4.5%) with methyl eugenol (an important constituent of A. europaeum), and also aristolochic acid. (Aristolochic acid is carcinogenic and nephrotoxic.) Asarum sp. are not used as a substitute for ginger.
Asciepias curassavica Linn.
Family Asclepiadaceae.
Habitat Naturalized in many parts of India as an ornamental.
English Curassavian SwallowWort, West Indian Ipecacuanha, Blood-Flower.
Ayurvedic Kaakanaasikaa (substi tute’).
Folk Kaakatundi (Kashmir).
Action Spasmogenic, cardiotonic, cytotoxic, antihaemorrhagic, styptic, antibacterial. Various plant parts, as also plant latex, are used against warts and cancer. Root—used as an astringent in piles. Leaves—juice, antidysenteric, also used against haemorrhages. Flowers—juice, styptic. Alcoholic extract of the plant—cardiotonic.
An alcoholic extract of the Indian plant has been reported to contain a number of cardenolides, including calactin, calotropin, calotropagenin, coroglaucigenin, uzarigenin, asclepin, its glucosides and uzarin. Asciepin, the chief active principle, is spasmogenic and a cardiac tonic, having longer duration of action than digoxin (96 h in cat, as opposed to the 72 h of digoxin). Calotropin exhibits cytotoxic activity.
68 Asparagus adscendens Roxb.
Pleurisy root of the U.S. is equated with Asciepias tuberosa. It is used for cold, flu and bronchitis in Western herbal medicine.
Toxic principles of the herb include galitoxin and similar resins, and glucofrugoside (cardenolide). Toxicity is reduced by drying.
Asparagus adscendens Roxb. Family Asparagaceae.
Habitat The western Himalayas and Punjab, from Himachal Pradesh to Kumaon, up to 1,500 m.
Ayurvedic Mushali, (white var.), Mahaashataavari. The black variety is equated with Taalamuuli, Chiorophytum arundinaceum Baker.
Unani Shaqaaqul-e-Hindi. Action A substitute for A. officinalis.
The root yields asparagin. Sapogenins A and B, isolated from the root, were identified as stigmasterol and sarsasapogenin.
Asparagus off icinalis Linn.
Family Asparagaceae.
