse ascites cells. The leaves and stems show presence of sapogenins, and exhibit estrogenic Dosage  Fruit—– ml juice. activity. (CCRAS.) An aqueous extract of mature leaves exhibited hypoglycaemic activity in experimental animals. Leaves con- Arundo donax tain cycloartenone, cycloartenol and Linn. beta-sitosterol. Heartwood contains Family  Gramineae; Poaceae. flavonoids, artocarpesin and norarto-  carpetin and their structures. Habitat Native to Mediterranean region; found in Kashmir, Assam Dosage  Fruit—– ml decoc- and the Nilgiris, also grown in tion. (CCRAS.) hedges. English  Great Reed, Spanish- Bamboo-Reed, Giant-Bamboo- Artocarpus lacucha Buch.-Ham. Reed.  Synonym  A. lakoocha Roxb. Ayurvedic Nala, Potgala, Shuunya- madhya, Dhamana. Family  Moraceae. Siddha/Tamil  Korukkai. Habitat  Cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Khasi Hills and western Action  Rhizome—sudorific, Ghats. emollient, diuretic, antilactant, English  Monkey Jack. antidropsical; uterine stimulant (stimulates menstrual discharge),  Ayurvedic Lakuch, Kshudra Panas, hypotensive. Granthiphala, Pitanaasha. Siddha/Tamil  Ilangu, Irapala, The rhizome yields indole--alkyl- Ottipilu (Tamil). amine bases, including bufotenidine  and dehydro-bufontenine. The leaves Folk Badhar. yield sterols and triterpenoids. Action  Bark—when applied Bufotenidine possesses antiacetyl- externally, draws out purulent choline properties, histamine release Asclepias curassavica Linn. 67 activity and is a uterine stimulant. Al- .%) with methyl eugenol (an impor- A kaloids from the flowers produced cu- tant constituent of A. europaeum), and rarimetic effect of the non-polarizing also aristolochic acid. (Aristolochic type. acid is carcinogenic and nephrotoxic.) Asarum sp. are not used as a substitute Dosage  Root—– ml decoc- for ginger. tion. (CCRAS.)

Asclepias curassavica Linn. Asarum europaeum Linn. Family  Asclepiadaceae. Family  Aristolochiaceae. Habitat  Naturalized in many parts Habitat  Indigenous to the northern of India as an ornamental. parts of southern Europe, Central English  Curassavian Swallow- and East-Central Europe; cultivated Wort, West Indian Ipecacuanha, in the United States. A related Blood-Flower. sp., Asarum himalaicum, synonym A. canadense,isreportedfromthe Ayurvedic  Kaakanaasikaa (substi- eastern Himalayas. tute). English  Asarbacca, Hazelwort, Wild Folk  Kaakatundi (Kashmir). Nard. Action  Spasmogenic, cardiotonic, Unani  Asaaroon, Subul-e-Barri, cytotoxic, antihaemorrhagic, Naardeen-Barri. styptic, antibacterial. Various plant parts, as also plant latex, Folk  Tagar Ganthodaa. are used against warts and cancer. Action  Brain and nervine tonic, Root—used as an astringent in diuretic, deobstructant and anti- piles. Leaves—juice, antidysenteric, inflammatory; used in bronchial also used against haemorrhages. spasm and in preparations of Flowers—juice, styptic. Alcoholic cephalic snuffs. extract of the plant—cardiotonic. The volatile oil (.–%) consists of An alcoholic extract of the Indi- asarone up to %, asaraldehyde –%, an plant has been reported to contain methyleugenol –%, with bornyl a number of cardenolides, including acetate, terpenes and sesquiterpenes. calactin, calotropin, calotropagenin, Asarone and its beta-isomer is found coroglaucigenin, uzarigenin, asclepin, to be carcinogenic in animals. The rhi- its glucosides and uzarin. Asclepin, the zome,inaddition,containscaffeicacid chief active principle, is spasmogenic derivatives and flavonoids. and a cardiac tonic, having longer du- A related sp., Asarum canadense ration of action than digoxin ( h in L., indigenous to North America and cat, as opposed to the  h of digoxin). China, contains a volatile oil (.– Calotropin exhibits cytotoxic activity. 68 Asparagus adscendens Roxb.

