KANTAKARI
Latin name: Solanum xanthocarpum
Sanskrit name: Kantakari
Vernacular names:
Eng- Kantakari ,
Hindi- Kateli,
Kan- Nelagulla
Biological source :
It consists of whole plant of Solanum
xanthocarpum ( solanum surattense )
Family : Solanaceae
It is very spiny herb,1.2 meters height found
all over India. The leaves are ovate or elliptic,
flowers bluish purple, fruits are globular.
Active constituents :
It contains Steroidal alkaloids Like
Solasodine, Solamergine, β- Solamergine,
Solasonine.
It also contains Sterols like Cycloartenol,
Norcarpesterol, Chlolestrol
Category : Expectorant
Uses :
1.Used in the treatment of bronchial asthma,
cough.
2. Used as an antipyretic drug
3. Used as an antidiabetic drug
4. Used as an anticancer drug
5.Solasodine has antispermatogenic activity,
hypochlolesterolaemic activity.
SHATAVARI
Common Names:
Asparagus, Indian Asparagus,
Asparagus Racemosus.
Sanskrit and Hindi Names:
Shatavari, Satavar, Satmuli.
Biological source:
It consists of tuberous root of Asparagus
racemosus.
Family: Liliaceae.
Geographical Source: It is widely distributed
throughout the tropical regions of Africa,
Australia, Asia and India.
Chemical constituents : It contains Saponin glycosides
Two new steroidal saponins, shatavaroside
A and shatavaroside B together with a
known saponin, filiasparoside C, were
isolated from the roots of Asparagus
racemosus.
Five steroidal saponins, shatavarins VI-X,
together with five known saponins, shatavarin I,
shatavarin IV, shatavarin V.
Uses : Used as antioxytocic agent Used as refrigerant Used as demulcent Used as an aphrodisiac Used as an antiseptic Used in the treatment of leprosy and
Tuberculosis Used in rheumatism and gonorrhoea
Biological source : It consists of the dried
entire plant of Acharanthes aspera
Family : Amaranthaceae
It is found throught out India and in the
South Andaman Islands
Chemical constituents : It contains alkaloids – Acharanthine and
betaine
It also contains triterpenoids saponins
– Oleanolic acid
Guduchi Synonyms – Hindi - Amrita ,
English – Tinospora
Biological source –
Guduchi consists of the dried stems of the plant
Tinospora cordifolia
Family - Menispermaceae
G.S – Widely distributed throughout tropical and
subtropical india
Chemical constituents
1.Alkaloids-
Berberine, Palmatine, Jactrorhizine, Tinosporine,
Tembeterine
2. Glycosides-
Tinocardiside,Tinocardifolioside,Syringin,
Furanoid diterpene glucoside
3. Sesquiterpenoid – Tinocordifolin
4. Diterpenoid lactones –
Furanolactone, Tinosporon, Columbin
5. β – Sitosterol
6. Choline
7.Tinosporic acid
8. Tinosporal
Category – Antipyretic, analgesic
Uses --
1.Used as an anticancer drug
2. Used as an antipyretic drug
3. Used in the treatment of asthama
4. Acts as an anti hypolipidaemic drug
5. Used as an antioxidant
6. Used as an antiulcer drug
7. Used as an antidiabetic drug
8. Used as an antihepatitis drug
Gokhru Ayurvedic name: Gokhru/Gokshura
Botanical source:
It consists of dried ripe seed of Tribulus terrestris
(chota gokhru), Pedalium murex (Bara gokhru).
Family: Zygophylaceae (chota gokhru)
Pedelliaceae ( Bara gokhru)
Chemical constituents
1.Saponin glycosides:
Steroid sapogenins -
Protodiosin, Hecogenin, Notiogogenin
2.Flavones glycosides – Kaempferol 3-
rhamnoside and tribuloside
3. Trace alkaloids and Fixed oils
Chirata Synonym – Bitter stick , Indian gentian
Hindi – Chirayata
Sanskrit- Kirata-tikta
Kannada – Kirata kaddi
Malayalam- Kiriyattu
Biological source:
It consists of dried entire plant of Swertia chirata.
Family: Gentianaceae
Chemical constituents
It contains bitter glycosides – Gentiopicrin,
Chiratin, Ophelic acid, Amarogentin, Swerthin.
