KANGRIAN MEDICINAL FLORA

VIKRANT ARYA AND RANJEET KAUR

PRANAV PRAKASHAN KANGRA

KANGRIAN MEDICINAL FLORA

First Edition
VIKRANT ARYA
M.Pharm (Pharmacognosy) Department of Pharmacognosy, ASBASJSM College of Pharmacy, Bela, Ropar, Punjab

RANJEET KAUR PARMAR

M.Pharm (Pharmacognosy) Department of Pharmacognosy, Shoolini University, Solan, H.P.

PRANAV PRAKASHAN KANGRA H.P.

PRANAV PRAKASHAN

KANGRIAN MEDICINAL FLORA

First Edition : December 2011 Price : Rs. 400 ISBN 978-81-922659-0-2 The text of this publication, or any part thereof, should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or stored in any computer storage system or device for distribution including photocopy, recording, taping or information retrieved system or reproduced on any disc, tape, perforated media or other information storage device etc. without the written permission of Author with whom the rights are reserved. Breach of this condition is liable for legal action. Every effort has been made to avoid errors or omissions in this publication. In spite of this, errors may creep in. Any mistake, error or discrepancy noted may be brought to our notice which shall be taken care in next edition. It is notified that neither the author nor seller will be responsible for any damage or loss of action to any one, of any kind, in any manner, therefrom.

DEDICATED TO Dr. M.L. ARYA

PROFILE: Dr. M.L. Arya MA in Sanskrit, Hindi, History, Political Science, Sociology [H.P.U], Sahityacharya [P.U.], Vedacharya, Darshanacharya, Vyakaranacharya [H.P.U], M.Phil [H.P.U], PhD [P.U.] Gold medallist (Achieved 3 Gold medals), Dr. Y.S. Parmar Award winner Published Books: Navya, Satyarthprakashmanthana, Himachalcovidashtakam Currently working as Head, Department of Sanskrit, D.A.V College Kangra, H.P.-176001

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The work on this book started during our B. Pharmacy course. Since then, many teachers, fellow friends have made valuable suggestions which we have incorporated in this work. We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to them. Our parents who took great pain in going through the entire work and add accountable comments. We are specially indebited to Dr. M.L. Arya & Mrs. Chander Kala, Mr. Surjit Singh Parmar & Mrs. Gurcharan Kaur, our beloved parents for inspiring us. We are also beholden to our family members Vivek Arya, Sukhbir Singh, Niranjan Parmar who were good enough to find time for fruitful discussions. We acknowledge Prof. S.C. Khitha, Head Department of Botany DAV College Kangra, help us to explore more on Kangrian medicinal flora. We are grateful to him for having taken time to go through portions of the book and making remarkable comments. We are grateful to Dr. M.L. Arya, Head Department of Sanskrit, DAV College Kangra; Mr. Dinesh Kumar, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir; Dr. A.R. Bafna, Dr. Pallavi Bafna, Head Department of Pharmacy, Rayat Institute of Pharmacy, Railmajra, Punjab; Dr. C.P Kashyap, Principal, College of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jogindernagar H.P., for their motivational support. We are privileged to thank Vimal Sagar, Sushant Rana, Nitin Thakur, Amit Sharad, Harish Verma, Amritpal Singh Bhullar, Vishavpartap Singh, Ankit Sharma, Vinit Sharma, Narender Thakur, Kunal Dhuria, Ashish Chauhan, Shivankur Bhardwaj, Kajal Barsola, Vikram Thakur, Ankur Bhardwaj, Shekhar Guleria, Vibha Sharma, Harpreet Kaur, Vibhuti Dullu, Pushpa, these all friends always encourage us to move ahead to accomplish this task. Last but not the least, we are thankful to those who help us to print this work in a very mannered way. Mr. Hoshiar Singh, Panjab University Chandigarh and Neela Thapa, Neelam Negi, Dharamshala Kangra, H.P. helped us a lot. This work has been made possible by mutual cooperation of all.

