POLYGONATUM sp. (Liliaceae)
Medicinal uses
In the Indian literature there is little, apart from what
the Sanskrit writers say, to support the view that
Pologonatum cirrhifolium and Polygonatum verticillatum
should work as brain tonics.
The plant mentioned in the Pen ts'ao kang mou is
Polygonatum cirrhifolium. The root acts
as a tonic and is used
in a dosage of 10-36 grm 1). The same plant is described by Chamfrault 2)
and Stuart 3) as Polygonatum
canaliculatum.
So does Hooper 4) who describes it as Polygonatum
falcatum.
The root of the plant is highly valued by the Taoists who
call it "Food for the immortals".
It is apparently less
praised by others who call it "Poor man's
relief". The Taoists use it as a
food replacing rice. It is a very
nourishing tonic, increasing the virility.
Polygonatum officinale (Solomon's Seal) contains a
glucoside which in moderate doses act as a cardiac
stimulant. It is
non toxic. The root is occasionally said
to be a possible replacement for Ginseng as a tonic.
It is used in cases of rheumatism and in ulcerations of
the eyelid 5).
It is also used for bruises 1). Dosage 5-10 grm.
In Europe the powdered root of Polygonatum multiflorum
has been used as a poultice for bruises, piles,
inflammations and tumours 6).
After all it looks as if the various Polygonatum species
mainly act as a tonic.
..........................................................................................
1) Roy, loc.cit.,
p. 82
2) Chamfrault,
loc.cit. 111, p. 215
3) Stuart,
loc.cit. p. 339
4) Hooper,
Garden's Bulletin S.S. 6, 112 (1920 - 1930)
5) Chamfrault,
loc.cit. 111, p. 216.
6) Kirtikar,
Easu, loc.cit. p. 2506
SALVIA MILTIORHIZA BUNGE (Labiatae).
Chinese name Tan-shen
Medicinal uses
From this plant which is called red Ginseng, the root is
used. It is red externally and purplish
internally when
fresh. The
interior is soft, and the taste of the whole is sweetish, resembling that of
licorice. This root is one of
the five astral remedies, which are thought to correspond
to the five colours. This particular one
belongs to the
heart, and its red colour suggests the blood 1). It is credited with alterative,
antispasmodic, arthritic, tonic,
sedative, astringent, and vulnerary properties, and is
highly recommended in all blood difficulties.
Hurrier 2) mentions that the root is antispasmodic,
tonic, sedative and astringent.
One considers the root to be a sedative in fevers with
delirium. in haemorrhages and in general
asthenia. Petelot
3) considers it as one of the main products of the
Chinese pharmacopeoia and worth a profound study.
Although the Pen ts'ao recommends it as a memory
stimulant, its activity in these compositions is probably
limited to that of a tonic.
Salvia officinalias Linn has according to Chopra, Nayar
and Choptra 4) tonic and astringent
properties. Its
infusion is used as a lotion for ulcers, and to heal raw
abrasions of the skin.
....................................................................................
1) Stuart,
loc.cit. p. 392
3) Hurrier,
loc.cit. p. 182
3) Petelot,
loc.cit. 11, 272
4) Chopra, Nayar
and Chopra, loc.cit. p. 219
PACHYMA COCOS (Fungi)
Chinese name Fou Ling
Medicinal uses
This fungus is both a food and medicine for the
Chinese. They are met with on the sites
of old fir-plantations, or
connected with living fir trees. Their form is that of large tubers with a
rough, blackish-brown skin, varying in
size from that of a fist to that of a peck measure. Internally they contain a white, hard,
starchy substance,
sometimes tinged with pale red or brown, especially
towards the outside. The size of the
tubers varies and those
who are most white and hard fix the highest price. A similar product is found in Japan and South
Carolina, in
which latter country it is called Indian-bread 1).
The fungus can be propagated by attaching slices of the
growth to fresh cut pieces of fir wood which are then
buried in the ground and covered over with sand 2). They do not easily decay, and are said to be
found
unchanged after lying in the ground for a period of
thirty years.
Fou ling is tasteless and odourless. It is insoluble in water or cold alcohol, but
soluble in a diluted sodium
carbonate solution.
It precipitates after acidification.
The substance probably consists largely of pectin.
Medicinally, it is considered to be peptic, nutrient,
diuretic, and quieting, especially in the nervous disorders of
children 3). It is
prescribed in wasting diseases.
The smaller and younger varieties are considered to be
superior as a nerve tonic and sedative to those which are
older and larger.
Chamfrault 4) says that it is a moderate tonic to the
heart.
..................................................................................................
1) Soubeiran,
loc.cit. p. 89
2) Hooper,
Garden's Bulletin S.S., 6, 98 (1929-1930)
3) Stuart,
loc.cit. p. 298
4) Chamfrault,
loc.cit. 111, p. 193
LIRIOPE SPICATA LOUR (Liliaceae)
= L. graminifolia Bak.
= Ophiogon longifolius Decne
= O. spicatus ker-Gawl
= Dracaena graminifolia Lin
= Convallarie spicata Thunb.
= Fluggea spicata Schultes
= Ophiogon japonicus
Chinese name Men tong
Medicinal uses
Liriope spicata Lour and Ophiogon japonicus Wall are
treated as different plants by Petelot 1) who gives the first
six synonyms to Liriope spicata. Roi 2) does not make any difference.
According to Petelot and Stuart 3) Opniogon japonicus has
small leaves, whereas Liriope spicata (Stuart uses the
synonym Ophiogon spicatus) has large leaves.
The inner part of theroot of Liriope spicata is used as a
medicine. It is of a pale yellow colour
and acts like a
tonic and aphrodisiac promoting fertility. It assists the memory. Liriope spicata is one of the very important
Chinese drugs.
Gastric secretion is improved and digestion facilitated.
The root of Ophiogon japonicus is sweet, non toxic and a
sedative for the nervous system. It is
used in mental
diseases 4).
..........................................................................................
1) Petelot,
loc.cit. 111, 195, 196
2) Roi, loc.cit.
p. 80
3) Stuart,
loc.cit. p. 291
4) Nguyen Tran
Huan, loc.cit. p. 33
DIOSCOREA JAPONICA (Dioscoreaceae)
Chinese name Hoai Chan
Medicinal uses
There are several kinds of yam and the Pen ts'ao ascribes
to them cooling and tonic properties.
They are said to
benefit the spirits, promote flesh, and, when taken
habitually, brighten the intellect and prolong life 1).
The tubers of the cultivated yam, which have a sweet
taste, are used as a nourishing tonic, especially for the
spleen and the stomach 2).
They are a prime article of food in several Chinese
provinces.
As a poultice they are applied in carbuncles, boils and
incipient abscesses 1).
.............................................................................
1) Stuart,
loc.cit. p. 150
2) Chamfrault,
loc.cit. 111, p. 131
EPIMEDIUM MACRANTHUM MOORE ET DECNE (Berberidacceae)
= Aceranthus sagittatum Sieb et Zuce.
= Epimedium sagitta tum
Chinese name in Yang Houo
Medicinal uses
The leaves of this plant are strongly aphrodisiac.
Animals eating the plant are said to be incited to
excessive copulation, hence the Chinese name.
It is described
in sterility and barrenness, and is said to have great
virtues in these conditions 1).
Hooper 2) mentions that the leaves are tonic, stimulant
and antirheumatic. They have the reputation
of being a
powerful aphrodisiac and useful in kidney troubles.
Chamfrault 3) and Hübotter 4) confirm the activity as a
tonic for the sexual powers, for the kidneys and the knees.
It is used in the
treatment of impotence.
The Catalogue des produits de l'Indochine 3) says that it is prescribed as a tonic with
other ingredients for
kidney trouble.
The roots are macerated twelve hours in alcohol. They are then roasted and a decoction is
prepared which is considered to be a tonic for old men
and which is also given to people whose memory fails
and to paralysed persons.
..............................................................................................
1) Stuart,
loc.cit. p. 4
2) HOOPER,
Garden's Bulletin S.S. 6, 58 (1929-
1930)
3) Chamfrault,
loc.cit. 111, p. 139
4) Hübotter,
loc.cit. p. 59
CURCULIGO ENSIFOLIA - R.Br. (Amarylidaceae).
