Angelica, a large genus of aromatic herbs of the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). The roots and fruit of the Eurasian species, Angelica archangelica (see photograph), yield angelica oil used to flavor liqueurs and in perfumery, while the tender shoots are used in making certain kinds of aromatic sweetmeats; tea made from the roots and leaves is a traditional medicine for respiratory ailments. In the Faroe Islands and in Iceland, where the plant grows abundantly, it is considered a vegetable. The British species, A. sylvestris, is a tall perennial herb with large bipinnate leaves and large compound umbels of white or purple flowers. The common name alexanders is applied to A. atropurpurea in the United States.

Alternative Title: Pimpinella anisum
Anise, (Pimpinella anisum), annual herb of the parsley family (Apiaceae), cultivated chiefly for its fruits, called aniseed, the flavour of which resembles that of licorice. Native to Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean region, anise is cultivated in southern Europe, southern Russia, the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, China, Chile, Mexico, and the United States. Star anise, an unrelated plant, has a similar flavour profile.
Aniseed is widely used to flavour pastries; it is the characteristic ingredient of a German bread called anisbrod. In the Mediterranean region and in Asia, aniseed is commonly used in meat and vegetable dishes. It makes a soothing herbal tea and has been used medicinally from prehistoric times. The essential oil is used to flavour absinthe, anisette, and Pernod liqueurs.

The plant reaches up to 0.75 metres (2.5 feet) tall. The leaves near the base are long-stalked and simple, whereas the leaves along the stem are compound with shorter stalks. Its small yellowish white flowers form loose umbels. The fruit is a schizocarp (a dry fruit formed of multiple carpels that separate) and is nearly ovoid in shape. It is about 3.5 mm (0.12 inch) long and has five longitudinal dorsal ridges. The essential oil content is about 2.5 percent, and its principal component is anethole.

Alternative Titles: asafetida, hing spice

Asafoetida, also spelled asafetida, also called hing spice, gum resin prized as a spice in India and Iran, where it is used to flavor curries, meatballs, and pickles. Acrid in taste, it emits a strong onionlike odor because of its organic sulfur compounds. It is commonly sold in powdered form and is said to enhance umami flavors in savory foods. It is also used in traditional medicine, often as a digestive aid or for menstrual problems.
Asafoetida is obtained chiefly from the plant Ferula assafoetida of the carrot family Apiaceae. The whole plant is used as a fresh vegetable, the inner portion of the full-grown stem being regarded as a delicacy. The plant may grow as high as 2 meters (7 feet). After four years, when it is ready to yield asafoetida, the stems are cut down close to the root, and a milky juice flows out that quickly sets into a solid resinous mass. A freshly exposed surface of asafoetida has a translucent pearly white appearance, but it soon darkens in the air, becoming first pink and finally reddish-brown.

Alternative Title: laurel leaf

Bay leaf, also called laurel leaf, leaf of the sweet bay tree (Laurus nobilis), an evergreen of the family Lauraceae, indigenous to countries bordering the Mediterranean. A popular spice used in pickling and marinating and to flavor stews, stuffings, and fish, bay leaves are delicately fragrant but have a bitter taste. They contain approximately 2 percent essential oil, the principal component of which is cineole. The smooth and lustrous dried bay leaves are usually used whole and then removed from the dish after cooking; they are sometimes marketed in powdered form. Bay has been cultivated from ancient times; its leaves constituted the wreaths of laurel that crowned victorious athletes in ancient Greece. During the Middle Ages bay, leaves were used medicinally. See also a list of herbs and spices.

Family

Apocynaceae/Asclepiadaceae.

Botanical Name

Calotropis procera, (Aiton) Dryand.

Synonyms

Asclepias patula Decne, Asclepias procera Aiton, Calotropis busseana K. Schum, Calotropis heterophylla Wall. ex Wight, Calotropis inflexa Chiov, Calotropis syriaca Woodson.

Regional Name

English : Madar Tree, Hindi : Aak, Madar, Akavana, Sanskrit : Ravi, Bhanu, Tapana, Punjabi : Ak, Urdu : Madar, Aak, Assamese : Akand, Akan, Bengali : Akanda, Akone, Gujrati : Aakado, Kannada : Ekka, Ekkadagida, Ekkegida, Kashmiri : Acka, Malayalam : Erikku, Marathi : Rui, Oriya : Arakha, Tamil : Vellerukku, Erukku, Telugu : Jilledu.

Part Used

Root bark, flowers, leaf, latex, seeds.