CONTENTS- I
SR. NO. PLANT NAME
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 BENGAL QUINCE INDIAN GOOSEBERRY PUDDING PIPE TREE KINGS CROWN TINOSPORA TRAILING ECLIPTA PLANT MARGOSE TREE SWEET BASIL TOUCH-ME-NOT MANGO-GINGER HIMALAYAN SILVER BIRCH CUCUMBER BASTARD TEAK GYMNEMMA TAMARIND TREE HIMALAYAN CEDAR MANGO BLACK PLUM BITTER MELON BLUE GUM TREE SACRED FIG CORIANDER COTTON PLANT

PAGE NO.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

SR. NO.
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

PLANT NAME
INDIAN HEMP BANYAN TREE BISHOP'S WEED MALABAR NUT SMALL FENNEL CLUSTER TREE INDIAN CINNAMON GINGER INDIAN SWEET FENNEL ESTER TREE BLACK CATECHU INDIAN ALOE INDIAN GALL NUT BELERIC MYROBALAN BABCHI SEEDS FLAX INDIAN GUM ARABIC TREE WINTER CHERRY THYME LEAVED GRATIOLA LOTUS HELLEBORE FENUGREEK RADISH

PAGE NO.
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

CONTENTS- II
SR. NO. PLANT NAME
47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 ALMONDETTE TREE PADDY PROSTRATE BINDWEED THE SWEET FLAG BANANA GARLIC FIVE LEAVED CHASTE TREE LONG LEAVED PINE MUSTARD ROSE BLACK WOOD SANDALWOOD WHITE GUARD MELON LAWSONIA INERMIS INDIAN PENNYWORT LEMON GINGELLY OIL SEEDS PEPPERMINT MALE FERN INDIAN FIG CHRISTS THORN WATERCRESS MULBERRY

PAGE NO.
47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69

SR. NO.
70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92

PLANT NAME
WORMSEED GREY OAK CENTURY PLANT WILD YAM WILD EGGPLANT HONEY LEAF SAGE LESSER SWINE-CRESS FLIX WEED BLACK NIGHTSHADE PARACRESS COMMON DANDELION TEA VANDA BRUNNEA GOAT WEED WHITE FALL ASTER HOLLY LEAVED BERBERRY HAIRY BEGGARS TICK FAT HEN DODDAR SAGO PALM DURANTA WOOD SORREL

PAGE NO.
70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92

CONTENTS-III
SR. NO. PLANT NAME
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 SNAKE WEED HIMALAYAN CHERRY PRINSEPIA COUNTRY MALLOW SOLOMONS SEAL CASTOR SEED MEADOW SAFFRON PRICKLY POPPY SHOE FLOWER PRICKLY CHAFF FLOWER COLOCYNTH BITTER APPLE BUDDHIST BAUHINIA WILD SAGE RINGWORM PLANT FIRE-FLAME BUSH BREAD FLOWER LEADWORT BARLERIA DOWNY JASMINE TRUMPET FLOWER SABESTAN PLUM THORNY BAMBOO STRAWBERRY

PAGE NO.
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114

SR. NO.
115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135

PLANT NAME
PRICKLY PEAR TOOTHED MEDIC MEADOW MUSHROOM WILD INDIGO COMMON PEAR POINTED GOURD COMMON CHICKWEED STINGING NETTLE THORN APPLE PALMAROSA LEMON GRASS MONKEY FACE TREE MONKEY FACE TREE COMMON JUNIPER INDIAN HENBANE INDIAN PODOPHYLLUM YELLOW OLEANDER INDIAN RHUBARB INDIAN VALERIAN VETIVER VIOLA INDIAN MAHOGANY TREE

PAGE NO.
115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135

CONTENTS-IV
SR. NO. 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 PLANT NAME BOMBAX TANSY WINE GRAPE BIRD CHILLI CELERY BERMUDA GRASS SUGARCANE RIB GRASS AJUGA CATMINT STROBILANTHES COMMON PURSLANE CONGRESS GRASS PURGING NUT WINDSOR BEAN ORIENTAL ARBOR-VITAE POMEGRANATE SPONGE CUCUMBER EAST INDIAN WALNUT PAPAYA TREE WATER THYME INDIAN SQUILL TRIANGULAR SPURGE PAGE NO. 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 SR. NO. 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 PLANT NAME INDIAN TRUMPET FLOWER SOAP NUT TREE ANGELICA INDIAN ASPARAGUS HORSE-RADISH CARROT WHITE MARUDAH GUAVA APPLE WALNUT TREE LITCHI FRENCH MARIGOLD PEACH WOOD APPLE ROSE-TREE BUCKWHEAT TARO THREE-LEAVED CAPER AGATI SESBAN DHAMAN INDIAN MADDER TEAK TREE PAGE NO. 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180