= C. ensifolia
R.Br.
= C. stans Labill.
= C. malabrica
= C. orchioides v.
minor Brenth.
= Hypoxis minor
Seen.
= H. orchioides
Kurz.
Chinese name Sien mao
Medicinal uses
Guerrero 1) says
that the root, when powdered and used pure, or mixed with other tonic or
carminative vegetable
drugs, is considered tonic, pectoral, diuretic and
aphrodisiac.
Kirtikar and Basu 2), Nadkarni 3) and other writers
mention all the tonic properties.
Chopra, Nayar and Chopra 4)
say that the rhizome is a tonic and aphrodisiac.
The tonic properties are also stressed by Chamfrault 5)
who uses it for weakness, in the
legs, in case of male
sterility and impotence.
The plant is not toxic.
The rhizome is used as a poultice for itch and skin
diseases 4).
................................................................................................
1) L.M.Guerrero,
Philip. Bur. Forestry Bull. 22, 149-246
(1921)
2) Kirtikar,
Basu, loc.cit. p. 1277
3) Nadkarni,
loc.cit. p. 271
4) Chopra, Nayar,
Chopra, loc.cit. p. 84
5) Chamfrault,
loc.cit. 111, p. 122
GLYCYRRHIZA TOURN. (Leguminosae).
Chinese name Kan ts'ao
Medicinal uses
Roi 1) stresses that the Chinese Glycyrrhiza species are
different from the European. The Chinese
name kan
ts'ao is mainly used for G. asperrima L.and C. uralensis
Fisch.
The root, which is official in many pharmacopoeia's is of
great importance in Chinese and Indian pharmacy, and
stands next to ginseng in popular estimation.
It is sweet, slightly bitter and has tonic, alexipharmic,
alterative and aphrodisiac properties.
As a mild laxative and a remedy for coughs and sore
throats it is well known. For headaches
and epilepsy it is
also used (Arurveda) 2)
Chinese pharmacy makes an extensive use of the drug in
disguising other medicines, in covering the acrid taste
of many nauseous drugs.
Pain, discomfort and other symptoms caused by acrid matter in the
stomach are
relieved by use of the drug. According to Chopra 3) it seems to remove the irritant effects of
acids in a better
way than alkalies.
Liquorice extract has been in use as a remedy for peptic ulcer.
The root is said to heal ulcers, wounds and is applied,
mixed with honey to burns, boils and other sores 4).
Like most celebrated Chinese drugs; it is credited with
the property of rejuvenating those who consume it for a
long time.
At first sight the drug has no specific action on the
mind and its addition to mental stimulants seems merely to be
that of a tonic.
.................................................................................
1) Roi, loc.cit.
p. 184
2) Kirtikar,
Basu, loc.cit. p. 727
3) Chopra,
loc.cit. p. 180
4) Stuart,
loc.cit. p. 196
ZIZIPHUS VULGARIS LAM.
(Rhamnaceae).
= Z. jujuba Mill.
= Z. sativa
Caertn.
= Rhamnus ziziphus
L.
Chinese name Ta Tsao
Medicinal uses
The cultivated Ziziphus vulgaris is the common
jujube. The large ripe dates are much
used in medicine. They
are considered nourishing, tonic, sedative and
laxative. Chamfault 2) mentions from the
kernels that they have a
sweet taste and are a tonic to the spleen and the
stomach. They are often combined with
ginger, a common
constituent in tonic remedies and from which it is said
that it stimulates cerebral activity.
This combination is
often used by the rural population after having caught a
cold 3). The Taoists use the fruits in
their immortality
drinks 4).
There are several varieties of Ziziphus jujuba is the
wild spinous form of Ziziphus vulgaris, which in its
cultivated state has no spines 1). This wild form is a very thorny shrub
producing small, spherical, sour, edible
fruits having a globular pit. The fruits are considered cooling, anodyne
and tonic. If eaten frequently, they are
said to increase the flesh and strength. Both varieties of Ziziphus are constituents
in Chinese memory stimulants.
According to
Indian sources 5) the ripe fruit is aphrodisiac, tonic and invigorating. The seed is astringent; tonic
to the heart and the brain; allays thirst. The root and bark are tonic.
The ripe fruit is used for wounds and ulcers. The leaves are good in gum bleeding and heal
wounds. The root is
applied as a powder to ulcers and old wounds.
The fruits are also used in rheumatism.
.........................................................................................
1) Stuart,
loc.cit. p. 466
2) Chamfrault,
loc.cit. 111, p. 283, 285
3) Memoires
concernant les Chinois par les Missionaires de Pékin. Paris, 1797 111, p. 482
4) Roi, loc.cit.
p. 217
5) Kirtikar,
Basu, loc.cit. p. 589
Siegesbeckia orientalis (Compositae).
Medicinal uses
This plant is well known in China and used medicinally
against rheumatism 1) 2) 3).
Roi 4) mentions its use against skin diseases, ulcers,
swellings and paralysis. This last
activity is also recorded by
Nguyen 3) "les paralysies des membres" and
Chamfrault 5) "Utilisé dans le traitement de l'atonie, de l'apoplexie,
...."
Stuart 6) records its use in China for worm fever and
loss of appetite, for wounds (to relieve pain), as a mild
stimulant in patients with ulcers, for chronic malaria
and for numbness of the extremities.
Dymock 7) states that the medicinal properties of
Siegesbeckia orientalis are not known to the natives of India.
In Australia it is used as a stimulant and sudorific and
externally for ulcers and wounds 8).
Crevost and Pételot 9) report that in Tahiti the plant
enters into the preparation of every cure for wounds, sprains,
dislocations and contusions.
The juice of the fresh herb is used in the island of
Reunion as a dressing for wounds, over which, as it dries, it
leaves a varnish-like coating 10). A decoction of the leaves and young shoots is
used as a lotion for ulcers.
Hutchinson 11) has
recommended a tincture of Siegesbeckia as a local application in certain skin
diseases.
Diara and Lederer 12) mention that the plant, which grows
abundantly in Madagascar, has the name "Herbe de
Flag" or "quérit vite" on account of its
fast wound healing properties.
The information from many different sources clearly
points to the effect that Siegesbeckia is very effective in
during many sorts of abnormal skin conditions, including
wound healing.
Chinese sources also indicate its activity on
rheumatism.
A stimulation of mental activity has hardly been
noticed. Perhaps Guerrero's statement
13) goes into that
direction when he says that in the Philippines the
decocted leaves are used as an alterative and applied in the
form of a lotion as a vulnerary.
The active component seems to be watersoluble. the plant is slightly toxic.
...............................................................................................................
1) Soubeiran,
loc.cit. p. 161
2) Perrot,
Hurrier, loc.cit. p. 197
3) Nguyen,
loc.cit. p. 25
4) Roi, loc.cit.
p. 315
5) Chamfrault,
loc.cit. p. 248
6) Stuart,
loc.cit. p. 407
7) Dymock,
loc.cit.p. 264
8) E.Hurst. The poison plants of New South Wales
Poison Plants Committee N.S. Wales, Sydney 1942, p. 415
9) Crevost,
Pételot
Catalogue des Produits de l'Indo-Chine (Plantes
Medicinales) 32, 578 (1929)
10) C. Daruty
Plantes médicinales de l'île Maurice et des pays
intertropicaux. Maruice (1886)
11) J.
Hutchinson Brit. Med. Journ. 1887,
June 25
12) A. Diara, E.
Lederer, Comptes Rendus 244, 472 (1957)
13) According to
Quisumbing, loc.cit. p. 994.
2. Acorus
gramineus, Ait. (root). 1)
"For strengthening memory and aiding mental acuity.
On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, take
Acorus and powder it. Take a
spatula-full in rice
wine, but avoid intoxication from excess of wine".
A recipe containing both materials is the following 2) :
"powder equal parts of Polygala
tenuifolia and Acorus gramineus and take about 3 gm. on
the 25th day of the 60-day cycle".
