Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

242 Erigeron canadensis Linn.
E
internally as an antihaemorrhagic
and externally as a styptic.
The ashes of the plant are beneficial
in acidity of the stomach and dyspepsia.
Key application ◮ Internally in irrigation
therapy for post-traumatic
and static inflammation, and for
bacterial infections and inflammation
of the lower urinary tract and
renal gravel.
The British Herbal Compendium reported
weak diuretic, haemostyptic,
vulnerary and mild leukocytosis causing
actions.
The haemostatic substance has been
shown to act orally, it has no effect on
blood pressure and is not a vasoconstrictor.
The herb contains 10–20% minerals,
of which over 66% are silicic
acids and silicates; alkaloids, including
nicotine, palustrine and palustrinine;
flavonoids, such as iso-quercitrin and
equicertin; sterols, including cholesterol,
isofucosterol, campesterol; a saponin
equisitonin, dimethyl-sulphone,
thiaminase and aconitic acid. Diuretic
action of the herb is attributed to
its flavonoid and saponin constituents,
Silicic acid strengthens connective tissue
and helps in healing bones.
Erigeron canadensis Linn.
Family ◮ Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat ◮ Punjab, Upper Gangetic
Plain, Assam, Western Ghats and
Western Himalayas.
English ◮ Canadian Fleabane.
Ayurvedic ◮ Jaraayupriya,
Makshikaa-visha, Palit (nonclassical).
Action ◮ Astringent, haemostatic,
antirheumatic, diuretic. Used
for diarrhoea, kidney disorders,
bronchitis and for bleeding piles,
wounds, bruises. Essential oil—
used in bronchial catarrh and
cystitis.
The extracts of the plant gave sesquiterpenes,
beta-santalen, beta-himachalene,
cuparene, alpha-curcumene,
gamma-cadinene.
The petroleum ether and ethanolic
extracts of aerial parts exhibit significant
anti-inflammatory activity.
Aqueous extract of powdered plant
produces fall in blood pressure, depresses
the heart and increases respiration
in animals.
The essential oil, obtained from aerialpartsinJapan,isfoundtocontain47
volatile compounds of which 91.0% are
terpenoids. The leaves contain cumulene
derivatives.
For preparing plant extract as a drug,
the volatile oil is removed from a hot
aqueousextractandtheresidueisfiltered
and concentrated to 24% or 60%
of dry matter content. The 6% dry
matter extract contains flavones 0.83,
tannins 0.52, reducing sugars 6.37 and
total sugars 12.6%. The extract is antiinflammatory,
analgesic, bactericidal
and fungicidal.
Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.
Family ◮ Rosaceae.