INTRODUCTION
This is the first edition designed to provide valuable information about medicinal flora occurring in abundance in Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh. This book is including about 180 plants of medicinal use. The format for this book includes common name, botanical name, local name by which the medicinal flora is known in the Kangra region. It also includes sanskrit as well as hindi name of plants. The plant description is given for the purpose of identity. It also includes chemical constituents along with their uses. The use of medicinal plant is the most important part of this book. This book is mentioning also the part of plant used for particular purpose i.e. in curing different diseases. There are various common names, but we included those which are easily recognizable. This book generally refers for the interest of common people. There are no abbreviations used. Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh is situated in Western Himalayas between longitude 75 to 7745 East and latitude 312 to 325 North. It is enclosed by Kullu and Chamba districts towards North, Mandi and Hamirpur District towards East, Una district towards South and Gurdaspur district of Punjab towards West. The Kangra valley is sheltered by the sublime Dhauladhar range is green and luxuriant. Kangra is one of the spurs of Himalayas, the dark pine covered mountain side reaching out towards the upper peaks. Kangra attitude various from 427 meters, from Mean Sea Level to 640 metres above Mean Sea Level. District has varied geography with Northern plain of India. Just touching the South West of district, the Shiwalik range, the Mountain range of Dhauladhar and then Himalayan range of Pir Panjal North East. Weather of Kangra varies from Sub tropical towards South to Temperate in North Mountainous region. Seventy percent of rainfall is in monsoon months of July to September, rainfall is very heavy along Southern slopes of Dhauladhar range and is appropriate for growth of medicinal plants. The area around Kangra is known for its ancient temples and picturesque surroundings and as a centre of the arts. Despite the onslaughts and political upheavals, the arts and crafts of the region continued to develop and found lyrical expressions. Crafts like the exquisitely designed shawls and miniature paintings of this region are internationally appreciated. There are several tea gardens dedicated to the production. The weather in Kangra is alpine. Summers (April-June) are mild and winters are cold (NovemberFebruary). It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September. The Kangra region receives the second highest rainfall per annum. The best time to visit Kangra is between March and June.

Herbal Medicine are used for their therapeutic or medicinal value. An herb is a plant or part of a plant valued for its medicinal, aromatic or savory qualities. Medicinal plants contain a variety of phytoconstituents that has therapeutic effect upon the body. Kangrian tribes use the leaves, flowers, stems, berries and roots of plants to prevent, relieve and treat illness. From scientific point of view, many herbal treatments are considered experimental. The reality is, however, that herbal medicine has a long and perspective history. Many familiar medications preferred by regional people of Kangra to treat health problems with specific plants. Many plant components are now synthesized in large laboratories for use in pharmaceutical preparations. For example, Periwinkle (an anticancer drug), digitalis (a heart regulator), and ephedrine (a bronchodilator used to decrease respiratory congestion) are now originally discovered through research on plants were being used traditionaly by Kangrian people. Such medicinal herbs are being used from ancient times by kangrian tribes. Herbal medicine is the oldest form of healthcare known to mankind. Kangrian tribes appreciated the great diversity of plants available to them. The plants provided food, clothing, shelter and medicine. As time went on, each tribe added the medicinal power of herbs in their area to its knowledge base. Some medicinal flora is used as such from ancient times, they are not clinically proved yet but their uses are common with shown effects. There is an increasing use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) across the world. The most common complementary therapies are acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicines. Use of herbal medicines becoming popular in recent times than allopathic drugs because of their less side effects and their prolonged action. It is advised to consume to take rational and safe use of all herbal drugs because they are accompanied with serioius problems. Sometimes, healthcare professionals are making aware their patients about use of herbal medicines too. Use of medicinal plants is as old as human civilization. Even today, use of herbs is very common in interior areas of world. Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, reffered in Indian villages till date. Kangrian tribes made well use of such wealth of the valley.Tremendous riches of the valley includes a great sorts of medicinal herbs with potential beneficial effects. Bengal quince known as sacred tree belongs to family Rutaceae contains alkaloid, coumarins, sterol and having various uses. Amla known as Indian gooseberry belongs to family Euphorbiaceae which is rich source of Vitamin C and used as antacid. Amaltas known as Pudding pipe tree belongs to family Leguminosae having purgative and antibilous properties. Aak known as Kings crown belonging to family Asclepiadaceae contains saponin which is used in dyspepsia and flatulence. Trailing eclipta plant commonly known as bhringraj belongs to family Asteraceae contains steroidal alkaloid having antihepatotoxic property. Margose tree known as