It is this prescription which was much more commonly used
in all sorts of forgetfullness. Leaving
out the
magical elements, these ancient prescriptions are very
simple. The complete ignorance of
Chinese medicine
outside China explains the fact that the rhizome of
Acorus gramineus, otherwise official in several dozen of
pharmacopoeias, has never been checked as a mental
stimulant.
As such it is more appreciated in China as in India,
though in the answers upon our questionnaire to Indian
Vaidyas (p. ) it
was occasionally mentioned to be the most potent mental stimulant.
A composite prescription 3) using different materials:
Rehmannia glutinosa, Libosch (root)
Asparagus lucidus (root)
Liriope gramnifolia (stem and root)
Panax ginseng (root)
The way in which the final product is prepared from these
products is rather complicated.
As time went by more materials are added. Nowadays recipes are used which contain the
following drugs:
..............................................................................................
1) From the
Ch'ien chin fang of Sun Ssu-mo, between 650 and 659 translated from PTKM, ch.
19, p. 1065
a.
2) From the Cheng
chih chun sheng, Vol. I, p. 334.
3) I t'ung fang,
translated from the Unabridged Dictionnary of Chinese Medicine (Chung-kuo i-hsüeh
ta
tz'u tien), p. 1491
b.
Research into the Active constituents.
We must begin with the assumption that there is some
truth in the Ayurvedic statement about the memory
stimulating properties of the drugs mentioned above. Or at least to a certain effect as a
tonic. Which substance
or substances can be responsible for this phenomena?
Up till now no efforts have been made to isolate the
active components nor have medical experiments been
undertaken. We are
therefore left in the dark. The plants
furthermore belong to entirely different families and
entering into the wilderness of the chemical composition
does not lead at first sight to any conclusion.
Even the
alkaloids don't seem to be the active constituents. Some of the plants do contain very small
amounts of them,
others not.
For that reason the chemical composition has not been
added to the description of the properties of the plants.
If we want to find a clue we must go back to the recipes
of the Vaidyas and there we notice that in practically all
the memory stimulating drugs watery extracts can bring
about the desired effect.
Celastrus being the only exception.
It would be very unlikely if all these water soluble
substances would contain different active principles. So the
assumption is made that there is a certain similarity in
the chemical constitution of the active principle.
As far as has been investigated the water solubility of
the extracts is due to the presence of saponins. Here we
should pay attention to the aglycon, as we can't expect
an activity from the sugar moiety.
In tabulating the chemical composition of the aglycons of
a number of memory stimulating substances we come
to the following picture (Table 11). It is to be regretted that the chemical
composition of the plants mentioned in
our first table is very incompletely known. We have therefore to include other memory
stimulating drugs as
well, besides the ones from our first table.
Table 11
Plant name
Bruto formula
Name
Structure
Hydrocotyle
asiatica
(Umbellifereae)
Terminalia 1)
arjuna
(Combretaceae)
Barringtonia
racemosa
(Lecythidaceae)
Polygala
temfolia
(Polygalaceae)
Uvaria catocarpa
(Annonaceae)
C30H48O5
C30H48O5
C30H50O4
C30H48O4
Asiatic acid
Arjunolic acid
Barringtogenol
Bredemolic acid
Alcohols derived from
Senepoxyde and
Seneol
1) The fruits
ofTerminalia chebula are used as memory stimulants. As Terminalia arjuna has been investigated,
we give the
compound of
this plant. Terminalia ivorenses
contains terminolic acid which has the same arrangement of hydroxylgroups on
the left
side of the molecule.
The chemical constitution of the tabulated compounds
shows, with one exception 1), a striking and rather unique
similarity in the special combination of hydroxyl groups
in the left side of the molecules 2). It
resembles very much
the one from ribose, the sugar component from R N A and
the nucleosides.
BASE
HOH2C HOH2C O
H3C
HO OH
HO
OH
The triterpenestructure as is present in most of the
drugs mentioned is apparently not a necessity as can be judged
from the very simple structure of senepoxyd and seneol
from Uvaria catocarpa which we have tabulated in the non
esterified form.
Uvaria catocarpa (Annonaceae) is not an Indian nor a Chinese plant but
is from Madagascar. An
extract of the fruits has been in use in France as a
tonic.
In Tanganyika Uvaria leptocladon is used for mental
diseases 3).
----------------------------------------------------
1) The exception
is probably not real. Polygala
tenuifolia does contain also tenuifolic acid.
C30 H44-46 O6.
The structure of this acid has not yet been elucidated,
but it may well have the same combination of
hydroxylgroups.
The structure of Senegenin from the roots of Polygala senega is also an
indication.
It has a carboxylgroup on the place of the primary
hydroxylgroup.
J.J. Dugan, P. de Mayo, A.N. Starratt, Can. J. Chem. 42,
491 (1964); Proc. Chem. Soc., 264 (1964).
2) The
stereochemical arrangement of the hydroxylgroups will be discussed later.
3) J.M.Watt, M.G.
Breyer-Brandwijk, Medicinal and poisonous plants of Southern and Eastern
Africa,
p. 62.
A compount with a similar structure is crotepoxyde 1)
from Croton macrostachys (Euphorbiaceae) which in its non
esterified form has the formula
O O
HOH2C
HO OH
Nothing is known of its use as a tonic.
....................................................................................
1) S.N. Kupchan,
c.s., J.A.C.S. 1968, 2982.
Mode of action
The modern concept of the memory mechanism is that the
engram consists of peptides composed of a chain of
different amino acids.
Ungar has recently demonstrated this for rats and has
been able to isolate the peptide representing a certain engram.
This was followed by its structure determination and
subsequent synthesis.
We now want to assume that the memorymechanism - the
synthesis of proteins - is accelerated by the compounds
which we are studying.
If this is so then the question arises whether normal
protein formation as f.i. in the case of wound healing is also
accelerated. This
seems to be the case (Table 111).
Some of these products are extensively used for
woundhealing, skin diseases etc. and apparently with much success,
as f.i. Hydrocotyle asiatica.
If compounds which have a memory stimulating effect
accelerate woundhealing, then the possibility exists that drugs
from which it is known that they speed up the healing of
wounds vice versa possess memory stimulating properties.
So f.i. Siegesbeckia orientalis (Asteroideae) known at
Madagascar as "Herbe de Flaq ou guerit vite".
It contains a saponin.
The aglycon darutigenol is a tricyclic compound. What is more fascinating is that it has a 1,2
-
glykol-group and a primary hydroxyl function 1).
Another plant which has strong woundhealing properties is
Arnica montana (Compositae). The active
components of
this plant are still unknown 2).
Hardly anything is known about the influence of our
substances on the growth of plant proteins, this being of no
importance to the ancient people. It should however be mentioned that
asiaticoside, the saponin from Hydrocotyle
asiatica has a remarkable activity on the growth of plant
tissues. It accelerates them in low
concentrations, and
inhibits them in higher ones 3).
.........................................................................................
1) J.Pudles, A.
Diara, E. Lederer, C.R. 244, 472 (1957).
The drug is also used in Chinese medicine o the same
purpose.
Compare J. Roi, s.j., Traité des plantes médicinales
chinoises, p. 315.
2) K.E. Schulte,
c.s., Arch.Pharm. 296, 273 (1963).
3) P.Boiteau,
A.R. Ratsimamanga, C.R. Soc. Biol. CL11, 1106 (1958)
Table 111
List of plants which are used in mental diseases and skin
diseases
Latin name
Literature and Remarks
Celastrus paniculatum (Celastrinae)
Hydrocotyle asiatica
Convolvulus microphyllus (Convolvulaceae)
Terminalia chebula
Tinospora ccordifolia
Lantana camara
Elaeodendron glaucum (Celastrinae) is much
more used against skin diseases. It is also
active against mental diseases.
1, p. 343; 4, 91.
2, p. 176
The root of Argyreia nervosa (Convolvulaceae)
is used in diseases of the nervous system. The
leaves in skin diseases.
6, p. 754.
2, p. 160
2, p. 105; 6, 300.
6, p. 795; 7, p. 1310; 8;
1) W.Dymock,
Pharmacographia Indica, (1890)
2) U.C. Dutt, The
Materia Medica of the Hindus (1877)
3) K.R. Kirtikar,
B.D. Basu, Indian Medicinal Plants.
