A
pubescent herb, the roots
of which yield an essential
oil that contains iso valeric
acid, iso valeraldehyde,
aromadendrene, pavonene,
a-terpinene, azulene and
pavonenol.
The
roots are aromatic, and
possess refrigerant, antipyretic,
stomachic and astringent
properties. They are used
in dysentery and inflammation
and hemorrhage of the intestines.
Latin
name: Pheritima posthuma
English name: Earthworm
Sanskrit / Indian name:
Bhoonag
Arabian Name :
Earthworms are elongate
worms with segmented body,
bearing small, sparsely
distributed, chitinous bristles
or setae.
The
extract of earthworm is
used in various mixtures
of Chinese medicine for
the treatment of asthma
in man, and influenza in
poultry. Pharmaceutical
compositions containing
earthworm as an active ingredient
showed antidiabetic, hypotensive
and anti-hyperlipidemic
activity in mice. Earthworms
contain an active antipyretic
substance, lumbrofebrin.
Latin
name:Phoenix dactylifera
English name: Dates
Sanskrit / Indian name:
Kharjura
Arabian Name :
A
tall tree. The fruit is
an oblong berry that is
reddish or yellowish brown
when ripe.
Dates
are considered demulcent,
expectorant and laxative
and are used in respiratory
diseases and fever. They
are rich in sugars.
Latin
name: Phyllanthus amarus
Syn. P. nanus
English name:
Sanskrit / Indian name:
Bhumyaamalaki
Arabian Name :
A
herb with a rigid, short,
prostrate stem.
Amariin,
a novel hydrolysable tannin
together with geraniin,
corilagin, 1,6-digalloyl-glucopyranoside
as well as a rutin and quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside
have been isolated from
the plant.
The
plant is often used in the
traditional system of medicine
for a variety of ailments
including flu, dropsy, diabetes,
jaundice, asthma, bronchial
infections, and diseases
of the liver. In the Ayurvedic
system of medicine it is
used in problems of the
stomach, genito-urinary
system, liver, and kidney.
Latin
name: Picrorhiza kurroa
English name:
Sanskrit / Indian name:
Katuka, Kutki
Arabian Name :
It
is a perennial herb with
elongate, stout and creeping
rootstock found in the alpine
regions. The plant is mainly
used in the therapy for
liver and lung diseases.
The plant is reported to
exhibit potent immunostimulant
activity and is considered
as immunomodulatory agent.
The phenolic glycoside,
androsin isolated from the
plant, is reported to be
active compound which prevents
allergen and platelet activating
factor-induced bronchial
obstruction in guinea pigs
in vitro. It also has anti-inflammatory
activity.
Latin
name: Pinus roxburghii
English name: Chir
Pine
Sanskrit / Indian name:
Sarala, Shrivasa
Arabian Name :
A
tall tree, with spreading
branches covered with a
dark grey bark that is deeply
fissured and rough.
The
turpentine oil obtained
from the chir pine is valued
in medicine as a rubefacient
in various rheumatic affections,
such as lumbago, arthritis,
and neuralgia. The oil is
also an ingredient in many
ointments, liniments and
lotions for treating minor
aches and pains as well
as colds when applied externally.
Latin
name: Piper longum 
English name: Indian
Long Pepper
Sanskrit / Indian name:
Kana, Magadhi, Pippali, Ushana
Arabian Name :
Piper
longum is a slender, aromatic,
climber with perennial woody
roots, creeping and jointed
stems, and fleshy fruits
embedded in the spikes.
Its
principle constituents are
piperine and piplartine
The fruits are used for
diseases of the respiratory
tract, viz. cough, bronchitis,
asthma, etc.; as counter-irritant
and analgesic when applied
locally for muscular pains
and inflammation and as
general tonic and hematinic.
It is known to enhance the
bio-availability of food
and drugs as well as being
a carminative.
It
is used in coughs, coryza,
asthma, hoarseness of voice,
bronchitis, etc.
Latin
name: Piper nigrum 
English name: Black
Pepper
Sanskrit / Indian name:
Krishna, Vellaja, Maricha
Arabian Name :
Piper
nigrum is a climbing perennial
shrub, rooting at the stem
nodes with ovoid or globose
fruits.
Its
principle constituents are
piperine, chavicine, piperidine
and piperettine. It is much
employed as an aromatic
stimulant in weakness following
fevers, coma, etc., as a
stomachic in cholera, dyspepsia,
flatulence, indigestion,
diarrhoea and various other
gastrointestinal ailments.
