Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Angelica archangelica Linn. var. himalaica (C.B.Clarke)KrishnaandBadhwar 51
seeds cause vomiting and purging.
The seed oil is used in rheumatism.
Pulsatilla contains ranunculin,
which hydrolyzes to a toxic, unstable
compound protoanemonin, which
readily dimerizes to non-toxic anemonin.
Anemonin and protoanemonin exhibit
sedative and antipyretic activity.
Protoanemonin is also antimicrobial.
(Topically, Pulsatilla is used for infectious
diseases of the skin.)
Anethum sowa Roxb. ex Flem.
Synonym ◮ A. graveolens Linn. var.
sowa Roxb.
A. graveolens DC.
Peucedanum sowa Roxb.
Peucedanum graveolens Benth.
Family ◮ Umbelliferae; Apiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated all over India.
English ◮ Indian Dill, Sowa.
Ayurvedic ◮ Shataahvaa. Shatapushpaa
(also accepted as Foeniculum
vulgare Mill., equated with
Mishreya, Mishi, Madhurikaa).
Unani ◮ Shibt, Soyaa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Sadakuppai.
Action ◮ Carminative, stomachic,
antispasmodic.
Key application ◮ In dyspepsia.
(German Commission E.)
The fresh and dried leaf is used for
prevention and treatment of diseases
and disorders of the gastrointestinal
tract, kidney and urinary tract, for
spasms and sleep disorders. (Included
among unapproved herbs by German
Commission E.)
An aqueous dill extract, administered
intravenously, lowers blood pressure,
dilates blood vessels, stimulates
respiration and slows heart rate in animals.
(Natural Medicines Comprehensive
Database, 2007.)
Dill seeds contain up to 5% volatile
oil (about half of which is carvone),
flavonoids, coumarins, xanthones and
triterpenes. The yield of the oil from
Indian A. sowa varies from 1.3 to 3.5%.
Carvone is the major constituent (19.5–
69.7%).Theoilfromseedsisusedfor
flatulence in children and enters into
the preparations of gripe water. The oil
is also antimicrobial and antifungal.
Dill apiol is considered undesirable
and toxic. Vizag fruit var. from
Andhra Pradesh is dill-apiol-free and
with 54–56%, carvone content having
same flavonoid pattern as A. sowa.
Dosage ◮ Dried fruit—3–6 g powder.
(API Vol. III.) Fruit, leaf—1–3 g
powder. (CCRAS.)
Angelica archangelica Linn. var.
himalaica (C.B.Clarke)Krishna
and Badhwar
Family ◮ Umbelliferae; Apiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to Syria; now grown
in Kashmir at 1,000–3,900 m.
Ayurvedic ◮ Chandaa, Chandaamshuka,
Kathachoraa.
Action ◮ Expectorant, carminative,
digestant, cholagogue, antispasmodic,
diaphoretic, diuretic,
anti-inflammatory, smooth muscle
relaxant, antifungal, antibacterial.
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