4) Chandrasena,
The Chemistry and Pharmacology of Ceylon & Indian Medicinal Plants.
5) Nadkarni,
Indian Materia Medica
6) E.Quisumbing,
Medicinal Plants of the Philippines
(1951)
7) K.Heyne, De
Nuttige Planten van nederlandsch Indië (1927)
8) Haiti, Flore
medicinale. No date. Rate booklet.
Tableau 29
"Facilite dit-on le travail intellectuel".
Experimental Part
By carying out a detailed study of the various memory
stimulating drugs we have come to a basic structure of the
active compounds and even to a mode of action.
The exact proof about the correctness of our assumptions
has still to be given. We have therefore
to prove:
10. The memorystimulating
activity on mammals of the drugs mentioned.
20. In the
biologically active drugs, that had not yet been investigated chemically, the
presence should be shown
of triols which have an arrangement of hydroxylgroups as
shown before.
30. Synthesis and
testing of simple compounds which have the basic structural requirements.
40. Experimental
evidence about the woundhealing properties of the substances mentioned under 20
and 30.
50. Pharmacological
and toxicological data.
60. Experiments
with human beings.
A LIST OF SINGLE VEGETABLE DRUGS REPUTED FOR THE
PROMOTION OF MEMORY AND OTHER MENTAL FACULTIES
No
Sanskrit
name
Reference
Hindi or
popular
name
Botanical
name
Indications
1
2
3
4
5
6
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Aindri
Atichatra
Bhallataka
Brahmi
Chatra
Guduchi
Haritaki
Jivanti
Ksirapushpi
Kushtha
Lashuna
Mahameda
Mahasravani
Manduka-
parni
Meda
Nagabala
Payasya
Pippali,
Punarnava
Shankh-
pushpi
Shankh-
pushpi
Shatavari
c, ch 1-4; 6
c, ch 1-4; 6
c, ch 1-2; 19
c, ch 1-4; 6
c, ch 1-4; 6
c, ch 1-3; 30
c, ch 1-1; 30
c, ch 1-4; 6
c, ch 1-4; 6
c, ch 10,64
c, ch 10;64
c, ch 1-4; 6
c, ch 1-4; 6
c, ch 1-3;30
c, ch 1-4;6
c, ch 1-4;6
c, ch 1-4;6
c, ch 1-3;40
c, ch 1-4;6
c, ch 1-3;30
c, ch 1-3;31
c, ch 1-4;6
Bhilava
Giloya
Harada
Jivanti
Kutha
Tahaguna
Mahameda
Badi
gorakhmundi
Meda
Gangerana
Ksisabi
Pipar
Punarnava
Shankhahuli
- do -
Shatavar
Semecarpus
anacardium
Linn.f.
Bacopa
monnieri
Linn
Pennell
Tinospora
cordifolia
(Willd) Miers
Terminalia
chebula Retz
Leptadenia
reticulata
W & A
Sanssurea
lappa
C.B.Clarke
Allium
sativum
Linn.
Polygonatum
cirricifolium
Royle
Sphaeranthus
indicus Linn.
Centella asiatica
Linn. Urban.
Polygonatum
verticillatum Allioni
Grewia
populifolia vahl
IIpomoea digitata
Linn
Piper logum Linn
Boerhaevia diffusa
Linn
Convolvulus
pluricaulis choisy
Asparagus racemosus
Willd
Secures intelligence and
menory
Secures intelligence and
memory
Promotive of intelligence
Secures intelligence and
memory
Secures intelligence and
memory
Express juice to be
administered as braintonic
Promotes intelligence and
sense vigour
Secures intelligence and
memory
Secures intelligence and
memory
To be given in epilepsy
To begiven in epilepsy
Secures intelligence and
memory
Secures intelligence and
memory
Expressed juice is given as
brain tonic.
Secures intelligence and
memory
Secures intelligence
Secures intelligence and
memory
Fruit powder to be given as
brain tonic
Secures intelligence and
memory
The paste of the whole
plant to be given as brain
tonic.
Special brain tonic
Secures intelligence
- 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
Sravani
Sthira
Vacha
Vidari
Yashti-
madhuk
c, ch 1-4;6
c, ch 1-4;6
c, ch 1-4;6
c, ch 1-4;6
c, ch 1-3;30
Gorakhmundi
Shalaparni
Vacha
Vidari
Mulethi
Sphaeranthus
racempsus
Desmodium
gangeticum D.C.
Acorus
calamus Linn.
Tuberosa D.C.
Glycyrrhiza
glabra Linn
Secures intelligence and
memory
Secures intelligence and
memory
Secures intelligence and
memory
Secures intelligence and
memory
Powder of the root to be
taken with milk as brain
tonic.
References: c = Charaka
Samhita, Jamnagar, 1949
a = Ashtanga hridaya, Motilal Banarasidas,
1963.
............................................................................................................................................
Kenmerk CT71/99/L1320
- 1 -
1) Herpestis
monniera H.B.K.
2) Hydrocotyle
asiatica Linn
3) Hydrocotyle
javanica Thumb
4) Ipomoea
renieformis
All the above plants are identified by different
authorities as Brahmi described in Ayurved.
I personally feel that Herpestis
monniera is the Brahmi.
In your letter you have mentioned Hydrocotyle asiatica which is not
Brahmi. This I have confirmed
from Tarachand Ramnath Ayurvedic Hospital. In few days time I shall contact Botanical Survey
of India and get their opinion
on this.
Separately I am writing the ORIGINAL description of the plant from the
Ayurvedic text for your information. I
will
have to write it in Sanskrit because the translation may
not convey the exact meaning. In
Gujrathi Hydrocotyle asiatica is
known as Khadbrahmi and Herpestis monniera is known as
Brahmi. So I feel that Herpestis
monniera should be selected for
the investigations first.
The description of this plant can be obtained from the modern text books
on this subject as follows:
1) A.K. Nadkarni;
Indian Materia Medica; (popular book
VOL: 1; pp. 624; 1954
(Depot, Bombay
2) Kirtikar and
Basu; Indian Medical Plants 2nd edition
VOL: 11; Edition 11; pp. 1193
3) Desai V.G.;
Aushadhi Sangrama, The Materia Medica & Therapeutics of Indian Medical
Plants;
p.p. 358, 1927
4) Chopra
Many more books of modern botanists and pharmacognosists
can be mentioned but I think it is not necessary. I do not know if
you can get these books in your library. If you can not, then let me know so I can
send you all the information. The old
Ayurvedic text describes Brahmi as follows:
Paryaya, (i.e. synonyms) Brahmi, Kapotvamka, Somvallij,
Sasapvati.
Varnam (i.e. description)
(ie. Grows by the side of the water or marshy places)
(ie. Its leaves are round, soft, polished or smooth and
entire)
(ie. The leaves are used in medicine).
(Properties mentioned in old text)
Brahmi ... is described as cooling, laxative, pungent in
taste, reduces fat, increases intellectual and is calming tranquilliser. It
is astringent (Kashaya) sweet and after digestion also it
induces a sense similar to sweetness increases life span, tills back the
metabolism to anabolic side, improves voice and speech,
increases memory, it is useful in skin condition, anaemic states,
reduces fattyness, reduces cough etc.
My own comments on this old description is:
1) Both CNS and
integumentory systems are described from the ectodermal cells hence it is
useful in CNS and skin
conditions. This correlation appears to be well
recognised long back.
2) The plant
specifically acts on hot tendencies like irritability, anxiety states,
neuritides etc. and antagonises these
properties.
3) By experience
it was found out then, that Brahmi has specific action on central nervous
system and by some way
reduces the
neuronal irritability. This it might be
achieving by reducing the leakage of different neurchormones like nor
adrenaline,
acetylcholine etc.
