Database on medicinal plants used in ayurveda - AYUSH Research ...

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
A perennial odorous herb attaining a height of 60-300 cm, stem stout and
much branched, tap root thick and branched. Leaves pinnately decompound,
secondary and tertiary pinnae decurrent, entire or irregularly crenate-serrate,
sheaths large, ovate; upper leaves much reduced. Flowers small, yellow in
simple or scarcely compound umbels springing from within the sheaths. Fruit
8 x 5 mm., vittae manifest, broad, one (rarely 1-2) in dorsal furrows,
usually occupying the whole furrow and as long as the carpel. Flowering and
Fruiting : April – May (Anonymous, 1956; Kirtikar and Basu, 1989; Guha
Bakshi et al., 2001; Dastur, 1962; Chatterjee and Pakrashi, 1995;
Anonymous, 1996; Jain and Defilipps, 1991; Mukerji, 1953).
DISTRIBUTION
Cultivated in the Northwest parts of India, also occurs in Kashmir. Found
wild in Baltistan, Punjab, Western Afghanistan, Eastern Persia, Kabul,
Hirat, Pharas, Khorasan, Kandahar (Kirtikar and Basu, 1989; Pruthi,
1976; Agarwal, 1997; Anonymous, 1956; Chopra et al., 1958; Mukerji,
1953; Raghunathan and Mitra, 1982; Dastur, 1962; B.N., 1982; Guha
Bakshi et al., 2001; Chatterjee and Pakrashi, 1995).
PART(S) USED
Oleo-gum-resin, leaf, stem, root (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982).
ACTIONS AND USES
Oleo-gum-resin-(exudates from incisions in living root) is used as
antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, mild
laxative and nervine tonic. It is also used in colic pain and spasmodic
movement of the bowels and infantile convulsions. It is an important
ingredient in compounding medicinal preparations prescribed in diarrhoea,
flatulence, habitual abortion, indigestion, liver troubles and applied
externally to ringworm. Leaves are used as anthelmintic, carminative and
diaphoretic. Stem is used as brain and liver tonic, root as antipyretic
(Chatterjee and Pakrashi, 1995). It is useful remedy for asthma, bronchitis,
cough, flatulence (Anonymous, 1956).
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa – Katu (C.S.Su.27.299)
Guna – Laghu, Snigdha, Tikshna, Sara. (S.S.Su.46.38)
Vipaka – Katu (S.S.Su.46.38)
Veerya – Ushna (S.S.Su.46.38)
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