A Pleurisy root of the U.S. is equat- Action  Diuretic, laxative, car- ed with Asclepias tuberosa.Itisused diotonic, sedative, galactagogue; for cold, flu and bronchitis in Western used for neuritis and rheumatism, herbal medicine. as well as for cystitis and pyelitis. Toxic principles of the herb include Key application  In irrigation galitoxin and similar resins, and glu- therapy for inflammatory diseases cofrugoside (cardenolide). Toxicity is of the urinary tract and for reduced by drying. prevention of kidney stones. (German Commission E.). It is contraindicated in kidney diseases Asparagus adscendens Roxb. and oedema because of functional heart. Family  Asparagaceae. The root contains steroidal glyco- Habitat  The western Himalayas and sides (asparagosides) and bitter glyco- Punjab, from Himachal Pradesh to sides; asparagusic acid and its deriva- Kumaon, up to , m. tives; asparagines, arginine and ty- Ayurvedic  Mushali, (white var.), rosine; flavonoids, including rutin, Mahaashataavari. The black kaempferol and quercetrin; polysac- variety is equated with Taalamuuli, carides and inulin. Asparagine is Chlorophytum arundinaceum Baker. a strong diuretic source of folic acid Unani  Shaqaaqul-e-Hindi. and selenium.  A spirostanol glycoside, isolated Action A substitute for A. officinalis. from the methanolic extract of the The root yields asparagin. Sapoge- fruits, has shown % immobiliza- nins A and B, isolated from the root, tion of human spermatozoa. were identified as stigmasterol and Dosage  Root—– g powder. sarsasapogenin. (CCRAS.)

Asparagus officinalis Linn. Asparagus racemosus willd. Family  Asparagaceae. Family  Asparagaceae. Habitat  Native to Europe and West Habitat  Foundwildintropicaland Asia. subtropical parts of India, including English  Asparagus, Sparrow grass. the Andamans and ascending in the Ayurvedic  Shataavari, Vari, Himalayas to , m. Shatviryaa, Shatmuuli, Shatpadi, English  Indian asparagus. Bhiru, Naaraayani, Bahusutaa, Ayurvedic  Shataavari, Shatmuuli, Atirasaa. Atirasaa, Bahusutaa, Shatpadi, Unani  Haliyun. Shatviryaa, Bhiru, Indivari, Asphodelus fistulosus Linn. 69

Vari. (Substitute for Medaa, The root extracts exhibited antialler- A Mahaamedaa.) gic activity in animal studies. The root, when fed orally, acted Unani  Sataavar. as immunomodulator against induced Siddha/Tamil  Thanneervittan sepsis and peritonitis in rats and mice. kizhangu, Sataavari Kizhangu. Asparagus sarmentosus Linn. has Action  Used as a galactagogue been equated with Mahaa-shataavari. and for disorders of female Other related sp. are Asparagus curillus genitourinarytract;asastypticand Buch.-Ham., A. filicinus Buch.-Ham. ulcer-healing agent; as an intestinal and A. gracilis Royle. disinfectant and astringent in Dosage  Dried root—– g powder. diarrhoea; as a nervine tonic, and in (API Vol. IV.) sexual debility for spermatogenesis. Along with other therapeutic appli- Asphodelus fistulosus Linn. cations, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of the tuber- Synonym  A. tenuifolius Cav. ous root in gout, puerperal diseases, Family  Liliaceae. lactic disorders, haematuria, bleeding  disorders and also recommends it for Habitat Most parts of the plains hyperacidity. from West Bengal westwards to The plant contains saponins—sha- Punjab and Gujarat, as a field weed. tavarins I–IV. Shatavarin IV is a gly- English  Asphodel. coside of sarsasapogenin. The saponin Unani  Piyaazi, Khunsaa, Asraash. in doses of – mcg/ml produces (Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav. is a special blockade of syntocinon (oxy- equated with Shellot, Gandanaa.) tocin)-induced contraction of rat, gui- Folk  Bokat. nea-pig and rabbit uteri in vitro and  in situ. It also blocks the uterine spon- Action Seeds—diuretic; applied taneous motility. externally to ulcer and inflamed The dried root yields sitosterol; ,- parts. dihydroxy-–O-(’ hydroxyisobutyl) Seeds contain an ester, -O--me- benzaldehyde and undecanyl cetano- thylstearylmyoinositol. The seed oil ate, andcontains alarge amount of sac- yields myristic, palmitic, oleic, linole- charine matter, mucilage and miner- ic, linolenic acids, beta-amyrin and als—Ca (.), Cu (.), Na (.), beta-sitosterol. The oil, due to its K (.), Mg (.), Mn (.), high linolenic content (.%), may Ni (.) and Zn (.) mg/g(dry be of therapeutic value in preventing weight). atherosclerosis. The root was found to reduce gas- The mineral elements present in the tric emptying time comparable to that weed are iron ., zinc . and cop- of metoclopramide. (JPostgradMed, per . ppm. A triterpenoid, lupeol , (), –). and quercetin are also present. 70 Aspidopterys indica Hochr.