It will not be worth while at this point to comment on
how Brahmi acts in mental condition as I am not an authority on mental
diseases and I am only a student of pharmacology and
really I do not know how drugs reach and act at higher levels. I have
also not done any psychopharmacological studies on
Brahmi. My experience with this
particular province is limited to
caffeine, d-amphetamine, strychnine etc. when some times
back I tried caffeine alkaloid on mice and rats chronically to find
out if it produces psychotic, manic conditions leading to
automutilation. This work was in
relation to the work of J.M. Peters
who stated that such a chronic administration of caffeine
leads to self injuries (automutilation) but I could not get it. I have
published this finding.
My second experience of psychotropic drugs was with spiders. I tried a few CNS stimulants on the
web building activity of Indian spiders of Ulloboridae
family. And I noted difference in webs
pattern with different drugs.
This work is also published.
If you like I can send the reprints of these works
through our department. coming back to
your questions; if anybody had tried
these drugs on mentally retarded patients? Well Brahmi is very widely used by Ayurvedic
doctors on their patients in different
- 2 -
forms and the sales of the different Brahmi preparations
can speak itself. But unfortunately at
this moment I have no scientific
information at hand either animal studies or on human
beings to show the usefulness of Brahmi in CNS degenerative disease.
I will try to hunt for such an article in Indian Medical
Magazines or I will enquire in Ayurvedic drug companies and
Ayurvedic Hospitals regarding the requirements, sales of
such a product, which will give some idea about the popularity of
this medicinal plant.
But Brahmi Oil (oil prepared from Brahmi is very extensively used by the
laity that everybody knows.
Your second question, what does your Ayurved say about
these drugs is already answered on the back page. Brahmi is used
both internally and externally. Internally it is used in combination with
other drugs and with ghee. Most of the
Brahmi
preparations are in the form of ghee and you know the
nervous system contains lot of fat in mitochondria and cell wall. I do
not know if such an exogenous administration of animal
fat is beneficial in any way, for the regeneration of the cell function.
But in old days ghee in "pure" form was used as
a "vehicle" for medicine and still in some provinces they consume
lots of
ghee without harmful effects. Dr. M.C. Komau has tested Brahmi + Ghee in
cases of hysteria and epilepsy. The
results were
encouraging. This
is mentioned by A.K. Nadkarni 1954.
Dose of the fresh Brahmi juice is from ½ to one tola
according to age, weight, sex and the disease.
Brahmi syrup is given 1 to
2 tea-spoonfuls BD or and Brahmighrita is given
in the same dose in 1-2 tea-spoonful two or three times a day. If
before or after the meals varies again according to condition. But Brahmi ghrita or Brahmi itself causes
dullness of stomach or
reduces the appetite, is mentioned so it should not be
given before meals.
Chemistry:
Contains trace only, material soluble in alcohol, two resins, one
soluble in other; an organic acid, tannin and a
alkaloid BRAHMINE.
Only 0.01 percent of this alkaloid can be isolated by treatment with
boiling water, but when treated
with a mixture of glycerol and water a larger quantity of
the alkaloid (0.02%) is isolated.
Actions: Cardiac and Nervine tonic, Diuretic. Alkaloid is highly toxic.
Frogs: They are
killed under 10 minutes with a dose of 0.5 mgm/100 g body weight.
Rate and guinea pigs: Under 24 hours with 25 mgm:kg
Cat: 0.5 mgm/kg produces fall in BP 1). But with small dose there is rise in BP.
Alkaloid is said to be similar in action to strychnine
but it is less toxic than strychnine.
Strychnine acts on myocardium
indirectly whereas it is said that Brahmine acts
directly. Also Brahmine does not produce
reflex imitation. (Brahmi is most
probably obtained from Herpestis monniera the true
Brahmi). The alkaloid also stimulates
plain muscles of intestine and
uterus of laboratory animals even with a dilution of 1 in
200.000 to 1 in 500.000. I do not know
if all this is known to Prof.
Hackmann.
--------------------------------------
1) BP - blood
pressure
If he wants I can pass more information on the problem of
indigenous drugs.
Along with Brahmi I have also collected some useful
information about Malkangini and Shankhpushpi.
Again I have come
across controversial information about Shankhpushpi. It is recognised as Convolvulus alsinoides
and also as Canscora
decussata. In your
letter you have mentioned this plant as Convolvulus microphyllus. This particular species I could not find
out in the books available in our library. I will try to get the information about C.
microphyllus from the Botanical Survey of
India. Canscora
decussata is mentioned under the order Gentianaceae whereas Concolvulus
alsinoides is mentioned under the
order Convolvulaceae.
These two different plants are claimed to be Shankhpuphpi. Ayuervedic description of plants is
always very brief and mostly the plants were shown by the
Guru, (the teacher) to the Shiphya (the
pupil) directly. Hence this
confusion. One of
the authors says Shankhpuspi is not exactly identified. Personally I feel Shankhpuspi is what you
have
mentioned is correct ie Convolvulus microphyllus. The name of the genera is correct but if the
species is microphalous or
alsinoides I will find out from some old vaidya and the
botanical survey of India. Again I have
collected some information
about this plant which I will pass on to you in due
course. This is what Ayurved has
mentioned about Malkargini. Mangalya
Kusuma (synonyms): Shankhpushpi, Shankha, (N.B.:
Convolvulus genera is known as Shankhpushpi
Gujrathi Shankhavala; Panjabi: Shankhpushpi
Marathi: Shankhvel.
Canscora genera is known as Sanphret: Shankhpushpi
Gujrathi Shankhavali Marathi
Yayochi.
So you can note that in different languages at different
places different plants appear to be claimed as Shankhpushpi. I for
myself have never an occasion to see the plant itself or
have look at the drawing or a photograph.
(Incidentally if you like I can take photographs and send
them to you of these plants).
- 3 -
Description
Shankhpushpi is found during December and January in paddy fields. The flowers are white. Properties
mentioned in the old text are:
It is laxative, increases intellectual, aphrodisiac,
improves the colour of the skin, and cures mental diseases.
It is geriatric, astringent, has hot properties, improves
memory. It is tonic and increases
appetite. It checks the three doshas
Tridoph. It is
useful in epilepsy etc. It is also
useful in skin diseases, worms and is an antidote for poisoning.
Dose: 1) Fresh juice with sugar
2) Powder of the
dry roots
3) Ghee prepared
from the plant.
Ashtanj Dhgutam which contains Shankhpushpi is also given
4 tolas.
How often is now known to me. I think I am going astray in giving you the
information in a correct pattern.
I am aware of that as I have chosen to write as the
thoughts came to my mind. Kindly excuse
me for giving you all the trouble
and bore you with such a silly letter and a silly way of
writing. Let me know in your next letter
if you are interested in ONLY
old text. Let me
know also if you have enough/all the modern information about the plants.
I assure you full cooperation from my side.
Till then cheer.
Sgd. B.R. Maydikar
Dear Brother,
As per your request, I had been to Jamanagar; and met Mr.
Arun Baxi. He gave me to understand that
the Ayurvedic
University of Jamanagar being a new University, they have
not been able to start any research work; although they propose to
do it in the near future.
However Mr. Baxi told me that quite a lot of research is going on
Shankhapushpi, Brahmi and
Malkangini in many other Institutions in India. The following persons are considered
authority on these medicinal plants.
1) Dr. Priyavrat
Sharma,
Director,
Institute of Post - Graduate Teaching in Indian Medicine;
Benares Hindu University, Benares (U.P.)
2) Dr G.B. Pande,
Associate Professor in Dravya Gun Vignan, Gujarat
Ayurvedic University, Jamanagar (Saurashtra)
I could not contact Dr. Pande for the said information,
since he was not in the station when I visited the University.
For purchasing Standard Ayurvedic preparations in India,
he suggests:
1) Dr H.K. Patel,
Punarvasi Drug Corporation, Nadiad (Gujarat State)
2) M/S Jadavji
Lallubhai & Sons,
245 Kalbadevi, Bombay - 2
3) `M/S
Dhanvantary Aushadha Bhandar,
Near Mandvi Tower,
Jamanagari (Saurashtra).
My friend Vaidya Tramhaklal Joshi writes that there is an
Institution in Ahmedabad, namely:
Vivekanand Ayurvedic Hospital,
Near Ramkrisna Ashram,
Maninagar (East),
Ahmedabad-8.