It has bacteriostatic, fungistatic,
anti-inflammatory and rubefacient
properties.
Latin
name: Pistacia vera 
English name: Pistachio
Sanskrit / Indian name:
Mukulaka
Arabian Name :
A
small deciduous tree, which
has fruits with a grayish
white, bony, keeled nut-shell,
which encloses light yellow
to deep green edible kernels
with a reddish coat.
The
kernels are considered to
be digestive, sedative and
tonic and contain a melting
fatty oil.
Latin
name: Plumbago zeylanica
English name:
Sanskrit / Indian name:
: Chitraka
Arabian Name :
A
perennial, sub-scandent
shrub found wild.
The
root bark of P. zeylanica
contains plumbagin (distributed
in most of the secondary
cortex and medullary ray
cells), free glucose and
fructose, and the enzymes
protease and invertase.
It
is a powerful irritant,
antiseptic, anti-inflammatory
and diuretic that is useful
in rheumatism.
Latin
name: Praval bhasma
English name: Coral
Calx
Sanskrit / Indian name:
Arabian Name :
It
is a rich, natural source
of calcium, and, due to
appropriate Ayurvedic processing,
has the advantage of easy
absorption in the intestine.
Sanskrit
/ Indian name: Praval
pishti
Latin name:
English name: Processed
Coral
Arabian Name :
It
is prepared from the coral
of Corallium rubrum. It
is a tonic for the heart
and brain and useful in
melancholia, palpitation
and cough.
Latin
name: : Prunus amygdalus
English name: Almond
Sanskrit / Indian name:Vatadha
Arabian Name :
Prunus
amygdalus is a tree with
minutely serrate leaves.
It
is known for its astringent
effect. It has a globulin
called amandin. It contains
folic acid, alpha tocopherol
and zinc, which are useful
in skin disorders. In Ayurveda,
almond kernels are considered
demulcent, lithontriptic
and diuretic as well as
being a nervine tonic.
It
is reported to improve brain
functions.
Latin
name: Psoralea corylifolia
English name:
Sanskrit / Indian name:
Bakuchi, Babchi
Arabian Name :
It
is an erect annual herb
with broadly-elliptic leaves,
yellow or bluish purple
flowers and small pods with
one seed, which is adhering
to the pericarp. Psoralen
and isopsoralen are the
active principles of the
drug. Bavachinin -A a flavanone
isolated from the fruits
revealed marked anti-inflammatory
and mild analgesic properties.
Latin
name: Pterocarpus marsupium
English name: Indian
Kino Tree
Sanskrit / Indian name:
Bijaka
Arabian Name :
Pterocarpus
marsupium is a large deciduous
tree.
Its
principle constituents are
liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin.
An aqueous infusion of the
wood is used in diabetes.
It has been found to reduced
the glucose absorption from
the gastrointestinal tract
and improve insulin and
pro-insulin levels. It is
effective in beta cell regeneration
and has also been found
to have a hypocholesteremic
effect.
Latin
name: Punica granatum
English name: Pomegranate
Sanskrit / Indian name:Dadima
Arabian Name :
A
shrub or small tree with
edible fruits.
The
rind contains tannins and
ursolic acid. Extracts of
the fruit rind and root
bark showed antibacterial
activity. It is valued as
an astringent in cases of
diarrhea and dysentery.
Latin
name: Pyrus malus 
English name: Crab
Apple, Cultivated Apple
Sanskrit / Indian name:
Sevam
Arabian Name :
A
low round-crowned tree.
The composition of the apple
fruit varies with variety,
climatic conditions during
the growing season, and
the stage of maturity.
It
is a rich source of various
vitamins, trace elements,
amino acids and flavanoids.
Malic acid is the principal
acid (90-95% of the total
acids) of the fruit. It
has tonic, keratolytic and
antiseptic properties. The
astringent principles of
apple include tannins, tannin
derivatives and coloring
materials (flavones). Apple
is one of the fruits with
low antigen content diet
and is useful in the management
of immunomediated diseases
such as mixed cryoglobulinemia
and Ig A neuropathy. Apple
fruits contain a ß-glycol,
octane-1, 3-diol which is
an antifungal constituent.
It reduces skin inflammation
and helps in removing dead
skin fragments.