A Aspidopterys indica Hochr. the treatment of enlarged spleen, in in- contenence of urine, in calculus, jaun- Synonym  A. roxburghiana A. Juss. dice and malaria); A. nidus Linn. syn- Family  Malpighiaceae. onym Thamnopteris nidus (L.) C. Presl., known as Bird’s Nest Fern (used as Habitat  Eastern Himalayas, Assam, a depurative and sedative). Meghalaya, Orissa and peninsular India. Folk  Chuttakulaa-tigaa (Telugu). Asteracantha longifolia Nees. Action  The extract of aerial parts—  hypotensive. Synonym Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders Family  Acanthaceae. Asplenium adiantum-nigrum Habitat  Common in moist places, Linn. paddy fields, throughout India and Sri Lanka. Family  Aspleniaceae. Ayurvedic  Kokilaaksha, Kokilaak-  Habitat Kashmir at – m shi, Ikshura, Ikshuraka, Kaakekshu, and extending to Dalhousie and Kshurak, Bhikshu. Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. Unani  Taalmakhaanaa. (Wrongly English  Black Spleenwort. equated with Euryale ferox Salisb. Folk  Krishna fern. (Fox Nut) in National Formulary of Unani Medicine,PartI,firstedn., Action  Fond—expectorant, pec- toral, emmenagogue. Rhizome— .) anthelmintic. Plant—bitter, diuret- Siddha/Tamil  Neermulli, Nerugobbi. ic, laxative, anti-inflammatory. It Action  Diuretic, used for catarrh of is used for diseases of spleen and the urinary organs, also for dropsy in jaundice; produces sterility in when accompanied by hepatic women. obstruction. The fonds contain aliphatic hydro- The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of In- carbons, the chief one being hentri- dia recommends the seed in lithiasis; acontane, non-acosane and triterpe- the whole plant and root for gout. noid hydrocarbons, mainly of  ()- Aqueous extract of herb ash—di- hopene. uretic in albino rats. EtOH (%)— Alcohols, sterols and fatty acids are spasmolytic and hypotensive. The also reported. herb exhibits antihepatotoxic activi- Related sp. include: A. laciniatum D. ty in dogs. Essential oil from whole Don (vitamin K and phthiocol have plant—antibacterial. been isolated for the first time from The plant gave lupeol, stigmasterol the plant); A. adiantoides (L.) C. Chr., and hydrocarbons; seed gave sterols; synonym A. falcatum Lam. (used in flowers, apigenin glucuronide. Astragalus hamosus Linn. 71