The above institution is supported by CCRIMH, India. This institution (Central Council &
Research in Indian Medicine and
Homeopathy) is a registered body. They have got 30 beds and they are carrying
out research of the type you have in mind.
Let Prof. Hackmann contact them. Perhaps they may be able to help you in your
problem.
Vaidya Trambaklal writes that Ayurvedic drugs used in
Ayurved for intelligence are called Medha drugs. Medha means brain.
It is something
like Central Nervous System and Cerebral Cortex.
Mr Trambaklal writes that as a memory stimulant, Manduk
Parni, or say Undarkani, N.O. Umbelliferae, species. Hydrocotyl
asiatica is well known.
He is preparing a complete list of other memory stimulants. His address is:
Vaidya Trambaklal, D, Joshi,
C/1106, Chunarwad,
Broach (Gujarat State),
India
Vaid Bapalal has grown very old and he is unable to work
any more.
I will try to collect more information on your problem
and write to you again. Please convey my
regards to Prof. Hackmann.
Sd. Dr. V.D.
Nanavati
Address:
Dr. V.D. Nanavati,
Residential Medical Officer,
Parsi General Hospital
Shahpore SURAT (Gujarat State)
India.
A note on some drugs
used in Ayurvedic System of Medicines.
Vaidya Nana H. Joshi
(i) Semecarpus
anacardium (Anacardiaceae).
Bhallataka (Sanskrit)
Marking Nut Tree
Parts used: - Fruit pulp & Fruit Oil.
Properties & Uses:
(i) The fruit is hot, digestible,
aphrodisiac, anthelmintic, lessens looseness of the bowels, removes Vata &
Kapha, ascites, skin diseases, piles, dysentery, tumours,
fevers, loss of appetite, urinary discharges, feats, ulcers, strengthens
teeth, useful in insanity and asthma.
(ii) Fruit oil -
hot, dry, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, tonic, makes hairs black, good for
leucoderma, coryza, epilepsy and other
nervous diseases, useful in paralysis ad superficial
pains. It is used externally as a
counter irritant in rheumatism and sprains.
It should be used with caution as it causes burns, ulcers
and blebs.
The oil is so poisonous that people are afraid of cutting
it and handling it with naked hand.
Disagreeable consequences often
result by even sleeping under the tree.
The oil is specifically used in diseases of digestive and
nervous system in Ayurved, provided there are no Pittaja symptoms.
In diseases of chronic dysentery, amoebic dysentery, loss
of appetite, indigestion, Sciatica, Paralysis, Rheumatism, swelling
piles, Epilepsy, insanity, leucoderma, Leprosy Rasayan
(i.e. increase in Blood, flesh etc.) etc.
It is used successfully by
Ayurvedic Practitioners.
It is used in following ways and doses:
(1) Oil (1 part) plus Honey (8 parts) plus Ghee (2 parts)
mixed thoroughly and given in morning in dose 2 - 5 gms.
(2) One fruit of
Semecarpus (cut into pieces) plus water (16 times of the fruit plus Milk (4
times) boiled till only milk
remains. Give the
milk after filtering on a cloth. Before
taking milk little ghee should be applied to inside of the mouth.
(3) The oil drops
fallen out by piercing iron nail in the fruit.
About 10 - 20 drops of the oil freshly collected in this way are
given with milk or ghee.
(4) The fruit (one
or two) should be cut into 2 - 3 pieces and mixed with rice and water, while it
is boiled for digestion. The
rice thus prepared should be eaten with buttermilk.
Precautions:-
Should not be taken internally in hot season, without ghee, with hot
drinks, Pittaja diseases and persons having
Pittaja constitution.
(11) Hydrocotyle
asiatica
Brahmi (Sanskrit)
A glabrous creeping herb, found in damp places.
The whole plant and the leaf juice or leaf powder is used
as medicine.
Properties & Uses:
Bitter, aphrodisiac (
), good in scabies and leucoderma, syphilis and purifies the blood.
It is used by Ayurvedic practitioners as a nervine tonic
(Increasing bone marrow tissue) useful in insanity, epilepsy and
hoarseness and coughing.
It is a powerful diuretic and aperient ( ).
(1) The leaf juice
(½ ozs) with ghee and sugar is specially used.
Even the plant decoction is used.
(2) The plant is
dried in shade and made powdered (1-2 gms.) and used with ghee and honey for
children who have symptoms
of under developed brain, late speaking etc.
(3) The oil
prepared by boiling, with leaf decoction is used for massage on head daily in
headache, insanity, sleeplessness,
epilepsy, etc.
(4) The ghee
prepared by boiling, with decoction of leaves is also used internally (10 - 20
gms.)
Brahmi is not giving sleep like morphine or any sedative
but acts on mind and soothes it, and thus the patient gets calmness
and relief from the diseases of mental disorders.
(111) Celastrus
paniculata
Parts used: The
seed powder and the seed oil is used in medicines.
The seed powder or oil which is reddish has got a pungent
and bitter taste. As it is hot in
character the oil or the seed powder
lessens the increased and abnormal Vata & Kaph. It increases 'Pitta'. The increase of Pita helps for betterment of
intellect
and mental activities.
The massage of the oil all over the body is useful in paralysis,
rheumatism and other nervous diseases.
Even it is applied on skin on leucodermal spots. For antidote in overdose of opium it is given
in large dose of about 1 ozs.
(1) The normal
dose of oil given is about 5 drops internally with ghee.
(2) The seed
powder is given about 0.5 gms with sugar and water.
(1V) Canscora
decussata (Gentianaceae)
It is an annual plant which grows in moist situations
during or immediately after raining season.
It has pink-yellow or white
flowers.
The parts used:
The whole plant viz. leaf, stern, root, flower etc. This plant is astringent and also a laxative,
alterative and
nervine tonic.
It is used as Rasayana (viz. increasing blood, flesh,
bone etc. Sapta-dhatu). When there is
much decrease of blood, flesh, etc.
and the symptoms of epilepsy and insanity prevail due to
increase of Vata. This plant is of much
use.
It acts like the plant viz. Brahmi (Hydrocotyle
asiatica). Shankhapushpi plant is also aphrodisiac. It has cold effects on the
body used enormously by Ayurvedic Practitioners for
severe nervous debility.
Dose and Mode of taking:
(1) The fresh
juice of the plant is given with ghee and sugar about one oz. daily in the
morning.
(2) The powdered
root, about one gram with ghee and honey.
(3) The ghee
prepared by digesting with the decoction of the plant (About one oz. daily).
(4) The decoction
of the plant with honey (about 2 ozs. of decoction).
...........................................................
S H A N K H - P U S H P I
Literally means a climbing or prostrate plant with
Conch-shell like flowers.
(Shankh = Conch-shell
and Pushpa - flowers).
There are four different species of plants which are used
under this Sanskrit name by Ayurvedic practitioners. They are:
1. Convolvulus
microphyllus Sieb. (Convolvulaceae) - C. pluricaulis Choisy
2. Evolvulus
allsinoides Linn. (Convolvulaceae)
3. Canscora
decussata Roem. & Schult.
(Gentianaceae)
4. Clitorea
ternatea Linn. (Papilionaceae)
None of these have flowers which can be called conch-like
flowers without doubt. The first two
show a resemblance toa small
spiral shell when the flowers are in bud condition or
when they are closed for part of the day.
The first has white flowers, a
character attributed to Shankh-pushpi in some works of
Ayurvedic materia medica. The second has
blue flowers and is more
commonly known as Vishnukranta but is often substituted
for Shankh-pushpi. The third, though an
erect herb, is used as
Shankh-pushpi in Bengal and bears white flowers
resembling the previous two species. The
fourth has flowers slightly
resembling a conch.
This climbing plant has blue or white flowers and is reported to be used
as Shankh-pushpi in South India.
It is more
commonly known as Aparajita or Gokarni (flowers like the ear of a cow).
Other descriptive synonyms of Shank-pushpi (Kambumalini,
Kambupushpi, Shankhkusumi, Shankhphuli) in Sanskrit
Ayurvedic literature do not help in specifying the
botanical identity of the plant. The
Ayurvedic practitioners are not
unanimous in their choice of species. Only comparative critical biological and
clinical observations would perhaps solve the
problem of its identity and establish the virtues of this
ancient drug considered as one of the best for improving memory and
mental vigour.
