Volume 1

Plants covered

Alarka

Apamarga

Aparajita

Asana

Asthisamhara

Atibala

Babbula

Bakula

Bharangi

Bilva

Brahmi

Chitraka

Danti

Daruharidra

Dhava

Gunja

Haridra

Kapikachchhu

Khadira

Kumari

Latakaranja

Madayantika

Mandookaparni

Nagakeshara

Calotropis gigantea (Linn.) Ait. f.

Achyranthes aspera Linn.

Clitoria ternatea Linn.

Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.

Cissus quadrangularis Linn.

Abutilon indicum (Linn.) Sweet

Acacia nilotica Delile ssp.indica (Benth.) Brenan.

Mimusops elengi Linn.

Clerodendrum serratum (Linn.) Moon

Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa ex Roxb.

Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Pennell

Plumbago zeylanica Linn.

Baliospermun montanum (Willd) Muell.-Arg.

Berberis aristata DC.

Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb. ex DC.) Wall. ex Guill & Perr.

Abrus precatorius Linn.

Curcuma longa Linn.

Mucuna pruriens (Linn.) DC. Acacia catechu Willd.

Aloe barbadensis Mill.

Caesalpinia bonduc (Linn.) Taub.

Lawsonia inermis Linn.

Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban

Mesua ferrea Linn.

xxi

1

11

22

32

43

50

57

65

73

79

93

102

114

120

127

133

152

200 216

225

244

253

264

280

Nimba

Palasha

Pashanbheda

Priyala

Raktapunarnava

Sahachara

Saptaparna

Sariva

Shallaki

Shatavari

Shigru

Shirisha

Sthoolaila

Trivrita

Vacha

Vasa

Azadirachta indica A. Juss.

Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub.

Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Stemb.

Buchanania lanzan Spreng.

Boerhavia diffusa Linn.

Barleria prionitis Linn.

Alstonia scholaris R. Br.

Hemidesmus indicus R.Br.

Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Coleb.

Asparagus racemosus Willd.

Moringa oleifera Lamk.

Albizia lebbeck (Linn.) Willd.

Amomum subulatum Roxb.

Operculina turpethum (Linn.) Silva Manso

Acorus calamus Linn.

Adhatoda zeylanica Medic.

289

336

348

355

360

378

384

394

404

418

431

445

454

462

469

496

xxii

EXPLANATORY INTRODUCTION

The literature on medicinal plants is quite vast. It is scattered and not available at one place even in big libraries. Therefore, a great necessity was felt to have relevant

literature providing multidisciplinary information of such resources at one place in the

form of Data Base. So far seven volumes of "Data Base on Medicinal Plants used in

Ayurveda & Siddha" have been published. This publication being eighth in the

series includes 30 medicinal plants included in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India.

Like the earlier volumes, it presents a brief and concise account about each species

covering the selected aspects pertaining to Botanical / Ayurvedic nomenclature,

Vernacular names, Distribution, Botanical description, Flowering and fruiting period,

parts used of the plants along with photographs, Actions and uses, including

Ayurvedic properties and Dose have been given. The Pharmacognosy, Chemical

constituents, Pharmacological activities, Toxicology, Trade and commerce,

Substitutes and Adulterants have also been included. Brief information about

Formulations and preparations, Propagation and cultivation is provided. An

exhaustive Bibliography containing upto date references is incorporated.

It is worth mentioning that the textual matter contains only important characters and

findings concisely under each sub head, to give a general and broad idea of the whole

plant and its properties. The species described in the book are arranged alphabetically

based on Ayurvedic nomenclature of the medicinal plant. A latest valid botanical

name along with synonym and Natural order has been given. Classical names include

only those mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic literature. Vernacular names of important

regional languages have been incorporated to locate the species in different

geographical areas of the country. Botanical description includes habit of the plant

and important morphological features, which would help in the identification of the

plant. Distribution of the plant in India and World wide is meant to give a broad idea

of the availability of the species in different geographical and eco-climatic zones.

Parts used, Actions and uses and Ayurvedic properties are based on ancient as well as

recent Ayurvedic literature.

Pharmacognosy mostly includes important macro and microscopic characters

and physical constants. Major chemical constituents, important pharmacological

activities, findings related to toxicology and therapeutic evaluation wherever available

have been included.

Data on trade and commerce however available has been given along with

current retail market price. Substitutes and adulterants which has been reported has

been incorporated. Data on propagation and cultivation of medicinal and methodology

related to in vitro propagation wherever available has been incorporated.

Under references sub heading all the references has been mentioned which are

cited in the text. Other references has been given under the Bibliography sub heading.

The sources of References and Bibliography include Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts, Biological Abstracts, Journals of National and

International repute, Important books and Monographs as well as global Internet.

Indices of Classical (Sanskrit) and vernacular names have been appended to

enhance the usefulness of the Data Base to the readers of all categories.

G.S.Lavekar, K. Chandra, B.P.Dhar, G.V.R.Joseph,

A.K.Mangal, B.G. Chaudhari, Rajesh DaburT.K. Mandal,

A.M. Gurav, M.B. Yelne, Dr. S.P. Singh

xxiii

LANGUAGES

Arab.- Beng.-

Burm.-

Eng. -

Gond.-

Guj. -

Kan. - Kash.-

Kon. -

Mar. - Mal. -

Arabic Bengali

Burmese

English Gondia

Gujarati

Kannada Kashmiri

Konkani

Marathi

Malayalam

ABBREVIATIONS

BOOKS

B.N. - Bhavprakash Nighantu D.N. - Dhanvantari Nighantu

R.N. - Raj Nighantu

N.W.P.

Pers. -

Punj. - Raj. -

Santal.-

Sind. - Sing. -

Tam. -

Tel. -

North West Provinces

Persian

Punjabi

Rajasthani

Santali

Sindhi

Singhalese

Tamil

Telgu

USED IN REFERENCES RELATED TO BRHATTRAYI

C.S.- S.S.-

A.H.- Su. -

Ni. -

Vi. - Sa. -

In. -

C i. - Ka. -

S i. -

U. -

Charak Samhita

Sushruta Samhita Astanga Hridayam

Sutrasthana

Nidanasthana

Vimanasthana Sharirasthana

Indriyasthana

Chikitsasthana

Kalpasthana

Siddhisthana

Uttarasthana or Uttaratantra

xxiv

AHIPHENA

BOTANICAL NAME: Papaver somniferum L.

FAMILY: Papaveraceae

SYNONYMS

Ahiphellaka, Aphenak, Aphuka, Chosa, Kaskhas, Khakasa, Khasa, Khasbija,

Khasphalakshira, Khastila, Lasatphala, Sukshmabijaa, Sukshmatandula,

Tilabheda (Sharma, 1978; D.N., 1982; B.N., 1982; R.N., 1982).