The crude oleo gum resin called guggulu is used as an incense. Suddha guggulu is a processed form of the resin used in traditional ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of epilepsy, ulcers, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and atherosclerosis since 600 BC. The gum resin is a thermogenic given in vitiated conditions of vata. It is used…
It is a small bushy shrub or tree, 4–6 ft in height with thorny branches. The leaflets are 1–3 in number and obovate and the tree, however, remains largely leafless throughout the year. The ashcoloured bark comes off in rough flakes exposing the under bark, which also peels off in papery rolls. The tree bears…
There is extensive scientific literature on chemical, pharmacological, clinical, and epidemiological studies related to garlic. In vitro studies establish its anti-bacterial, anti-mycotic, lipid-lowering, platelet aggregation inhibition, clotting, and bleeding time prolongation and increased fibrinolytic activity. It inhibits milk-clotting activity of papain and the amylolytic—activity of β-amylase. In vivo animal studies demonstrate garlic’s ability to inhibit tumor formation…
Garlic contains 65% water, 28% carbohydrates, 2.3% organosulphur compounds, 2% protein, 1.2% free amino acids, 1.5% fiber, 0.15% lipid and trace quantities of phytic acid (0.08%), saponins (0.07%) and β-sitosterol. Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, and minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, zinc and selenium are also present. The organosulphur-rich essential…
Allium sativum is a perennial bulbous plant growing to a height of about 2 ft. The plant is strong smelling when crushed and the underground portion consists of compound bulb with many fibrous rootlets. The bulb gives rise to a number of narrow keeled grass-like leaves above the ground. Leaf blade is linear, flat, solid 1–2.5…
The ethanolic extract of the plant was found to reduce total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and nonesterified fatty acids after oral administration in hyperlipidaemic rats. Besides, high-density lipoprotein was elevated in the animals. The ethanolic extract of the plant when administered to rats through gastric intubation at different time intervals showed enhanced neuro-peptide synthesis. The…
The plant is a small procumbent herb found in open grassy places almost throughout India, ascending to 6,000 ft., in the Himalayas. It is a fulvous hairy herb, woody at the base and leaves are linear to oblong, small and sub-sessile with trichomes on both surfaces. One to three pink flowers occur together, which are…
The root, leaves, and different extracts of the plant exhibit many pharmacological properties. The plant is reported with adaptogenic, hypoglycemic, anti-amoebic and immunomodulant activity. It possesses potent anti-fibrinolytic, anti-inflammatory properties and has demonstrated reduction of IUCD-induced menorrhagia in experimental animals. Punarnavoside is an anti-fibrinolytic agent and liridodendron and hypoxanthine-9-arabinofuranoside are antihypertensive agents (calcium channel blocker).…
Highly branched stem is greenish purple, swollen at nodes, prostrate, or ascending to a height of up to 1m. Leaves silvery on the undersurface are simple, thick and glabrous. Flower is small pink or white on long axillary peduncled umbellate clusters. Root is stout fusiform with a woody rootstock and has a bitter nauseous taste.…
Punarnava Punarnava refers to Boerrhavia diffusa Linn Family: Nyctaginaceae. The dried, mature whole plant is used in traditional medicine. The plant is an herbaceous perennial growing all over India as a common creeping weed and is specially abundant during the rains. Synonym B. repens Linn, B. procumbens Roxb, B. verticillata Figure 9.1 Boerhaavia diffusa Figure 9.2 Boerhaavia verticillata Common vernacular names English: Spreading Hogweed,…