C o n v o l v u l a c e a e
Shankh-pushpi
Convolvulus microphyllus Sieb.
= C. pluricaulis
Choisy
Sanskrit : Shankhpushpi
Hindi : Shankhahuli
Gujarati : Shankhavali
* This species grows abundantly on dry sandy
soil of Indo-Gangetic plain. It is
rather rare in forested
regions. Found
generally on heavily grazed and partly eroded lands. It occurs in India, W. Pakistan,
Palestine, Syria, Sinai and Egypt.
A perennial prostrate diffuse herb with stems growing
normally up to 30 cm - sometimes reaching 60 cm.
Tap root with a few secondary roots. Fracture fibrous. leaves - simple, alternate, sessile 1 x 0.5
cm
lanceolate or oblong, densely pubescent on both sides,
greyish-green. Flowers - axillary,
solitary or three
together on a peduncle (3 cm ), pale pink to white, more
than 1 cm in diam. Stamens 5, style -
simple and
forked into two linear stigmas. Fruit - subglobose and enclosed in
calyx. Flowers almost throughout the
year, more so in Oct-Nov.
Trichomes - multicellular. Terminal cell - placed
obliquely.
The entire plant is used medicinally.
* It is not
reported to occur in south or southern peninsula.
C o n v o l v u l a c e a e
Shankhpushpi
Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.
Sanskrit :
Shankh-pushpi, Vishnukranti (Possessed of energy bestowed by Vishnu)
Hindi : Vishnukranta, Shankhahuli
Tamil &
Malayalam : Vishnukranti
This species occurs on dry sandy soil, open pasture lands
and roadsides in the plains whereever it is hot and dry. It is
represented in most tropical countries of the world. The typical variety is found in India,
Ceylon, Indochina, Philippines,
Indonesia, Madagascar and tropical E. Africa. Van Oostsroom, S.J. (in a monograph of the
genus Evolvulus, Utrecht, 1934,
28) lists 15 varieties of this polymorphic species.
A perennial prostrate herb with several branches from the
root. Primary tap root about 15 cm
(abnormally 120 cm) bearing
numerous secondary and tertiary roots. Leaves - simple, alternate, subsessile, 6-15
x 5-7 mm, oblong, elliptic, strongly
apiculate, rounded or tapering at the base, densely
pubescent with silky adpressed hairs when young, glabrous with age, ashy
green.
Inflorescence - axillary, loosely cymose, 1-3 flowered, peduncle 5-25 mm
long, filiform, pubescent; corolla rotate,
blue, less than 1 cm in diam. with 5 distinct
mid-petaline bands. Stamens 5,
unequal. Styles 2, each one forked into
2 linear
stigmas. Fruit -
globose, partially covered by calyx. The
plant is in flower most part of the year.
Trichomes - multicellular, terminal cell is forked into 2
unequal arms.
The entire plant is used in medicine.
G e n t i a n a c e a e
Shankh-pushpi
Canscora decussata Roem. & Schult
Sanskrit : Shankh-pushpi
Bengali : Dankuni, shankphuli
This species is distributed in many parts of India, in
Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and in Indo-gangetic plain, Andhra Pradesh
and Tamil nadu. It
extends into Burma, Ceylon and Tropical East Africa. It grows in moist situations up to an
elevation of
about 1300 metres.
An erect herb reaching 10-50 cm in height. Stem - 4-winged, branches dichotomous, often
trichotomous. Leaves - lanceolate
or oblong-lanceolate, sessile, 3-nerved, up to 2 cm at
the base, gradually smaller upwards and bractiform on the inflorescence.
Flowers - white,
sub-regular. Calyx - up to 1.5 cm with
veined lanceolate wings and ending in 5 sharp teeth. Tube of corolla
as long as calyx. lobes 5, obovate. Stamens 4, one of which is fertile,
conspicuously larger than the other 3, and inserted
higher up. Capsule
- oblong, shorter than the calyx, 2 valved to the base.
Flowers and fruits - September to February.
P a p i l i o n a c e a e
Shankh-pushpi
Clitorea ternatea Linn.
Sanskrit : Aparajita, Shankh-pushpi, Vishnukranta
Hindi : Koyali, Koyal
Gujarati : Garani
Common in hedges in many parts of India and at once
noticeable by the size and shape of the standard (largest petal), cobalt
blue in colour.
Often cultivated or self-sown in villages and jungles, scrambling over
shrubs and walls. Cosmopolitan in the
tropics from the foot-hills of the Himalayas to Ceylon,
Malacca and Trinidad.
A pretty perennial climber with slender, terete, downy
stems. leaves - imparipinnate, 5-10 cm
long. Petiole up to 2.5 cm.
Stipules 5 mm long, linear, acute. Leaflets - subcoriaceous, 3-5 x 2-3 cm,
elliptic-oblong, obtuse, glabrous or with a few
adpressed hairs, stipels filiform. Flowers - axillary, solitary, very prominent
by the shape and colour of the corolla, bracteoles-
large, obtuse.
Calyx-about 102 cm, teeth lanceolate, shorter than the tube, corolla up
to 5 cm, standard obovate, with turned
margins, cobalt-blue, sometimes white, with an orange
centre. Stamens - mono or
diadelphous. Ovary elongate, style
sometimes flattened.
Pod - 5-10 cm flat, sparingly hairy, 6-10 seeded. A dye is obtained from the flowers and seeds.
Various parts of the plant are used in medicine. Usually the root is officinal.
B R A H M I
and M A N D U K A P A R N I
Although considered synonymous by some these two drugs
are mentioned as separate valuable drugs for improving memory
and mental faculties in Ayurvedic texts. The following two species are commonly used
as Brahmi in various parts of India:
1. Centella
asiatica (Linn.) Urban = Hydrocotyle asiatica Linn
(Family
Umbelliferae)
2. Bacopa monniera
Wettst. - Herpestis monniera (Linn.)
HBK.
(Family
Scrophulariaceae)
The first is used as Brahmi extensively in the north and
Western India. It is treated as Mandukaparni
by several authors of
Ayurvedic materia medica.
(Jadavaji Trikamji Acharya, 1950 & Bapalel G. Vaidya, 1965, in
Gujarati)
The second is used as Brahmi in South India and
Bengal. This species is also known as
Jala-brahmi or Nira-brahmi to denote
the difference from the first and emphasise its habitat
as an aquatic plant. (Jala = Nira =
water)
Critical biological and clinical examination is called
for to assess the virtues attributed to them in Ayurvedic texts.
U m b e l l i f e r a e
Mandukaparni
Centalla asiatica (Linn.) Urban
= Hydrocotyle
asiatica Linn.
Sanskrit : Mandukaparni, Brahmi
Hindi : Brahma-manduki, Khulkhudi
Bengali : Thankudi
Found both wild and in cultivation as a household remedy.
It occurs in damp grasslands and
boundaries of paddy fields
spreading as a rice-field week as water recedes. It is also found along stream and river banks
throughout India and Ceylon up
to an altitude of about 700 metres. The plant grows all the year round if water
is available. It is pantropic in
distribution.
An aquatic or semi-aquatic creeping herb, sending out
runners (10-50 cm) like the strawberry and forming patches on banks or
streams and rivers.
It is a somewhat succulent herb, sparingly hairy or nearly smooth,
slightly aromatic herb, producing
leaves, roots and fruits at the nodes. The pleasing dark green leaves are founded to
reniform held like an artist's palette on a
long stalk. Leaves
about 2-5 cm with crenate margin, 7-nerved, glabrous, or somewhat hairy when
young. Petiles 5-10 cm.
long. Peduncles -
fascicled, less than 1 cm long bearing 3-4 flowered simple umbel. Flowers - pinkish, small. The fruit is
laterally compressed, orbicular. The mericarps are reticulated, sometimes a
little hairy with 3-5 curved ribs. They
have no
vittae.
The entire plant is used medicinally.
S c r o p h u l a r i a c e a e
Brahmi
Bacopa monniera
Wettst.
