Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Habitat ◮ Native to Mexico; grown
in Indian gardens.
English ◮ Angel’s Trumpet.
Action ◮ Leaf and flower—used
to treat asthma; to induce hallucinations.
Can cause severe
toxicity.
All parts of the plant contain tropane
alkaloids (concentration highest in
the foliage and seeds), particularly
atropine, hyoscyamine and hyoscine
(scopolamine.)
Brunella vulgaris Linn.
Synonym ◮ Prunella vulgaris Linn.
Family ◮ Labiatae; Lamiaceae.
Habitat ◮ The Himalayas from
Kashmir to Bhutan at altitudes of
1,400–4,000 m, in Khasi Hills and
hills of South India.
English ◮ Self-heal.
Unani ◮ Substitute for Ustukhudduus.
(Lavandula stoechas Linn.)
Folk ◮ Dhaaru.
Action ◮ Wound healing, expectorant,
antiseptic, astringent,
haemostatic, antispasmodic. Leaf—
used in piles; and as a cooling herb
for fevers.
The herb contains vitamins A, B, C
and K; flavonoids; rutin. Flower spikes
are liver-restorative, hypotensive, antioxidant.
Lupeol, stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol
are obtained from the unsaponifiable
fraction from the leaves, the
saponifiable fraction gave lauric,
Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz. 103
stearic, palmitic, myristic, oleic and
linoleic acids.
Bryonopsis laciniosa
(Linn.) Naud.
Synonym ◮ Bryonia laciniosa Linn.
Diplocyclos palmatus Jeff.
Family ◮ Cucurbitaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India.
English ◮ Bryony.
Ayurvedic ◮ Lingini, Shivalingi,
Chitraphalaa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Iyaveli, Iyaviraali.
Folk ◮ Lingadonda (Telugu).
Action ◮ Seeds—anti-inflammatory,
spasmolytic. Used for vaginal
dysfunctions, as a fertility promoting
drug. Powdered seeds, also
roots, are given to help conception
in women. Plant is also used in
venereal diseases.
Bryophyllum pinnatum
(Lam.) Kurz.
Synonym ◮ B. calycinum Salisb.
Kalanchoe pinnata Pers.
Family ◮ Crassulaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout the warm
and moist parts of India, especially
abundant in West Bengal.
Ayurvedic ◮ Parnabija, Airaavati.
(Also known as Paashaanabheda.)
Unani ◮ Zakhm-e-Hayaat.
Action ◮ Leaf—disinfectant, antibacterial
(used for boils, insect bites,
swellings, burns, wounds).
B