Unani Usqurdiyun, Kamaazariuus.
Action Gastric stimulant, diuretic, sudorific. Used in spleen disorders and rheumatism; topically in skin diseases.
The herb contains iridoid glycosides, including harpagide and acetyl harpagide; clerodane and neoclero - dane diterpenes; phenylpropanoids; volatile oil, containing about 60% caryophyllene; tannins and polyphenols.
One of the maj or furanoneoerodane diterpenes, teucrin A, is hepatotoxic.
Ether extract of the flowering herb shows antibacterial activity.
Teucrium scordium Linn.
Family Labiatae, Lam iaceae.
Habitat Native to Europe; found in
Kashmir.
English Water-Germander.
Action Stimulant, antiseptic, sudorific. Given for phthisis and cough. An infusion is used as laxative in piles, as a gargle in sore throat and stomatitis. An extract of the herb is given in lupus and actinomycosis. Flower tops and leaves—astringent, diaphoretic, vermifuge.
The herb contains iridoids, including harpagide and acetyl harpagide; furanoid diterpenes; also choline, rutin, quercetin, iso-quercetin, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol, beta- amyrin, chlorogenic and ursolic acids.
Thalictrum foliolosum DC.
Family Ranunculaceae.
Habitat The temperate Himalayas from 1,500 to 2,400 m, in the Khasi hills and in Kashmir, Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa.
Ayurvedic Pitarangaa, Piyaaraangaa. Pitamuulikaa (substitute).
Unani Mamiri. (Mamiraa is equated with Coptis teeta Wall.)
Action Plant—used against gout and rheumatism. Root—febrifuge, antiperiodic; a bitter tonic during convalescence.
The root contains alkaloids berberme and magnoflorine. (Berberine causes a stimulant action on the movements of the gastrointestinal tract, a de pression of both the auricles and ventricles and distinct dilatation of the heart. Magnoflorine induces hyp otention.) Berberine content is reduced to one-fourth and magnoflorine to traces after 6 months. The root also contains palmitine and jatrorrhizine.
Thalictrum sp. (about 17 species are found in India)—alkaloidal structure exhibits antitumoral activity.
Over 60 isoquinoline and diterpenoid alkaloids have been isolated. (See The Wealth of India, Vol. X.)