= Herpestis
monniera (Linn.) HBK.
= Monniera
cuneifolia Michx.
Sanskrit : Brahmi
Marathi &
Gujarati : Bam, Nevri
Bengali : Birmi
Tamil : Nira-Brahmi
Hindi : Brahmi, Safed-Chamni
Common partially submerged aquatic herb on banks of
rivers and tanks etc. throughout India,
Ceylon and warm places
ascending up to 1500 metres, in sunny situations.
A glabrous, somewhat succulent creeping herb, stems 10-50
cm rooting at the nodes; branches numerous, ascending up to 10
cm. Leaves -
opposite, decussate, 5-20 x 2-5 mm, obovate, wedge-shaped or spathulate,
smooth, entire, obtuse, fleshy, dotted
with minute spots, nerves obscure.
Flowers - axillary, solitary, on pedicels shorter than
the leaves, pale blue to whitish.
Bracteoles 5 mm, linear. Calyx -
glabrous, divided to the base, one sepal longer and
oblong, the other four shorter and linear.
Corolla - campanulate, lobes
nearly equal, rounded, spangles with shining dots when
fresh. Anthers cleft at the base,
blue. Stigma large, somewhat 2-
lobed. Capsule -
ovate, acute, pointed with the style base, 2-celled, 2-valved, glabrous, seeds
many, less than 1 mm., oblong,
striate, pale.
B A L A
Bala is considered an important Ayurvedic drug all over
India. At least five different varieties
of Bala are mentioned in
Ayurvedic texts.
The plants most commonly used as source of Bala belong to the genus Sida
of the family Malvaceae. The
chief of these are Sida retusa or S. rhombifolia var.
retuse; Sida rhombifolia var. rhombifolia; Sida rhomboides or S.
rhombifolia var. rhomboides; Sida spinosa; Sida
cordiflia; Sida acuta or S. carpinifolia and occasionally also Sida humilia or
S. veronicaefolia. In addition some species of Abutilon
e.g. A. indicum and A. asiaticum, A. graveolens and of Urena e.g. U.
lobata and U. sinuata are also going under same or
similar vernacular names. Pavonia
odorata and P. zeylanica and one or two
species of Grewia are also indicated as botanical source
of Bala.
The descriptive words giving the varieties of Bala and
synonyms are not much helpful in giving any clue to the correct
identification of the sources of the various varieties of
Bala.
Sida cordifolia forms one of the common sources of Bala
in W. India.
M a l v a c e a e
Sida cordifolia Linn.
Sanskrit : Bala
Hindi : Kharenti, Bariar
Malayalam : Velluren
Tamil : Malaitangi
The plant is found throughout the tropical and
subtropical regions of India up to an elevation of 1800 metres. It is a common
weed of the roadside and wastelands when it most often
grows gregariously.
An annual or under favourable conditions a perennial
erect shrub. It is greyish-green being
covered by soft stellate hair and
grows up to about 60 cm or more with many branches. Leaves - orbicular, or ovate or cordate or
ovate-cordate, crenate,
obtuse, very downy, 2.5 - 5 cm, on petioles 1-3 cm long.
Flowers - usually solitary, axillary on 1-2 cm long
pedicels. Calyx lobes - ovate, acute 508
mm. corolla - slightly exceeding
calyx, yellow.
Fruit less than 1 cm in diam.
Carpels 7-10, strongly reticulated with cilia on upper margins.
Root is considered officinal in medicine. The root-system consists of a short, stout
tap-root attaining a diam. of about 1 cm
with many long flexuous fairly thick lateral roots. The roots have a yellowish tint. The outer surface is fairly smooth except
the thin filmy strip of exfoliating cork, a few small
rootlets and numerous dot like lenticels.
The bark has a thickness of 1-1.5
mm and could easily be peeled off in fresh condition.
C e l a s t r a c e a e
Celastrus paniculata Willd.
Sanskrit : Jyotishmati
Hindi :
Malkanguni, Kangani
Tamil :
Valuluvai
Malayalam :
Palulavam
This large climber occurs in deciduous forests on the
plains and hill slopes up to about 1300 metres all over India, Ceylon,
Burma, Malaysia and Philippines.
A large climbing unarmed shrub reaching 4 to 10
metres. Young branches pendulous,
usually covered with pale lenticular
worts. Older stem
has vertically grooved soft corky bark.
Leaves - alternate, 5-12 x 30-6 cm broadly elliptic, elliptic - ovate,
shortly acuminate, crenate-serrate, glabrous; base
rounded or acute, petiole 7-10 mm.
Flowers about 5 mm, yellowish or
greenish white, unisexual in lax pendulous panicles 7-18
cm. Calyx pubescent outside, lobes
semi-orbicular, ciliate. Petals 3
mm oblong, rounded at the apex. Male flowers have rudimentary ovary and
female flowers have sterile anther-lobes.
Capsules-subglobose, less than 1 cm in diam; bright
yellow, transversely wrinkled, 3-valved, valves spreading after
dehiscence, remaining united at the base, exposing the
seeds. Seeds - 3-6, ovoid, compressed,
cinnamon-brown, completely
enveloped in a scarlet fleshy aril, which loses its
brightness on keeping. :
A n a c a r d i a c e a e
Bhallataka
Semecarpus anacardium Linn.f.
Sansskrit : Bhallataka
Hindi : Bhilawa
Narathi : Bibba
Tamil : Shen-kottai
Commonly known as Marking-nut tree, this species occurs
throughout the hotter parts as far east as Assam and in the tropical
Himalayan foot-hills ascending up to 1200 metres. It is absent in Eastern Indian Peninsula and
Ceylon. In the east it extends
in Malaysian region and N. Australia.
A moderate-sized, deciduous, dioecious tree, 10-15 metres
in height, exuding a dark juice. leaves
20-6- cm x 10-30 cm, ovate,
oblong, rounded at the apex, coriaceous, leaves glabrous
above, ashy-grey or buff and more or less pubescent beneath, with
cartilaginous margins; base rounded, cordate or
cuneate. Main nerves 15-20 pairs. Petioles 3-5 cm. Flowers in panicles
equalling leaves on a stout peduncle with spreading
branches. Ovary in male flowers
rudimentary; hairy subglobose in female
flowers, crowned with 3 styles. Drupe 2-5 cm, obliquely ovoid or oblong,
smooth or shining black when ripe, seated on a
fleshy receptacle about 1.5 cm long, smooth and yellow to
orange-red when ripe. Drupe has an acrid
viscid juice causing
blisters. It is
used for marking linen. The receptacle
is edible.
A r a c e a e
Vacha
Acorus calamus Linn.
Sanskrit :
Vacha
Hindi :
Bach
Gujarati &
Marathi :
Vekhand, Vaj
Teluga :
Vasa
Tamil :
Vasambu
Malaysian : Vavambu
This species, known as sweet flag in English, grows well
in marshy places such as meadows, edges of lakes, banks of streams
and rivers. It is
found throughout India under cultivation and in the wild, on the plains as well
as in the hills (Sikkim
Himalayas up to 2000 metres). It occurs in Bengal, Kumaon, Garhwal, Dehra
Dun and is cultivated in Mysore state in South
India. It is also
obtained from Nepal.
Sweet Flag is a gregarious, semi-aquatic, perennial
herb. The leaves are close-set
distichously arranged, erect, narrowly
ensiform, 100-150 cm long. They arise from the underground creeping
rhizome. Flowers arise from the slightly
curved
spadix 5 - 10 cm
long and 1-2 cm in diam. It is subtended
by a spathe 15-75 cm which is ensiform and continuous with the
peduncle.
Dried rhizome is sold in pieces of 5-6 cm and 1-2.5 cm in
diam. It is light brown to pinkish
brown. The surface is
longitudinally
wrinkled. The rhizome is
subcylindrical and somewhat flattened with slightly raised root-scars
distributed over
the lower surface.
Upper surface is slightly furrowed.
The dried shrivelled persistent bases of the older leaves are often
found
attached to the rhizome.
The freshly fractured rhizome emits an agreeable fragrant sweet odour
and has a slightly acrid
pungent and bitter taste.
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