neem belonging to family Meliaceae contains flavonoids, quercetin, kaempferol and used as antimicrobial, antifungal, insecticidal action too. Sweet basil commonly known as tulsi belongs to family Lamiaceae contains essential oils like eugenol, nerol which has adaptogenic and antistress properties.Touch me not known as chhuimui belongs to family Fabaceae has styptic action and act as blood purifier. Turmeric also known as mango ginger belongs to family Zingiberaceae contains essential oils like curcumene, pinene acting as antimicrobial. Himalayan silver birch commonly known as bhojpatra belongs to family Betulaceae has aromatic properties. Cucumber commonly known as kakri belongs to family Cucurbitaceae has nutritive, diuretic and cooling effects. Palash known as Bastard teak belongs to family Fabaceae contains flavonoids, steroid having astringent and styptic action. Gymnema belongs to family Asclepiadaceae contains alkaloid gymnamine have antiperiodic, diuretic and antibilous activity. Tamarind tree commonly known as imli belongs to family Fabaceae have fungicidal and bactericidal activity. Himalayan cedar commonly known as devdar belonging to family Pinaceae contains sesqueterpenoids and tannins which is used in fever, diarrhoea and dysentery. Mango belongs to family Anacardiaceae contains citric acid, carotenoids, ascorbic acid having antiscorbutic action. Black plum commonly known as jamun belongs to family Myrtaceae contains anthocyanins, tannins and having antidiabetic action. Bitter melon known as karela belonging to family Cucurbitaceae contains triterpene glycoside having antidiabetic action. Blue gum tree commonly known as safeda belongs to family Myrtaceae contains eucalyptol used in rheumatic complaint. Fenugreek commonly known as methi contains sapogenins which is used as lactagogue. Prostrate Bindweed known as shankhpushpi contains shankhpushpine, a principle alkaloid used to cure nervine disorders. Five leaved chaste tree commonly known as Bana contains iridoid glycosides used as antiparasitic, anti-inflammmatory action. Long leaved pine commonly known as Cheel contains essential oils which can be used as antiseptic, rubefacient, expectorant and antipruritic action. Brassica campesris commonly known as mustard contains glycosinolates which can be used externally for bronchitis and rheumatic pain. Blackwood commonly known as seesam responsile for local astringent, haemostatic action and beneficial in bleeding piles. Raspings of its wood beneficial in leprosy, boils and eruptions. Safed chandan i.e sandalwood contains triterpenes and having cooling, diaphoretic, diuretic, antiseptic and bacteriostatic action. Benincasa hispida belonging to Cucurbitaceae commonly known as petha and its fruit contains lupeol, -sitosterol. Its juice has tranquilizing activity, CNS depressant and used for treating epilepsy. Lawsonia inermis commonly known as mehandi contains naphthoquinones, in particular lawsone beneficial for curing wounds and ulcers. Its fruit has emmenagogue properties and roots have cooling, diuretic action along with usefulness in leprosy, skin diseases. Indian pennywort i.e Centella asiatica used commonly as brain

tonic, CNS relaxant, detoxifier, blood purifier and antibiotic. Its leaves found usefulness in leprosy. A Gingelly oil seed commonly known as tila has nourishing, lactagogue, diuretic, laxative and emollient action. These plants having medicinal values described in this book giving valueable information to research oriented people and help a lot in carrying out new research in the field of life, health, pharmaceutical sciences. Such medicinal flora is often used by people but they are not aware of their immense potential to cure various diseases. This medicinal flora can be proved to be an elixir to humanity.