Aqueous extract decreased fasting Tragacanthin is water-soluble, consist- A glucose and improved glucose toler- ing of an arbinogalactan and traga- ance in rats. (Sharon M. Herr.) canthic acid. Bassorin is an insoluble methylated fraction (gel). The polysac-  Dosage Whole plant—– g, charides have been shown to have im- powder; dried seed—– g powder; munostimulating activity (stimulation dried root—– g for decoction. of phagocytosis and an increase in plas- (API Vol. II.) Herb ash—– g ma cell counts of T-lymphocytes. (CCRAS.) Although tragacanth increases weight of stool and decreases gastroin- testinal transit time, it does not ap- Astragalus candolleanus Royle. pear to affect cholesterol triglyceride or phospholipid levels as other soluble Family  Fabaceae; Papilionaceae. fibres do. (Natural Medicines Compre- Habitat  The western Himalayas. hensive Database, .) Tragacanth has been shown to be  Ayurvedic Rudanti, Rudravanti. active against a variety of tumours. It Action  Depurative, bechic, blood appears to inhibit growth of cancer purifier (used in skin diseases). cells. Root powder and decoction also used as an adjunct in tuberculo- sis. Astragalus hamosus Linn. Dosage  Fruit—– g powder. Family  Fabaceae; Papilionaceae. (CCRAS.) Habitat  Found in the plains of Punjab.  Astragalus gummifer Labill. English Tonkin bean, Melilot, King’s crown, King’s clover.  Family Fabaceae; Papilionaceae. Unani  Naakhunaa, Ikil-ul-Malik. Habitat  Highlands of Asia Minor, (It is also equated with Melilotus Iran, Greece, Syria and Russia. alba Desv. and Trigonela uncata Boiss. in National Formulary of English  Tragacanth Gum. Unani Medicine.) Unani  Katiraa, Kataad (Gum) Action  Nervine tonic (used in Action  Demulcent, emollient (used nervous and catarrhal affections), for irritation of the internal mucosa, antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, colitis, dry coughs), laxative. emollient, diuretic, galactogenic. Mucilage used as an application to burns. The callus of the plant contains amino acids; roots contain saponins The gum contains polysaccharides and sterols. The leaves yield -nitro- and proteinaceous polysaccharides. propionic acid. 72 Astragalus sarcocola Dymock.

A Astragalus sarcocola Dymock. The rootbark yields alkaloids, atala- phylline and its N-methyl derivatives Family  Fabaceae; Papilionaceae. and atalaphyllidine, which have close Habitat  The mountainous regions structural similarities with the antitu- from Asia Minor to Iraq and Iran. mour alkaloid, acronycine, and its co- geners. The rootbark also contains the English  Sarcocola. limonoid, atalantin. Ayurvedic  Rudanti (substitute). The leaf juice forms an ingredient of Unani  Anzaroot, Kohal Kirmaani a compound liniment used in hemiple- (Gum). gia. The essential oil is used in paraly- Action  Gum—antirheumatic, sis. The oil contains higher terpene es- aperient, anthelmintic, emollient. ters belonging to azulene group (%). (Azulenes impart anti-inflammatory activity.) Astragalus strobiliferus Royle.  Family Fabaceae; Papilionaceae. Atropa acuminata Royle ex Lindl. Habitat  The western Himalayas at  ,–, m, and Kashmir. Synonym A. belladonna auct. non L. English  Indian Gum tragacanth. Family  Solanaceae. Action  Gum—an Indian substitute for tragacanth (A. gummifer gum). Habitat  Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh up to , m. English  Indian Belladonna, Indian Atalantia monophylla Atropa. (L.) Correa. Ayurvedic  Suuchi. Synonym  A. floribunda Wt. Unani  Luffaah, Luffaah-Barri, Family  Rutaceae. Yabaruj, Shaabiraj.  Habitat  Throughout India, espe- Action Highly poisonous; seda- cially in Assam, Meghalaya and tive, narcotic, anodyne, nervine, Andaman Islands. antispasmodic (used in paralysis); parkinsonism; encephalitis; car- English  Wild Lime. cinoma; spastic dysmenorrhoea; Siddha/Tamil  Kattu Narangam, whooping cough, spasmodic asth- Kattu Elumichai. ma; colic of intestines, gall bladder Folk  Jungli Nimbu. or kidney, spasm of bladder and Action  Oil from leaves and berry— ureters; contraindicated in enlarged antibacterial, antifungal. Leaves— prostate. a decoction is applied to cutaneous Key application  In spasm and affections. Fruit—juice, antibilious. colic-like pain in the areas of Avena sativa Linn. 73

