Indian Medicinal Plants

40 Althaea officinalis Linn.
A
Althaea officinalis Linn.
Family ◮ Malvaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to eastern Europe;
found in Kashmir and Himachal
Pradesh.
English ◮ Marshmallow, Hollyhock.
Unani ◮ Khatmi, Gul-Khairu (also
equated with Althaea rosea Linn.).
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Shemai-tutti.
Action ◮ Demulcent, emollient,
antitussive (used for cough,
bronchitis, gastritis, enteritis and
cystitis), antilithic, diuretic.
Key application ◮ (leaf and root) In
irritation of the oral and pharyngeal
mucosa and associated dry cough;
in mild inflammation of the gastric
mucosa. (German Commission E,
ESCOP.) As demulcent. (The
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)
In gastroenteritis, peptic and
duodenal ulceration, common
and ulcerative colitis. (The British
Herbal Compendium.) Topically
for varicose veins, skin ulcers,
abscesses, cuts, burns.
Althaea rosea (L.) Cav., synonym Alcea
rosea L., Hollyhock flower, is used
as mucilage for prophylaxis and therapy
of diseases and discomforts of the
respiratory and gastrointestinal tract
and for urinary complaints. (It is included
among unapproved herbs by
German Commission E.)
The root contains starch, mucilage,
pectin, flavonoids, phenolic acids, sucrose,
tannins and asparagines. Mucilage
(18–35%) consists of a number of
polysaccharides. Flavonoids include
kaempferol, quercetin and diosmetin
glucosides. Polyphenolic acids include
syringic, caffeic, salcyclic, vanillic and
p-coumaric acids.
The mucilages have proven biological
activity including stimulation of
phagocytosis in vitro.
The root counters excess stomach
acid, peptic ulceration and gastritis.
Altingia excelsa Noronha
Family ◮ Altingiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Assam and Arunachal
Pradesh.
English ◮ Storax, Oriental Sweet
Gum.
Ayurvedic ◮ Shilaarasa, Turushka,
Silhaka (substitute for Liquidamber
orientalis, Hamamelidaceae).
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Neriyurishippal.
Action ◮ Resin—carminative, stomachic,
antiscorbutic expectorant,
antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antistress,
hepatoprotective. Externally
used in scabies and leucoderma.
The ethyl acetate extract of the root
of A. excelsa was studied for antistress
effect in a variety of biological models
of stress; also in stress-induced ulcers
and CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Antistress
was the most significant pharmacological
property of the Storax.
Amanita muscaria Linn.
Family ◮ Agaricaceae; Amanitaceae.
English ◮ Fly Agaric (mushroom),
Aga, Soma.