1. BENGAL QUINCE
Botanical Name : Aegle marmelos Linn. (Family Rutaceae) Local Name : Bel Sanskrit Name : Arcpha, Shaandilya, Shailuusha Hindi Name : Shriphala

PLANT DESCRIPTION
It is a medium sized armed deciduous tree growing upto 8 m in height with straight sharp axillary thorns and yellowish brown shallowly furrowed corky bark. Leaves are alternate, trifoliate and aromatic; leaflets ovate or ovate- lanceolate, crenate, pellucidpunctate, the laterals subsessile and the terminal long petioled. Flowers are greenish-white, sweet scented, borne on axillary panicles. Fruit is globose, woody berry with golden yellow rind when ripe. Seeds are numerous oblong, compressed and embedded in the orange brown sweet gummy pulp.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
It contains a number of coumarins, alkaloids, sterols and essential oils. Roots and fruits contain coumarins such as scoparone, scopoletin, umbelliferone, marmesin and skimmin. Fruits contains xanthotoxol, imperatorin and alloimperatorin and alkaloids like aegeline and marmeline. Sitosterol and its glycosides are also present in the fruits. Roots and stem barks contain a coumarin aegelinol. Roots also contain psoralen, xanthotoxin, 6,7 dimethoxy coumarin, tembamide, mermin and skimmianine.

USES
Fruit pulp : laxative, therefore administered for digestive disorders particularly dysentery, enteric
infections and microbial diarrhea. Stem bark : anti-diabetic and used in lipid disorders. Root : shows anti-inflammatory effects experimentally. Rootbark : used for controlling palpitation of the heart. Seeds : alcoholic extract of seeds show antiallergic activity. Seed oil : shows beneficial effects in regeneration of tumour cells. Leaves : efficacious in asthma and jaundice. The active principle in aqueous extract of leaf shows hypoglycaemic activity similar to insulin.

2. INDIAN GOOSEBERRY
Botanical Name : Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Family Euphorbiaceae) Local Name : Amla Sanskrit Name : Dhatriphala, Amraphalam, Amalaki Hindi Name : Amla, Amlika

PLANT DESCRIPTION
It is a small to medium sized deciduous tree growing up to 18 m in height with thin light grey, bark exfoliating in small thin irregular flakes. Leaves are simple, subsessile, closely set along the branchlets, distichous light green having the appearance of pinnate leaves. Flowers are greenish yellow in axillary fascicles, unisexual; males numerous on short slender pedicels; females are few, subsessile; ovary 3-celled. Fruits are globose, 1-5 cm in diameter, fleshy, pale yellow with obscure vertical furrows enclosing trigonous seeds in crustaceous cocci.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Fruit is a rich natural source of vitamin C, minerals and amino acids. It also contains cytokinin like substances identified as zeatin, zeatin riboside and zeatin nucleotide. The seeds yield fixed oil, brownish yellow in colour. The plant contains tannins like glucogallia, corilagin, chebulagic acid and 3,6-digalloyl glucose. Root yields ellagic acid, lupeol, quercetin and sitosterol.

USES
: used as antacid, refrigerant, diuretic, antianaemic, anabolic, antiemetic, astringent, antihaemorrhagic, antidiarrhoeal, antidiabetic, carminative, antioxidant. Used in jaundice, dyspepsia, bacillary dysentery, eye trouble and as a gastrointestinal tonic. Seed : antibilious, antiasthmatic and also used in bronchitis. Bark : astringent. Leaf : anti-inflammatory and its juice is given in vomiting. Fruit

3. PUDDING PIPE TREE

Botanical Name : Cassia fistula Linn. (Family Leguminosae) Local Name : Kaniar Sanskrit Name : Aragbhada, Nripadruma, Suvarnaka Hindi Name : Amaltas