the gastrointestinal tract and bile Habitat  Subtropical tract of Assam, A ducts. (German Commission E, The Maharashtra and Kerala, up to British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) It  m. is contraindicated in tachycardiac Ayurvedic  Maashaparni (substi- arrhythmias, prostate adenoma, tute). glaucoma, acute oedema of lungs. Siddha/Tamil  Peruvidukol. A. belladonna L. (European sp. Bel- Action  Febrifuge, antibilious, an- ladonna, Deadly Nightshade) is culti- tirheumatic (used in consumption vated in Kashmir and Himachal Pra- and swellings). desh. The herb contains tropane (tropine) or solanaceous alkaloids (up to .%), including hyoscamine and atropine; Atylosia scarabaeoides (L.) flavonoids; coumarins; volatile bases Benth. (nicotine).  Tropane alkaloids inhibit the para- Family Papilionaceae; Fabaceae. sympathetic nervous system, which Habitat  Throughout India; up to controls involuntary bodily activities; , m in the western Himalayas. reduces saliva, gastric, intestinal and Ayurvedic  Vana-kulattha. bronchial secretions, and also the ac-  tivity of urinary tubules. Tropane al- Folk Jangli Tur, Kulthi. kaloids also increase the heart rate Action  Antidysenteric, anticholerin, and dilate the pupils. These alkaloids febrifuge; also used in anaemia, are used as an additive to compound anasarca and hemiplegia. Seeds— formulations for bronchitis, asthma, taeniafuge. whooping cough, gastrointestinal hy- permotility, dysmenorrhoea, noctur- A flavone glucoside, atyloside, has nal enuresis and fatigue syndrome. been isolated from the leaves. Atropine provides relief in parkin- sonism and neurovegetative dystonia. The root is the most poisonous, the Avena sativa Linn. leaves and flowers less, and the berries the least. (Francis Brinker.) Family  Gramineae; Poaceae. Habitat  A cereal and fodder crop of Dosage  Leaf, root—– mg Europe and America; also cultivated powder. (CCRAS.) in India. English  Oat, Common oat.  Atylosia goensis Dalz. Ayurvedic Yavikaa. (Indian sp. is equated with A. byzantina C. Koch.) Synonym  A. barbata Baker Unani  Sult (Silt), Jao Birahnaa, Jao Family  Papilionaceae; Fabaceae. Gandum. 74 Averrhoa bilimbi Linn.

A Action  Nervine tonic (used fresh Avena alcoholic extract of mature in spermatorrhoea, palpitation, plants; however, a few studies gave dis- sleeplessness), cardiac tonic (used in appointing results. (Francis Brinker.) debility), stimulant, antispasmodic, Oat polyphenol composition pre- thymoleptic, antidepressant (used vented the increase of cholesterol and in menopausal phase). Also used beta-lipoprotein of blood serum of in diarrhoea, dysentery, colitis. fasting rabbits. Antioxidant proper- Externally, emollient. ty of the oat flour remains unaffect- Key application  Oat straw— ed by heat. Homoeopathic tincture externally in baths for inflammatory ofseedsisusedasanervinetonic. and seborrhoeic skin diseases. Beta-glucan from the oats stimulated (German Commission E.)Theeffect immune functions. on blood sugar is less than that from Avenacosides exhibit strong anti- most of the fiber-containing herbs fungal activity in vitro. and foods. (Sharon M. Herr.)

The seeds contain proteins and pro- Averrhoa bilimbi Linn. lamines (avenins); C-glycosyl flavones; avenacosides (spirostanol glycosides); Family  Oxalidaceae; Averrhoaceae. fixed oil, vitamin E, starch. Habitat  Native to Malaysia; Silicon dioxide (%) occurs in the cultivated throughout the country. leaves and in the straw in soluble form English  Bilimbi, Tree Sorrel. as esters of silicic acid with polyphenols and monosaccharides and oligosaccha- Ayurvedic  Karmaranga (var.). rides. Unani  Belambu (a variety of Oat straw contains a high content of Kamrakh). iron ( mg/kg dry weight), manganese Siddha/Tamil  Pilimbi, Pulichakkai. (. mg) and zinc (. mg).  In an experimental study, oat straw Action Asyrupmadefromthe stimulated the release of luteinizing fruits is used in febrile excitement, hormone from the adenohypophysis of haemorrhages and internal haem- rats. (Expanded Commission E Mono- orrhoids; also in diarrhoea, bilious graphs.) colic and hepatitis. The fruit is used An alcoholic extract of green oats for scurvy. An infusion of flowers is was tried on opium addicts. Six chron- given for cough. ic opium addicts gave up opium com- pletely, two reduced their intake and twoshowednochangefollowingregu- Averrhoa carambola Linn. lar use of  ml three times daily (human  clinical study). A significant diminish- Family Oxalidaceae; Averrhoaceae. ment of the number of cigarettes used Habitat  Native to Malaysia; by habitual tobacco smokers resulted cultivated throughout the warmer from using  ml (four times daily) of parts of India, especially in Kerala. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. 75