Description

Aak is probably native to India, globally distributed in China, Southeast Asia, Middle East, and North Africa, Tropical Africa, and Asia. Within India, it is found growing wild throughout in comparatively drier and warmer areas, up to an altitude of 1050 m. It occurs in open habitats such as cultivated fields, roadsides, grazing lands, and other disturbed or degraded sites. It is a shrub or small tree, generally up to 2.5-4 m (max. 6) high. Stem round, usually simple (rarely branched), pale green, thickly covered with hoary pubescence which readily rubs off. Leaves decussate, obovate, acuminate 10-20 cm long and 4-10 cm wide. Inflorescence a dense, multiflowered, umbellate cyme arising from the nodes and appearing axillary or terminal. Corolla slightly campanulate, with 5 sepals that are 4-5 mm long; segments ovate, acute, rather concave, dull purple bordered with white on the upper side, silvery on the underside. Fruits subglobose, ellipsoid or ovoid, recurved follicle, 7.5-10.0 cm. Seed light-brown, broadly ovate, flattened, 3.2 cm with silky hairs. A white milky sap is exuded from any wound on the plant.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa (taste) - Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter), Guna (qualities) - Laghumn (lightness), Ruksha (dryness), Teekshna, Vipaka - Katu, Virya -Ushna.

Ayurvedic Applications

Gulma, Svasa, Kustha, Krmiroga, Kandu.

Phytoconstituents

The plants contain the cardenolide, proceragenin, while the root bark contains benzoylinesolone and benzoylisolinelone, α-amyrin,β-amyrin , lupeol, β-sitosterol and flavanols like quercetin-3-rutinoside. .In the leaves, mudarine is the principal active constituent as well as a bitter yellow acid, resin and 3 toxic glycosides calotropin, uscharin , calotoxin and calotropagenin. Flower contains calotropenyl acetate, and multiflavenol and the latex contains uzarigenin, and terpenol ester. The latex contains a powerful bacteriolytic enzyme, a very toxic glycoside calactin (the concentration of which is increased following insect or grasshopper attack as a defense mechanism), calotropin D I, calotropin D II, calotropin-F I, calotropin F II and a non-toxic protealytic enzyme calotropin (2 %-3 %).

Medicinal Uses

It is used in the diseases like Asthma, Ear ache, Stomach ache, Arthritis, Skin disease, Haemorrhoids, useful in anorexia, Root bark is useful in cough, cold and constipation.

Botanical Name

Prunus domestica L.

Family

Rosaceae.

Synonyms

Druparia prunus Clairv., Prunus communis Huds., Prunus oeconomica Borkh.

Regional Name

English : Prune, Hindi : Alu, Alubukhara, Alucha, Ahanalu, Sanskrit : Alabukhara, Aaruka, Arukam, Urdu : Ajaas, Alu bokhara, Alu bukhara, Alubokhara, Kannada : Aaloobokara, Albogaara hannu, Albogade, albokhala, Malayalam : Arukam, Alums, Marathi : Aaaloobukhaara, veeraruruka, Tamil : Aluppukkarappalam, Telugu : Alpagaadaa pondlu, Alpagodapandu.

Part Used

Fruit.

Description

It is a small deciduous tree grows 9 to 15 m (29 to 50 ft) tall, and has reddish-brown twigs with few or no spines; young twigs are often pubescent (covered with short, downy hair). The leaves are oval to oblong, up to 10 cm (4 in) long, somewhat serrated or with wavy margins. The 5-petalled white flowers occur singly or in clusters of 2 or 3. The fruit is up to 8 cm (3 in) long and is round to oval drupe with a hard, stony, flattened pit.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Madhura, Amla, Kasaya, Guna : Guru, Snigdha, Vipaka : Madhura, Virya : Usna, Karma : Dipana, Grahi, Rucya, Vatahara, Pacana.

Phytoconstituents

It contains niacin, vitamin B-6, patothenic acid, and oxyphenisatin. It also contains flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, abscisic acid, lignans, carotenoid pigments, quinic acid, bipyrrole, dihydroflavonols, and carbohydrates.

Ayurvedic Applications

Aksiroga, Svasa, Kustha, Visa, Gulma, Sula, Adhmana, Anaha, Krmiroga, Udararoga, Siroroga, Vibandha, Hrdroga.

Medicinal Uses

It is used for treating cancer prevention, digestive health, brain health, constipation, blood sugar, macular prevention, and weight loss. It is also used for treating arteriosclerosis, excess uric acid, rheumatism and arthrosis, gout, and liver diseases.

English Name

Biotite Mica

Definition

Abhraka is Biotite mica, a ferromagnesian silicate K (Mg Fe)3X(Si3AlO11) X (OH)2}. It is a black variety of mica group of minerals.