Xanthone derivatives- Chiratol, Swertianin,
Mangiferin
Triterpenoids – Masilinic acid its trisaccaride
esters
Alkaloids – Gentianine, Gentiocrucine
Karaveera
Synonyms – Indian oleander
Sanskrit – Karavira
Hindi – Kaner
Kannada – Kanagile
Malayalam – Arali
Biological source – It consists of the dried aerial
parts of the plant Nerium indicum
Family – Apocyanaceae
Chemical constituents -
It contains Toxic principles Neriodorin and
Karabin (These are powerful cardiac poisons
similar to the constituents of digitalis ) .It also
contains Odorin
Uses –
1.Used as a Cardiotonic drug
2.Used in Heart diseases
Tylophora Biological source –
It consists of dried leaves of Tylophora indicia
(Tylophora asthamatica)
Family - Asclepiadaceae
Chemical constituents – It contains
Phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids – Tylophorine,
tylophoranine, tylophoranidine
It also contains Cetyl alcohol , phytosterol
Wax, resin, pigments tannins , glucose,
quercetin, kaempferol and tyloindane.
Uses-
1. The dried leaves are emetic , diaphoretic, and
expectorant.
2. It is useful in dysentery, catarrh
3.The roots possesses stimulant, emetic,
expectorant, stomachic, diaphoretic properties
and used in the treatment of asthama,
bronchitis, diarrhoea.
4. They are recommended in rheumatism and
gout pain.
Rasna Synonyms – Galanga, Chinese ginger,
Rasagadde (Kannada), Sugandha (Hindi)
Biological source –
Rasna consists of the dried rhizome of Alpinia
officinarum
Family - Zingiberaceae
Chemical constituents-
It contains –
1.Volatile oil – 1,8 cineole, alpha and β-
pinene, camphene
2.Flavonoids – Kaempferrol, galangin and
alpinin
3. Tannins – Phobaphenes
4.Resin- Galangol
5.Starch
Uses-
1. Used in Rheumatism
2. Used as Stomachic
3. Used as Carminative
4.Used as Stimulant
5. Used as an Aphrodisiac
6. Antibacterial and antifungal properties
7. Flavouring agent
8. Tonic and spice
Malkangni Biological source –
It consists of the dried seeds of the plant
Celastrus paniculatus ( Celastrus montana)
Family – Celastraceae
Chemical constituents –
1.Fatty oil – Palmatic acid, oleic acid, linolenic
acid
2.Sesquiterpene alkaloids – Celapanin,
celapanigin
3. Sesquiterpene polyesters - Malkangunin
Uses –
1.Used as emetic, febrifuge, diaphoretic,
nervine properties
2. Used for the sharpening the memory
3. Used to cure ulcers, rheumatism, gout
4.Used in the traditional system of medicine
as a sedative.
Bhilva Biological source – It consists of the dried
fruits of the plant Semicarpus anacardium
Family - Anacariaceae
Chemical constituents –
It contains anacardic acid, anacardiol,
semicarpol, volatile oil - cardol
Uses -
Used as tonic, syphilis, epilepsy, anti-
inflammatory, rheumatism, asthama,
bronchitis, piles, skin diseases, worms
Kalijira Biological source – It consists of the dried whole plant of Veronia
anthelminticum Family – Asteraceae Chemical constituents – 1.Flavonoids – 7-o-β-D- glucopyranosyl- alpha-
D- xylopyranosides 2. It also contains sterols like palmatic acid,lauric
acid, carbohydrates, lipids etc
Shankapushipi Synonyms – Vishnukranti
Biological source – It consists of the dried
plant of Convolvulus pluricaulis (Convolvulus
microphyllus) and Evolvulus asinoides
(Convolvulus asinoides )
Family : Convolvulaceae
Chemical Constituents-
It contains glycosides, coumarins, flavonoids
and alkaloids.
o Shankhapushpine (the alkaloid) has been
identified as active principle. Others like
Convolvine, Convolamine etc
o β- sitosterol glycoside
o Hydroxy Cinnamic acid
Uses- Used as a brain tonic, febrifuge.
It is used as a psycho stimulant and
tranquilizer. It is reported to reduce mental
tension(Hyper tension).