Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Abelmoschus esculentus
(Linn.) Moench.
Synonym ◮ Hibiscus esculentus Linn.
Family ◮ Malvaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to tropical Africa;
cultivated throughout India, up to
1,350 m.
English ◮ Gumbo, Lady Finger, Okra.
Ayurvedic ◮ Bhaandi, Bhindaka,
Bhendaa.
Unani ◮ Baamiyaa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Vendai.
Folk ◮ Bhindi, Raamturai.
Action ◮ Immature pods (decoction)—emollient,
demulcent and
diuretic (in catarrhal affections,
ardor urine, dysuria, dysentery).
Seeds—antispasmodic.
Fatty fraction of the fresh watery extract
of the seeds causes destruction
of cancerous cell growth in vitro. The
pods are reported to exhibit antitumour
activity. An ethanolic extract
of pods was effective against Grampositive
bacteria.
The ripe fruits contain quercetin,
hyperin (hyperoside), hydrolysate of
precipitated mucilage, proanthocyanidins,
D-glucose, D-glucuronic and
galacturonic acids.
Fresh flowers contain flavonol glycosides
and anthocyanins.
A
Abies pindrow Royle.
Synonym ◮ A. pindrow Spach.
A. webbiana Lindl. var. pindrow
Brandis.
Pinus pindrow Royle.
Family ◮ Pinaceae.
Habitat ◮ Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh, Tehri-Garhwal and other
areas of northern India, at altitudes
of 2,100–3,600 m.
English ◮ Pindrow-Fir, Silver-Fir, The
West-Himalayan Low-Level Fir.
Ayurvedic ◮ Taalisha (related sp.).
Folk ◮ Badar, Morinda, Raisalla,
Ransla.
Action ◮ Uses similar to those of A.
webbiana.
Terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides
and steroids of the leaf were found
to have mast cell stabilizing action in
rats. Terpenoids and flavonoids offered
bronchoprotection against histamine
challenge in guinea pigs. The
ulcer protective action of petroleum
ether, benzene and chloroform fraction
has been attributed to steroidal
contents. Terephthalic acid demethyl
ester (TADE), isolated from the leaf,
exhibited protection against inflammation
and bronchospasm in guinea pigs.
Ethanolic extract of leaves showed significant
anxiolytic effects on all the
paradigms of anxiety, barbiturate hypnosis
potentiation.
Pindrolactone, a lanostane-based
triterpene lactone, isolated from the