Synonyms

Samskata : Ghana, Vyoma, Abhra, Ni?candra, Vyomaka, Vajra, Vajr?bhra, Krsnabhra

Regional Name

Bangali - Abhraka, English - Mica, Gujarati - Abhraka, Hindi - Abhrak, Abarak, Kannada - Abhraka, Malayalam - Abrakam, Marathi - Abhraka, Tamil - Abragam, Karuppu Appirakam (S.F.I.), Telugu - Abbarakam, Urdu - Abrak Siyah (N.F.U.M.)

Broad Classification

A Phyllo-Silicate

Origin and occurrence:

Abhrak occurs in igneous rocks in pure form as well as in metamorphic rocks as schists and gneisses. It occurs in ore form in pegmatites but pure mineral in sheet-form can be made available through sorting in pegmatite bodies. It is found in all igneous terrains of the earth’s crust. In India, it occurs mostly in the mica belts of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand. The main deposits in these states occur at Ajmer, Bhilwara, Tonk and Pali in Rajasthan, Kalichedu, Thalpur and Gudur in Andhra Pradesh, Koderma and Giridih in Jharkhand. Other known occurrences are in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and West Bengal.

Optical properties

Anisotropic, Biaxial Negative, small 2V and strong birefringence. Refractive Index: ηα 1.565-1.625; ηβ 1.605- 1.696; ηγ 1.605-1.696 (Appendix-2).

Physical Properties

Nature: Platy (separable in thin layers), Colour: Greenish black, Streak: Greenish black, Cleavage: Perfect, Fracture: Uneven, Lustre: Splendent Tenacity: Flexible 2, Transparency: Translucent, Hardness: 2.5 to 3, Sp. Gr. : 2.6 to 3

Chemical Properties:

• Effect of Heat: Hold a piece of Abhrak by forceps and heat it over a burner flame in its outer zone (about 10000). It swells almost double in volume. Colour changes from black to silver moon while water is released.
• Solubility: Take about 1 g finely powdered (150 mesh) sample of Abhrak in 250 ml beaker. Add 50 ml sulphuric acid. Stir the solution. It decomposes leaving skeleton of silica (distinction from other micas which are not affected by sulphuric acid).
• Assay: Should contain not less than 50% silica (SiO2) when analysed by gravimetric method (Appendix-3.1.3).
• Heavy metals and Arsenic: Should not contain more than the stated limits for the following: - Lead = 45 ppm, Arsenic = 3 ppm, and Cadmium =2 ppm Appendix-3.2).
• Other Elements: May contain the following within ± 20% of the stated limits:- Iron = 6%, Aluminium = 5%, Magnesium = 9% and Potassium = 5% (Appendix-3.1 & 3.2).

?odhana

Shall not be used in the formulation without subjecting it to ?odhana. Abhrak is always used in the form of bhasma, the therapeutic uses, dose and other details of which are given in the monograph of bhasma.

Botanical Name

Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Family

Zingiberaceae.

Synonyms

Zingiber officinale var. Cholmondeley F.M.Bailey, Zingiber officinale f. macrorhizonum (Makino) M.Hiroe, Zingiber officinale var. macrorhizonum Makino, Zingiber officinale f. Rubens (Makino) M.Hiroe, Zingiber officinale var. Rubens Makino, Zingiber officinale var. rubrum Theilade.

Regional Name

English: Ginger, Hindi: Adarakha, Adrak, Sanskrit: Katubhadra, Srngavera, Urdu: Adrak, Bengali : Ada, Gujrati : Adu, Kannada : Alla, Hasishunti, Malayalam: Inchi, Marathi : Ardrak, Ale, Punjabi : Adi, Adrak, Tamil: Injeel, Allam, lakottai, Inji, Telugu: Allamu, Allam.

Part Used

Fresh Rhizome.

Description

Adrak is known to have originated and widely cultivated in India and introduced to China after a while. This spice and medicine is recognized for use in major parts of the world especially Europe, Jamaica, Fiji, Indonesia and Australia. Ginger is a creeping perennial rhizomatous herb which can grow to a height of about 0.6-1.8 m tall, leaves are 15-30cm long, Rhizome, laterally compressed bearing short, flattish, ovate, oblique, branches on upper side each having at its apex a depressed scar, pieces about 5-15 cm long, 1.5-6.5 cm wide (usually 3-4 cm) and 1-1.5 cm thick, externally buff coloured showing longitudinal striations and occasional loose fibres, fracture short, smooth, transverse surface exhibiting narrow cortex (about one-third of radius), a well-marked endodermis and a wide stele showing numerous scattered fibro-vascular bundles and yellow secreting cells, odour agreeable and aromatic, taste, agreeable and pungent.

