Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

H
304 Hedyotis corymbosa (Linn.) Lam.
EtOH (50%) extract—anti-inflammatory
and hypoglycaemic; gave encouraging
results in tropical pulmonary
eosinophilia in clinical studies.
Alcoholic extract of the plant—vasodilator,
mild hypotensive and antiseptic
in animals. Essential oil from
rhizome—mild tranquilizer in male
albino rats; antimicrobial.
Rhizomegavesitosterolanditsglucoside,
a furanoid diterpene—hedychenone
and 7-hydroxyhedychenone.
The essential oil contains cineole,
gamma-terpinene, limonene, betaphellandrene,
p-cymene, linalool and
beta-terpineol as major constituents.
The oil inhibits the growth of several
fungi. The ethanol (95%) extract
showed antibacterial activity. The 50%
extract showed antimalarial activity
in vitro against Plasmodium berghei
strain.
Dosage ◮ Rhizome—1–3 g powder.
(API Vol. I.)
Hedyotis corymbosa
(Linn.) Lam.
Synonym ◮ Oldenlandia corymbosa
Linn.
Family ◮ Rubiaceae.
Habitat ◮ A weed in wet, low lands
and in cultivated fields.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kshetraparpata (used in
Kerala as Parpataka).
Action ◮ Purifies blood, improves
digestion, stimulates action of liver.
The presence of caffeine and fumaric
acid has been reported in H. corymbosa.
Iridoidoglucosides have been isolated
from H. diffusa Willd. The plant is
reported to have immunopotentiation
activity and has been used in China
to treat some tumours. An aqueous
extract of the plant yielded a polysaccharide
composed of rhamnose, arabinose,
xylose, mannose, galactose and
glucose.
Hedyotis herbacea Linn., synonym
Oldenlandia herbacea Roxb. is also
used in Kerala as Parpata, Parpataka.
See Fumaria indica.
Helianthus annuus Linn.
Family ◮ Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to America.
Cultivated in India.
English ◮ Sunflower.
Ayurvedic ◮ Suurajmukhi, Suuryaavarta.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Suryakanti.
Action ◮ Seeds—build up physical
endurance and resistance against
diseases; a decoction is used
in coughs and colds, bronchial,
laryngeal and pulmonary affections,
whooping cough, also as a febrifuge
and diuretic.
The seeds contain a fatty oil (37–
48%), rich in polyunsaturated acids
(linoleic 70%, oleic 20%). The oil also
contains tocopherols (alpha-type 92%
of the total) and phytosterol (betasitosterol
154 mcg/100 g). In Europe
and USA, several hybrids produce oils
rich in oleic acid. Sunflower oil is reported
to decrease the risk of coronary
and arterial diseases.