Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

558 Rotula aquatica Lour.
R
supportive therapy for rheumatic
diseases and circulatory problems.
(German Commission E.) Shows
improvement of hepatic and biliary
function.(ESCOP.) Carminative,
spasmolytic of hepatic and biliary
function. (ESCOP.) Carminative,
spasmolytic. (The British Herbal
Pharmacopoeia.)
In research using rats, the essential
oil and ethanolic extract of rosemary
decreased drug-induced hepatotoxicity
and the suppression of bone marrow
cells. Phenolic compounds in the herb
exhibit antioxidant activity. (Sharon
M. Herr.)
The herb contains volatile oil (1.0–
2.5%), composed mainly of 1, 8-cineole
(20–25%), alpha-pinene (15–25%),
camphor (10–25%), others include borneol,
isobutyl acetate, camphene, limonene,
linalool, 3-octanone, terpineol,
verbenol; flavonoids including apigenin,
diosmetin, diosmin; rosmarinic
acid and other phenolic acids; diterpenes;
rosmaricine; ursolic acid, oleanolic
acid and their derivatives.
The anti-inflammatory effect of
Rosemary has been attributed to rosmarinicacid,ursolicacidandapigenin.
Among flavonoids, diosmin is reported
to be more effective in decreasing
capillary fragility than rutin. A rosmaricine
derivative exhibits stimulant
and mild analgesic activity.
The phenolic fraction, isolated from
the leaves, also from the oil, exhibits
antioxidant activity.
Pressed juice of leaves possesses
a strong antibacterial action on Staphylococcus
aureus, E. coli and Bacillis subtilis.
An infusion of the plant with borax
is used as a hair wash for preventing
hair loss.
Rosemary oil, in combination with
the essential oil from thyme, lavender
and cedarwood, showed improvement
in hair growth by 44% after 7 months
of treatment for alopecia areata. (Natural
Medicines Comprehensive Database,
2007.)
Rotula aquatica Lour.
Synonym ◮ Rhabdia lyciodes C. B.
Clarke in part non Linn.
Shretia cuneata Wt.
Family ◮ Borginaceae.
Habitat ◮ Kumaon to Assam and
in Central, Western and Southern
India, and the Andamans.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Cheppu-nerinjal.
Folk ◮ Paashaanbheda (Karnataka).
Action ◮ Root—diuretic; used for
stone in the bladder; also in venereal
diseases. The diuretic action of the
root is attributed to the presence of
allantoin; a sterol, rhabdiol, has also
been isolated from the roots.
Rourea minor (Gaertn.) Alston.
Synonym ◮ R. santaloides Wight &
Arn.
Connarus santaloides Vahl.
Family ◮ Connaraceae.
Habitat ◮ Western parts of the
Peninsula, from Konkan southward
and in West Bengal and Assam.
Ayurvedic ◮ Vridha.