Herbal Science

Herbal Garden Part I

 

ASHWAGANDHA

Common Name: Asvagandha, Asagand.

English Name: Indian Ginseng. Winter Cherry.

 

It is an erect evergreen tormentor’s shrub. 30-150 cm high. Roots stout whitish-brown. Leaves simple ovate. Those found in the fortal region small opposite. Flowers inconspicuous, light green or pale yellow, in axillaries. Umbellate cymes. Fruit a berry, reddish and globes. Parts used: Roots. Major Constituents: Alkaloids and with anolides (steroidal lactones) are the major groups of the secondary metabolites of medicinal interest isolated named characterized from the plant. Uses : Ashwangdha is a reputed medicinal plant, extensively utilized in Indian System of Medicine for treatment various diseases such as leprosy, nervous disorders, intestinal affections venereal diseases, rheumatism, enunciation of children and as a tonic for all kinds of weakness and also to promote vigor and vitality.

BERGAMOT MINT

 

Common Name: Vilayati - Pudina

English Name: Marsh mint; Bergamot mint Water mint; Lemon mint.

 

An erect, branching herb, leaves opposite, thin, petiole, broadly ovate or elliptical or uppermost lamellate, acute, 15-5 cm long. Flowers small, appear in the uppermost axils and in short dense terminal spikes. Parts used: Leaf Major Constituents: The main constituents of Bergamot mint oil are linalool (50-56%) and linalyl acetate (30-35%) Uses : The main use of Bergamot mint oil is in perfumery and cosmetics. The oil is used as such in soaps, perfumes and toiletry items.

BHUMY AMALAKI

 

Common Name: Bhumyamalaki, Tamalaki, Hazardana

English Name: Phyllanthus.

 

Erect annual herb, up to 1 m; main stem simple or branched, smooth, teeter, straminous or brownish, Cataphylls: stipules deltoid, aominate, entire, blade simulate, acuminate, 1-1.5 mm long; stipules ovate, lnceolate, entire, leaf blades membranous of thickened, elliptic oblong, 5.11 mm long and 3.6 mm broad, obtuse or rounded. Flowers monoecious with unisexual and bisexual cymules. Inflorescence of bisexual, the pentamerous calyx with acute lobes, the very short erect styles and the usually 5 lobed female disks. Parts Used: Whole plant. Major Constituents: Paramus elaborates different classes of organic compounds of medicinal importance including alkaloids, falconoid, steroids, terpenoids, lignans, tannins, and benzenoids. Coumarone and lipids. The major compound found to be lignans Phyllanthin and Hypo phyllanthin. Uses: The herb is bitter in taste and is reported to possess astringent, deobstruent, stomachic, diuretic, febrifuge and antiseptic properties. Fresh and dried plants are used in treatment of jaundice. The plant is ingredient of many poly herbal drugs of Ayurveda that are used in the treatment of jaundice. Chemical compounds – Phyllanthin Hypophyllanthin exhibit pronounced antihepatotoxic properties.

BRAMHI

Common Name: Brahmi, Jala Brahmi.

English Name: Thyme-leaved Gratiola

 

The plant is creeping succulent herb that branches profusely at nodes. The succulent leaf is sessile, opposite, decussate, obovate - oblanceolate in shape, with inconspicuous veins and produce branches in their axils. Flowers solitary, axillary’s with while or lilac campanulate corolla and capitates stigma. The fruit is an ovoid capsule with persistent style. Parts used: Whole plant Major Constituents: The herb contains the sponginess, monnierin, hersaponin and bacosides. Uses: The plant is used in treatment of mental disorders like epilepsy, insanity and memory loss. Bacosides have been proved to be responsible for improving intellect and memory and are the basis for memory enhance property

CITRONELLA

Common Name: Java ghas

English Name: Old Citronella grass, Citronella Java

 

Tall tufted grass up to 2.5m high, leaf-sheath glabrous, yellowish green, basal sheath glabrous, green-reddish up to 1m long, linear, acuminate, spat hate panicle up to 1m long with several racemes in zigzag axis. Sessile spike lets 5mm long: lower glum oblong lance late. Pedicel led spike let 5mm long: lower glime lanoelate. 7-nerved. Parts used: Aerial parts, source of essential oil. Major Constituents: Main constitutes of the oil are citronellot, geraniol, and citronellal: minor constituents are limonene, cis-ocimene, linalool, isopuegol and caryophullene, etc. Uses: Citronella oil is used mostly in perfumery, soap flakes, detergent, household cleaners, technical products and as an insecticides