PLANT DESCRIPTION
It is deciduous or semi-deciduous tree. Leaves are pinnate; alternate; 12-18 inches long, 4-8 pairs of ovate opposite leaflets; 3-6 inches long, flowers bright yellow in colour; widely spaced petals about 2 inches wide with 10 stamens. Flower cluster held on pendent; terminal racemes, fruits are pods; long and hanging about 24 inches long with 1 inch diameter, many cross walls, each with a single poisonous seed in sticky brown pulp.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, rhein, volatile oil, waxy and resinous derivatives. Kaempferol, leucopelargonidin tetramer (with free glycol unit), rhein, fistulin, alkaloids, triterpenes, fistulic acid are also present.

USES
Flowers & pods : purgative, febrifugal, astringent & antibilious. Seed : laxative, carminative, cooling and antipyretic propreties and also used in amoebiasis. Fruit : cathartic. Fruit pulp : used for constipation,colic pain, chlorosis and urinary disorders. Root : purgative and febrifuge. Leaves : purgative.

4. KINGS CROWN
Botanical Name : Calotropis procera Ait. (Family Asclepiadaceae) Local Name : Aak Sanskrit Name : Alarka, Ravi, Tapana Hindi Name : Aak, Akavana, Madar

PLANT DESCRIPTION
This plant is a soft-wooded, evergreen, perennial shrub. It has one or a few stems, few branches, and relatively few leaves, mostly concentrated near the growing tip. The bark is corky, furrowed, and light grey. The leaf blades are light to dark green with nearly white veins. They are 7 to 18 cm long and 5 to 13 cm broad, slightly leathery and have a fine coat of soft hairs that rub off. The flower clusters are umbelliform cymes that grow at or near the ends of twigs.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
A yellow bitter resin & a black acid resin is present. Madaralbum, a crystalline colourless substance. Madarfluavil, an amber coloured viscid substance, caoutchouc and a peculiar principle which gelatinizes on being heated called Mudarine. Cardenolides are also present which includes calotoxin, saponin and choline.

USES
Flowers : detergent properties. Leaves : used for treating chronic cases of dyspepsia, flatulence, constipation and mucus in stool. Seed oil : geriatric and tonic. Root and leaf : employed in asthma and dyspnea. Stem bark : exihibits uses in diseases of the spleen. Latex : given for treating epilepsy, also in painful joints and swellings.

5. TINOSPORA
Botanical Name : Tinospora cordifolia Willd. (Family Menispermaceae) Local Name : Giloe Sanskrit Name : Guduchi, Amrita, Soma-valli Hindi Name : Giloe, Gurcha

PLANT DESCRIPTION
It is a climbing shrub with rough corky bark. Leaves are glabrous, cordate 5-10 cm broad, acute or accuminate. The plant is dioecious. Male flowers are in fascicles; sepals oval; petals half the length of sepals. Female flowers are usually solitary, having ovary on the fleshy receptacle. Fruits are red when ripe.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
The plant contains cordifol, tinosporidine, tinosporide, tinosporic acid, tinosporol, cordifolide, tinosporine, magnoflorine and tembetarine.

USES
Herb : antipyretic, antiperiodic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, spasmolytic, hypoglycaemic,
Hepatoprotective. Stem : used in jaundice, anaemia, polyuria and skin diseases. Root : diuretic, bitter tonic & aphrodisiac. The starch from roots and stem are used in chronic diarrhoea and dysentery.

6. TRAILING ECLIPTA PLANT

Botanical Name : Eclipta alba Linn. (Family Asteraceae) Local Name : Bhringaraaja Sanskrit Name : Kesharaja Hindi Name : Bhringaraaja, Bhringa, Bhringaja

PLANT DESCRIPTION
The stems are rather slender, usually reddish and up to 40 cm or more in length. The leaves are linear-oblong to lanceolate, 1 to 5 cm long, without petioles, entire or slightly toothed and pointed or blunt at the tip. The flowering heads are white, ovoid, 5 to 6 mm long and about 5 mm in diameter. The achenes are black about 3 mm long, smooth or slightly hairy at the tip.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Eclipta has bioactive steroidal alkaloids, contains mainly coumestans i.e. wedelolactone (I) and demethyl wedelolactone (II), polypeptides, polyacetylenes, thiophene derivatives, steroids, triterpenes , flavonoids, resin and an alkaloid ecliptine.

