Pharmacognosy
Cloves
Botanical: Eugenia
caryophyllata
Family: Myrtaceae
Part Used---
Undeveloped flowers.
Constituents---
Volatile oil, gallotannic acid; two crystalline principles -
Caryophyllin, which is odourless and appears to be a phylosterol, Eugenin; gum,
resin, fibre.
Medicinal Action and Uses---
- stimulating and carminative of all aromatics
- As a local irritant it stimulates peristalsis.
- strong germicide, a powerful antiseptic
- feeble local anaesthetic applied to decayed teeth
- stimulating expectorant in phthisis and bronchial troubles
Fennel
Botanical: Foeniculum vulgare
Family: Umbelliferae
Parts Used---
Seeds, leaves, roots.
Constituents---
4 to 5 per cent of volatile oil
(sp. gr. 0.960 to 0.930), the principal constituents of which are Anethol (50 to
60 per cent) and Fenchone (18 to 22 per cent). Anethol is also the chief
constituent of Anise oil. d-pinene, phellandrine, anisic acid and anisic
aldehyde, limonene
---Medicinal Action and Uses---
- ü aromatic and carminative properties
- ü as a carminative
- ü Fennel is also largely used for cattle condiments.
- ü Syrup prepared from Fennel juice was formerly given for chronic coughs.
Caraway
Botanical: Carum Carvi (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Umbelliferae
Part Used---
Fruit.
Constituents---
4 to 7 per cent of volatile oil, The chief
constituent of the oil is a hydrocarbon termed Carvene. The exhausted seed,
after the distillation of the oil, contains a high percentage of protein and
fat.
Medicinal Action and Uses---
- ü aromatic, stimulant and carminative properties,
- ü as corrective or flavouring agents,
Cinnamon
Botanical: Cinnamomum zeylanicum (NEES.)
Family: N.O. Lauraceae
Part Used---
Bark.
Constituents---
0 to 10 per cent of volatile oil, tannin, mucilage and
sugar.
Medicinal Action and Uses---
- ü Carminative, astringent, stimulant,
- ü antiseptic;
- ü more powerful as a local than as a general stimulant;
It stops vomiting, relieves
flatulence, and given with chalk and astringents is useful for diarrhoea and
haemorrhage of the womb.
Catechu
Catechu, Pale
Botanical: Uncaria Gambier
Catechu, Black
Botanical: Catechu nigrum, Acacia catechu (WILLD.)
Family: N.O. Leguminosae
Part Used---
Pale Catechu is an
extract made from the leaves and young shoots of Uncaria Gambier
Constituents---
tannic acid
Medicinal Action and Uses---
Both the dark and the pale Catechu are employed in
medicine, the former is more astringent, the latter, being sweeter, is
less disagreeable.
Nux Vomica
Botanical: Strychnos Nux-vomica (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Loganiaceae
Part Used---
Dried ripe seeds.
Constituents---
Nux Vomica
contains the alkaloids, Strychnine and Brucine, also traces of strychnicine,
and a glucoside Loganin, about 3 per cent fatty matter, caffeotannic acid and a
trace of copper. The pulp of the fruit contains about 5 per cent of loganin
together with the alkaloid strychnicine.
Medicinal Action
and Uses---
- ü stimulant action on the gastro-intestinal tract.
- ü as a bitter, increasing appetite;
- ü it stimulates peristalsis.
- ü used as an antidote in poisoning by chloral or chloroform.
- ü convulsive action on CNS in case of strychnine.
Liquorice
Botanical: Glycyrrhiza glabra (LINN.) and Other Species
Family: N.O. Leguminosae
Part Used---
Root.
Constituents---
The chief
constituent of Liquorice root, to which its sweet taste is due, is Glycyrrhizin
(6 to 8 per cent) , consisting of the calcium and potassium salts of
glycyrrhizic acid. The drug also contains sugar, starch (29 per cent), gum,
protein, fat (0.8 per cent), resin, asparagin (2 to 4 per cent), a trace of
tannin in the outer bark of the root, yellow colouring matter, and 0.03 of
volatile oil.
Medicinal Action and Uses---
ü
demulcent,
ü
emollient,
ü
soothing properties..
It is a popular and well-known
remedy for coughs, consumption and chest complaints generally, notably
bronchitis.
<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5295828595662522"
crossorigin="anonymous"></script>