Ayurvedic Vana-palaandu, Kolakanda, Vaj rakanda.
686 Urtica dioica Linn.
Unani Unsul-e-Hindi, Isqueele-Hindi, Piyaaz-Dasti, PiyaazSahraayi, Jangali Piyaaz.
Siddha/Tamil Narivengayam.
Action Used as a substitute for European Squil, Urginea maritima. Expectorant (in dry respiratory conditions, whooping cough and bronchial asthma), antispasmodic, emetic (in large doses), diuretic (promotes fluid elimination in heart disease), cardiac tonic (effect, non-cumulative). Used topically as a hair tonic for dandruff and seborrhoea (active constituent is thought to be scihiroside of the Red Squffi.)
Key application Urginea maritima—in milder cases of heart insufficiency, also for diminished kidney capacity. (German Commission E.)
Bulbs contain cardiac glycosides, scillarens A and B. Bulb, leaves and root contain stigmasterol, sitosterol and campesterol. Bulbs also contain hentriacontanol, octacosanoic acid.
Defatted air dried bulbs afforded 6
desacetoxyscillirosidin.
The plant exhibits cyanogenetic ac tivity Urginea maritima (White Squill) is
contraindicated in potassium deficien c or when digitalis glycosides are be in used (Francis Brinker), in hyper calcaemi and hyperkalaemia (Sharon
M. Herr).
Urginea coromandeliana Hook. f.
non-Wight, synonym U wightiana
Hook f. (Coromandel coast and in dry
regions of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil
Nadu up to 3,000 m) is used as a substitute for Indian Squill (U indica).
Dosage Bulb—120—200 mg powder. (CCRAS.)
Urtica dioica Linn.
Family Urticaceae.
Habitat North-western Himalaya from Kashmir to Simla at 2,400— 3,600 m.
English Stinging Nettle.
Ayurvedic Vrishchhiyaa-shaaka (related species).
Unani Anjuraa.
Folk Shisuun (Kumaon).
Action Plant—diuretic, astringent, antihaemorrhagic; eliminates uric acid from the body, detoxifies the