USES
Roots : Deobstruent, antihepatotoxic, anticatarrhal, febrifuge.Used in hepatitis, spleen enlargements, chronic skin diseases. Roots also shows activity against nematodes. Leaves : promotes hair growth. Its extract in oil is applied to scalp before bed time in insomnia. The herb
is also used as an ingredient in shampoos.The plant also be used in treatment of peptic ulcer, inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, diseases of the gallbladder and skin infections.

7. MARGOSE TREE
Botanical Name : Azadirachta indica Linn. (Family Meliaceae) Local Name : Neem Sanskrit Name : Nimbah, Prabhadrah Hindi Name : Neem PLANT DESCRIPTION
Neem is a hardy,medium to large, mostly evergreen tree attaining 20 m height and 2.5 m girth. It has a short bole with wide spreading branches and glabrous twigs forming a round to oval crown. The bark is thick, darkgrey with numerous longitudinal furrows and transverse cracks. Leaves are imparipinnately compound and alternate. Inflorescence is long, slender, axillary or terminal panicle. Flowers are white or pale yellow, small, bisexual, pentamerous and bracteate. Stamens are 10, filaments unite to form a moniliform tube.Fruit is one seeded drupe with woody endocarp, greenish yellow when ripe. Seed ellipsoid, cotyledons are thick, fleshy and oily.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Dry Neem leaves contain carbohydrates, crude protein, crude fiber, fats, calcium and phosphate. Leaves also contain the flavanoid quercetin, nimbosterol, kaempferol and myricetin. Seed and oil contains desacetylnimbin, azadirachtin , nimbidol, meliantriol ,tannic acid and amino acids. Trunk bark contains nimbin, nimbinin, nimbidin, nimbosterol, essential oil, tannins, margosine and desacetylnimbin.

USES
Bark : cathartic and emetic. Leaves : antimicrobial, antifungal, anthelmintic, insecticidal, antiviral, antipyretic, antimalarial,
antiperiodic, antifertility, spermicidal, hypoglycaemic, also used in inflammation of gums, gingivitis, periodonitis, sores, boils, measles, smallpox, head scald and cutaneous infections. Oil : mosquito repellent, insecticidal, antibacterial and antifungal activities.

8. SWEET BASIL
Botanical Name : Ocimum sanctum Linn. (Family Lamiaceae) Local Name : Tulsi Sanskrit Name : Kharpushpa, Ajgandhikaa, Barbari Hindi Name : Bana-Tulsi

PLANT DESCRIPTION
Stem is erect, herbaceous, woody, branched, hairy, sub quadrangular, externally purplish-brown to black, internally cream, coloured. Leaves are 2.5-5 cm long, 1.6 - 3.2 cm wide, elliptic oblong, obtuse or acute, entire or serrate, pubescent on both sides, petiole thin about 1.5-3cm long, hairy,odour is aromatic, taste is characteristic. Flower is purplish or crimson coloured, small in close whorls; bracts about 3 mm long and broad, fruit is a group of 4 nutlets, each with one seed, enclosed in an enlarged, membranous, veined calyx, nutlets sub-globose or broadly elliptic, slightly compressed, nearly smooth; pale brown or reddish with small black marking at the place of attachment to the thalamus, seeds are rounded to oval; brown; slightly notched at the base; no odour; taste is pungent and slightly mucilaginous.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Major components of the essential oil are eugenol, carvacrol, nerol and eugenolmethylether. Leaves contains ursolic acid, apigenin, luteolin, apigenin-7-O-glucuronide, luteolin-7-O-glucuronide, orientin and molludistin. Ursolic acid is also present in leaves.

USES
Essential oil: antibacterial, antifungal. Plant : adaptogenic, antistress. Leaf : anti-catarrhal, carminative, stomachic, antispasmodic, antiasthmatic, antirheumatic, expectorant,
stimulant, hepatoprotective, antiperiodic, antipyretic and diaphoretic.