English  Carambola, Star Fruit, Action  Stem/bark—astringent. A Chinese Gooseberry. Pulp of unripe fruit—used for Ayurvedic  Karmaranga. healing skin lesions of smallpox;  fruits and immature seeds, used as Unani Khamraq, Karmal. cicatrizant of abscesses and ulcers. Siddha/Tamil  Tamarattai. The bark contains % tannin, tri- Folk  Kamarakh. acontanol and triterpenoids. Kernels Action  Root—antidote in poi- contain lapachol, which possesses an- soning. Leaf and shoot—applied titumour activity. Aerial parts yield externally in ringworm, scabies, beta-sitosterol, friedelin, lupenone, lu- chickenpox. Flower—vermicidal. peol, betulinic and ursolic acids. Fruit—laxative, antidysenteric, antiphlogistic, febrifuge, anti- inflammatory, antispasmodic (used in hepatic colic, bleeding piles). Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Seeds—galactogenic; in large doses Synonym  Melia azadirachta Linn. act as an emmenagogue and cause abortion. Family  Meliaceae. The fruits are a fairly good source Habitat  Native to Burma; found all of iron but deficient in calcium. They over India. also contain oxalic acid and potassi- English  Neem tree, Margosa tree. um oxalate. The presence of fluorine  is also reported. A wide variation of Ayurvedic Nimba, Nimbaka, vitamin-C content (.–. mg/ g) Arishta, Arishtaphala, Pichumarda, is recorded from different places in In- Pichumanda, Pichumandaka, dia. Sugar (.%) consists mainly of Tiktaka, Sutiktak, Paaribhadra. glucose (.%). Unani  Aazaad-Darakht-e-Hindi. Siddha/Tamil  Vemmu, Veppu, Veppan, Arulundi. Avicennia officinalis Linn. Action  Leaf, bark—antimicrobial, Synonym  A. alba Blume antifungal, anthelmintic, insecti- cidal, antiviral, antipyretic, anti- Family  Verbenaceae; Avicenniaceae. malarial, antiperiodic, mosquito  Habitat A tree occurring in salt larvicidal, anti-inflammatory, marshes and tidal creeks. antifertility, spermicidal, hypogly- English  White mangrove. caemic; used in inflammation of Ayurvedic  Tuvara. gums, gingivitis, periodonitis, sores, boils, enlargement of spleen, malar-  Siddha/Tamil Kandal. ial fever, fever during childbirth, Folk  Tivaria (Gujarat), Upattam measles, smallpox, head scald and (Tamil Nadu). cutaneous affections. Oil—used 76 Azima tetracantha Lam.

A as a contraceptive for intravaginal Dosage  Dried leaf—– g powder; use, for the treatment of vaginal – g for decoction; stembark— infections, and as a mosquito – g powder decoction for external repellent. use. (API Vol. II.) Leaf juice— – ml; oil—– drops; bark Plant tetranortriterpenoids have decoction—– ml. (CCRAS.) been examined extensively for their an- tibiotic, antitumour, insecticidal, an- tibacterial and antifungal activities. Azima tetracantha Lam. The methanolic extract of the bark  shows antimalarial activity against Family Salvadoraceae. Plasmodium falciparum. Habitat  Peninsular India, Orissa, The aqueous extract of leaves exhib- West Bengal. ited antiulcer and anti-inflammatory English  Mistletoe Berrythorn. activity.  The water-soluble portion of alco- Siddha/Tamil Mulchangan. holic extract of leaves reduces blood Folk  Kundali. sugar in glucose-fed and adrenaline- Action  Root—diuretic (used in induced hyperglycaemic rats (but not Siddha medicine for dropsy and in normal and streptozotocin-induced rheumatism). Leaves—stimulant diabetic rats). (used in rheumatism); expectorant, A volatile fraction of the Neem oil antispasmodic (used in cough and is reported to be responsible for sper- asthma); given to women after micidal activity at a dose of  mg/ml confinement. Bark—antiperiodic, for human sperm. The oil has been astringent, expectorant. found to retard the growth of human immunodeficiency virus. The leaves contain the alkaloids az- Neem oil has caused mitochondri- imine, azcarpine and carpine. EtOH al injury in mice; poisonous in high (%) extract of aerial parts exhibited doses. (Sharon M. Herr.) spasmogenic activity.