Phytoconstituents

Adrak contains Volatile Oils containing Cineole zingiberol, and sesquiterpene like zingiberene, bisobolene and sesqui phellandrene, gingerosol in the oleo-resin. It also contains Essential oil, pungent constituents (gingerol and shogaol) and starch.

Medicinal Uses

It is used in Digestive disorders, dyspepsia, flatulence, vomiting, spasms, colic and other stomach problems, osteoarthritis, cancer, ache, pain, inflammation, cough, cold, nausea, preventing flu, asthma and tuberculosis. It relieves impotency, premature ejaculation, involuntary seminal discharge and also spermatorrhoea, relieving painful irregular menstruation and improves immunity.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Katu, Guna : Guru, Ruksa, Tiksna, Vipaka : Madhura, Virya : Usna, Karma : Bhedana, Dipana, Hrdya, Pacana, Kaphahara, Rocana, Svarya, Vrsaya Vatahara, Vatakaphapaha.

Ayurvedic Applications

Sula, Vibandha, Anaha, Sopha, Kantharoga.

Botanical Name

Premna serratifolia L.

Family

Lamiaceae

Synonyms

Premna integrifolia Willd., Premna integrifolia L., Cornutia corymbosa Burm.f., Gumira  abbreviata (Miq.) Kuntze, Gumira attenuata (R.Br.) Kuntze, Gumira opulifolia (Miq.) Kuntze, Premna  angustior (C.B.Clarke) Ridl., Premna laevigata Miq., Premna obtusifolia R.Br. Premna opulifolia Miq., Premna  ovata R.Br., Premna spinosa Roxb.  

Regional Name

English : Headache Tree, Hindi : Agetha, Arani, Ustabunda, Sanskrit : Arani, Agnibijaka, Agnimantha, Ganakasika, Vanhimula,  Vijayantika, Tamil : Arani, Pasumunnai, Vaicayanti, Malayalam : Appel, Ben, Munna, Panira, Kannada : Agnimandha, Agnimantha, Telugu : Gabbunelli, Karnika, Marathi : Arani, Chamari, Kharanarvel, Kharo narvel, Tamil :  Arani, Pasumunnai.

Part Used

Stem Bark.

Description

It is globally distributed along the coasts and islands of tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, Australia, Indo-Malesian region to Pacific and also in Sri Lanka. Within India it is distributed in Maharashtra, Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is an evergreen shrub, 1-8 m tall. Leaves are 3-15 cm long, 2.5-9.5 cm wide. Flowers are pale green 1.5-3 mm across, borne in flat-topped clusters about 10-20 cm across. Fruits are black, 3-4 mm long. It has green to brown bark which is smooth or scaly.

Phytoconstituents

It contains Linalool, Luteolin, linoleic acid, p-methoxy Cinnamic acid, Aphelandrine, ganikarine, pentacyclic terpenebetulin, premnaspirodiene, premnazole, premnenol, premnine, ganiarine and β-sitosterol.

Medicinal Uses

It is useful in general debility, neurological diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, inflammatory disorders, neuralgia, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, piles, flatulent, constipation, common cold, cough, bronchitis, and loss of appetite. It is also useful in eruptive fevers, which include infections like scarlet fever (scarlatina), measles, smallpox, varioloid eruptions, and erysipelas. It is also used in leprosy, skin disorders, lung disease, liver disorders, heart disease, diabetes, dyspepsia, anorexia, urticarial, and kidney diseases.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Tikta, Katu, Kasaya, Madhura, Guna : Ruksha, Laghu, Virya : Ushna, Vipaka : Katu, Karma : Kapha dosha & Vata dosha.

Ayurvedic Applications

Pachana,  Depana, Jwara, Kushta, Sotha, Kasa, Antrasula, Prameha, Atisara, Pilahayakritroga, Asmari, Chardi. 

Botanical Name

Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.

Family

Thymelaeaceae.

Regional Name

English : Eagle Wood , Hindi : Agar , Sanskrit: Aguru, Lauha, Krimija, Urdu : Ood, Punjabi : Ooda, ooda , Bengali : Agaru, Gujrati : Agar , Kannada : Krishna Agaru , Malayalam : Akil , Marathi : Agar, Tamil : Akilkattai, Telugu : Agaru.

Part Used

Heart Wood.