Seed : mucilaginous and demulcent, used in psychological disorders, including fear-psychosis

and obsessions.

Root : febrifuge, antimalarial.

9. TOUCH-ME-NOT
Botanical Name Local Name Sanskrit Name Hindi Name : Mimosa pudica Linn. (Family Fabaceae) : Sharmili : Lajjalu, Ajalikalika : Chhuimui, Lajauni

PLANT DESCRIPTION
Plant is a sensitive, a small, prostrate or ascending, short-lived shrub. It may reach 1 m in height when supported on other vegetation and more than 2 m in horizontal extension. The reddish-brown, woody stems are sparsely or densely armed with curved prickles. The root system consists of a taproot and extensive fibrous roots with nodules. The twigs are fine and flexible and support leaves with one or two pairs of pinnae and 15 to 25 pairs of oblong leaflets: 3 to 12 mm long. The flowers are pink and clustered in globose heads.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
The plant contains mimosine and turgorin. The periodic leaf movements exhibited by the plant are due to presence of derivatives of 4-O- (-D-glucopyranosyl-6-sulphate) gallic acid. The aerial parts of the plant contain C-glycosylflavones, O-rhamnosylorientin.

USES
Leaves : astringent, antiseptic, styptic, blood purifier.Used for diarrhoea, dysentery, haemophilic
conditions, leucorrhoea, morbid conditions of vagina, piles, fistula, hydrocele and glandular swellings

Root : Aphordisiac, also used in gravel and urinary complaints.

10. MANGO-GINGER
Botanical Name : Curcuma amanda Roxb. (Family Zingiberaceae) Local Name : Haldi Sanskrit Name : Aamra Haridraa, Aamragandhi Hindi Name : Aamaa-haldi, Amiyaa haldi

PLANT DESCRIPTION
It is a rhizomatous aromatic herb with a leafy tuft and 60-90 cm in height. Leaves are long, petiolate, oblonglanceolate, tapering at both ends, glabrous and green on both sides. Flowers are white or pale yellow, arranged in spikes in the centre of tuft of the leaves.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
The essential oil contains pinene, curcumene, camphor, cuminyl alcohol, myristic acid and turmerone. Car-3-ene and cis-ocimene contribute the characteristic mango odour of the rhizome.

USES
Rhizomes : Carminative, stomachic, appetizer, expectorant, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, specific in rheumatism and inflammation of liver, also used in contusions and sprains. Volatile oil :
antimicrobial, antifungal and anthelmintic.

For complete version of this book [total 180 plants included], kindly contact on

Email: arya.vikrant30@g mail.com

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

VIKRANT ARYA
Mr. Vikrant Arya, joined B. Pharmacy course at Rayat Institute of Pharmacy, Nawanshahr, Punjab (2005-2009). He finds deep interest in subject of Pharmacognosy, so he started to work upon the idea of this book about medicinal flora of his native place Kangra. After completing his B.Pharmacy, he took admission in M.Pharmacy in Pharmacognosy at Amar Shaheed Baba Ajit Singh Jujhar Singh Memorial Post graduate College of Pharmacy, Bela, Ropar, Punjab. He completed his M.Pharmacy project at Institite of Himalayan Bioresource and Technology, CSIR, Palampur, Kangra, H.P. He submitted his thesis with 2 research and 15 review papers in national and international journals.

RANJEET KAUR
Miss Ranjeet Kaur, joined B. Pharmacy course at Rayat Institute of Pharmacy, Nawanshahr, Punjab (2005-2009). Mr. Vikrant Arya shared his idea with her and they both worked on this book. She has industrial experience in year 2009 at Baddi, Solan, H.P. In 2010, she took admission at Shoolini University, Bajhol, Solan, H.P. in M.Pharmacy (Pharmacognosy). Now she is pursuing her course and project work with 1 research and 2 review papers already published in national and international journals.

We are just students who are keen to learn and share knowledge.

Thanking you Vikrant Arya M.PHARM. PHARMACOGNOSY