Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

A
12 Achyranthes bidentata Blume
reported to dilate blood vessels, lower
blood pressure, decrease heart rate
and increase the rate and amplitude of
respiration. It also shows spasmodic
effects on the rectus muscle of frog, diuretic
and purgative action in albino
rats.
The presence of ecdysterone and
oleanolic acid is also reported in the
root.
The ashes of the plant yield large
quantities of potash. The seeds yield
saponins and oleanolic acid and its ester.
The presence of tannins and glycosidesisalsoreportedintheplant.
Dosage ◮ Whole plant—20–30 g for
decoction. Root—5–10 g. (API
Vols. II, III.) Ash—500 mg to 2 g.
(CCRAS.)
Achyranthes bidentata Blume
Family ◮ Amaranthaceae.
Habitat ◮ The temperate and subtropical
Himalayas from Kishtwar
to Sikkim at 1,200–3,200 m, Khasi
hills.
Ayurvedic ◮ Shveta Apaamaarga.
(Rakta Apaamaarga is equated
with Achyranthes rubra-fusca
Hook. f. and A. verschaffeltii Lam.,
synonym Iresine herbstii Hook. f.)
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Naayurivi.
Action ◮ Astringent, diuretic,
spasmolytic. Plant is given
in whooping cough, roots in
hemicrania.
A water-soluble oligosaccharide,
composed of six glucose units and
three mannose units, has been isolated
from the roots. It enhanced immune
response and prolonged survival time
of mice bearing Ehrlich carcinoma.
The roots contain free oleanolic acid
(0.096%) and its saponins (1.93%). An
alcoholic extract of the root showed
presence of amino acids, steroids, triterpenoids,
alkaloids and coumarins.
The seeds afforded achyranthin.
Extract of the plant—antimicrobial.
Aconitum atrox
(Bruchl) Mukherjee.
Synonym ◮ Aconitum balfourii Stapf.
Family ◮ Ranunculaceae.
Habitat ◮ The sub-alpine and alpine
Himalayas between 3,300 and
3,900 m.
Ayurvedic ◮ Vatsanaabha (related
sp.).
Folk ◮ Banwaa.
Action ◮ Poisonous, highly toxic.
Air-dried roots contain 1.2% total
alkaloids of which pseudoaconitine is
0.4%. Pseudoaconitine is biologically
1.5 times as active as aconitine. (A.
atrox is a poisonous species and is one
of the common constituents of Aconitum
ferox of commerce.)
Aconitum chasmanthum
Stapf ex Holmes.
Family ◮ Ranunculaceae.
Habitat ◮ The western Himalayas
from Hazara to Kashmir and