Indian Medicinal Plants

34 Allium macleanii Baker.
A
Allium macleanii Baker.
Family ◮ Liliaceae, Alliaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to Afghanistan.
(A bulbous plant related to onion.)
English ◮ Oriental Royal Salep.
Unani ◮ Baadshaahi Saalab.
Action ◮ Anabolic and gastrointestinal
tonic.
Allium porrum Linn.
Synonym ◮ A. ameloprasum
Hook. f. non Linn.
Family ◮ Liliaceae, Alliaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to the Mediterranean
region; cultivated in India.
English ◮ Leek.
Folk ◮ Vilaayati Piyaaz. Praan
(Kashmir). Seemevangayam (Tamil
Nadu).
Action ◮ Expectorant; used as
a substitute for garlic.
Leek is poor in volatile oil content in
comparison with garlic, but it contains
sufficient amounts of non-toxic saponins,
which perhaps give it expectorant
properties.
The bulbs contain several thiosulphinates,
and also potentially anticarcinogenic
flavonoids, quercetin and
kaempferol.
Allium sativum Linn.
Family ◮ Liliaceae, Alliaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to Central Asia.
Cultivated all over India.
English ◮ Garlic.
Ayurvedic ◮ Lashuna, Rasona,
Yavaneshta, Ugragandha, Mahaushadh,
Arishta.
Unani ◮ Seer, Lahsun.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Ullippoondu, Vellaippondu.
Action ◮ Antibiotic, bacteriostatic,
fungicide, anthelmintic, antithrombic,
hypotensive, hypoglycaemic,
hypocholesterolaemic. Also used
for upper respiratory tract infections
and catarrhal conditions.
Key application ◮ As a supportive to
dietary measures for elevated levels
of lipids in blood; as a preventive
measure for age-dependent vascular
changes. (German Commission E,
ESCOP, WHO, The British Herbal
Pharmacopoeia.) Also as an
antimicrobial. (The British Herbal
Pharmacopoeia). Garlic has been
shown to be effective in respiratory
infections and catarrhal conditions.
(The British Herbal Compendium.)
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
indicates the use of the bulb as
a brain tonic in epilepsy and psychic
disorders.
Heavy consumption of garlic prior
to surgery led to increased clotting
time or reduced platelet aggregation
(in human case reports). Garlic tablets
atadoseof400mgtwicedailyfor
12 weeks reduced platelet aggregation
59% compared with placebo in 80 patients
(in human clinical study). (Francis
Brinker.)
Garlic cloves are high in sulphurcontaining
amino acids known as alliin
(no taste, no smell, no medicinal