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Asoka tree is known in Sanskrit as Asoka, hemapushpa, etc. It has high
content of tannin in the bark. Catechol is another important constituent of the
bark. It contains both essential oils and small amount of fixed oils in it. The
imortant glycosides present in asoka tree bark are haemotoxylin and
ketosterol. It also contains large amount of saponin and calcium steroids.
The medicinal constituents of the bark are useful against poisons, and it
reduces blood flow. It is bacteriocidal, and fastens the curation of wounds and
reduces the stomach ache.
Malabar nut also known as Adathoda, has many names in Sanskrit. It is
known as vasa vasaka: etc., Highly volatile oils are present in leaf, flower, root
and seeds. The leaf contains vasisine alkaloid. The surface bark of the root has
high quantity of the alkaloids. The drug is very effective against capillary
bleeding. It improves the count of blood platellites.
Neem is a well known medicinal plant effectively used for many abnormalities
in the body. It has many names in Sanskrit, nimba: arishta: thiktaka:, etc.,
are few among these names. It has margosin alkaloids in leaves and bark. The
seeds contain margosopicrin, and large amount of fixed oil and glycosides.
Nimbin, nimbinin, nimbidin, nimbostyrole, etc., are present in the seed oil. The
flower has highly useful essential oil. The plant is very effective for the
purification of blood, as a remedy for skin diseases, as anthelmentics, etc.
The century fig, known in Sanskrit as udumbara is a tree which contains
tannins, saponins, wax etc. The active principles of the plant is known to purify
the blood, effective for the urinary abnormalities, skin diseases, etc.
Castor plant which in Sanskrit is known as eranda, panchangula, vathari, etc.,
contains more than 50% of the seed weight the castor oil. This oil is the richest
source of recinoliec acid. It also contains resins. This resin is highly poisonous
glycoprotein, which is soluble in water. The Castor oil is a very inportant
laxative.
Ginger, known in Sanskrit as sundi, nagara: etc., is an important constituent
of ayurvedic preparations. High quantity of volatile oil and gingerol are the
important constituent. It is said that there is no kashaya without ginger. It
activates the digestive systems and is effective for fever and other ailments. In
modern medicine also the giner is used.
Gingelly which in Sanskrit known as thila : is an important constituent in
many after death ceremonies, may be due to the fact that, the Upanishad
describe sesame/gingely and connect the body with black cover of the seed
and the oil as atma present inside. Other than high quantity protein, oil and
carbohydrate, the seed also contains sesamine, sesamolin. It effects our body
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