Description

Agru is a large evergreen tree growing up to 60 to 80 feet and with a thick stem of 3 to 4 ft diameter distributed in the North-East part of the country in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura at an altitude of 1500 m above the sea level. It is also found in Bhutan, Myanmar, Sumatra, and Malaysia. Agarwood forms as a reaction to fungal or bacterial attack. Trees, occasionally become infected with a parasite mold secrete a fragrant, protective oil into wounded areas (roots, branches, or sections of the trunk), which gradually become harder and dark brown to black. The heartwood (central part of a tree, which is darker in color than the sapwood) is relatively light and pale color before infection. Drug available in cut pieces, dark brown to nearly black; fracture, hard; no characteristic smell and taste.

Phytoconstituents

Essential Oil. It contains agarol (sesquiterpene), aquillochin (couinarinolignan), α- agarofurans, β- agarofurans, agarospirol, jinkohol, jinkohol-eremol, selinene, iso- dihydroagarofuran, kusenol, and dihydroagarofuran.

Medicinal Uses

It acts as a stimulant, relieves pain, bad odor, skin disorders, and inflammation, and in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The wood is used both internally and externally. The paste of wood is applied to skin diseases and headaches. The essential oil obtained by the distillation of wood is applied to wounds, ulcers, ringworms, and other chronic skin diseases. 

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Katu, Tikta , Guna : Laghu, Snigdha, Tiksna , Virya : Usna , Vipaka : Katu , Karma : Sirovirecana,Kaphahara, Pittalam, Tvacya, Vatahara.

Ayurvedic Applications

Aksiroga, Svasa, Karna Roga, Kustha, Visa.

Botanical Name

Capparis sepiaria L.

Family

Capparaceae.

Synonyms

Capparis affinis Merr., Capparis emarginata C.Presl, Capparis flexicaulis Hance, Capparis incanescens DC., Capparis trichopetala Valeton, Capparis  umbellata R.Br. ex DC.

Regional Name

English : Wild caper bush, Indian caper, Hindi : Baghanai, Kanthari, Kanthor, Hainsa, Kareruaa, Kanthar, Kanthari, Sanskrit : Ahimsra, Ahinsra, Durdharsha, Himsra, Hinsra, Kanthari, Kantharika, Vakrakantaki, Vayastinduka, Kannada : Kanthaari, Kathiramullu, Katukatiri, Musthodi, Mulhukallari, Marathi : Ardanti, Vyaghranakh, Kantharvela, Tamil : Karindu, Pantanki, Kattukathiri, Marandan, Turmokam, Thoratti, Telugu : Nalla uppi, Nallapuyyi, Nallaupli, Nallauppi, Nallavuppi, Gujarati: Kalokantharo, Bengali: Kaliakara.

Part Used

Fruit.

Description

The plant is a perennial climbing shrub with hooked spines, extremely found in tropical Asia, East Pakistan, Malesia, Indochina, China, Northern Australia, and tropical Africa. In India, it is distributed throughout the country in the plains. The plant is evergreen, strongly branched, spiny shrub up to 6 m tall, often with scandent stems up to 10 m long. Leaf-blades elliptic, ovate or obovate, 1–6.8 x 0.8–4.4 cm, apically rounded, obtuse or retuse, mucronulate, basally rounded or subcordate; petiole 2–5 mm long, pubescent or glabrescent. The inflorescence is a short terminal raceme, often umbel-like, slightly hairy, up to 20-flowered, sometimes flowers solitary in upper leaf axils. Flowers, 5–20 mm long, pediceled, pubescent, or glabrescent. Sepals 4–8 mm long, glabrous outside, puberulous or glabrescent within. Petals oblong, up to 8–9 mm long, glabrous or basally puberulous. Stamens many, 8–13 mm long. Gynophore up to 1.5 cm long; ovary ovoid, c. 2 mm long, with sessile stigma. Fruits are subglobose, many-seeded berry; green when young, red-brown when ripe, 3 to 4 cm in diameter, on a greatly thickened stalk; seeds are trigonal, 4 to 5 mm long, 3 to 4 mm wide, 2 to 3 mm thick with white thin covering.

Phytoconstituents

The plant contains Thioglucoside glucocapparin, n-triacontane, a-amyrin, and fixed oil. It also contains flavonoids, steroids, tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, gums, resins, amino acids, proteins, and anthraquinones.

Medicinal Uses

It is used to treat Arthritis, Asthma, fever, jaundice, inflammation, diarrhea and dysentery, Skin diseases, liver disorders.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta, Kasaya, Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Virya : Usna, Vipaka : Katu, Karma : Kaphahara, Vatahara, Varnya, Visaghna, Kandughna.

Ayurvedic Applications

Bhrama, Jvara, Kandu, Kotha, Kustha, Pravahika, Raktapradara, Vrana, Sarpavisa, Vatavikara, Visvikara, Pidaka, Graharoga, Mukhadurgandha