Learn about the medicinal uses of: 1. Acorus Calamus 2. Adhatoda Zeylanica 3. Althaea Officinalis 4. Amaranthus 5. Amorphophallus 6. Aristolochia Indica 7. Atropa Belladonna 8. Podophyllum Peltatum 9. Thornapple.
1. Medicinal Uses of Acorus Calamus:
Calamus oil and its fractions are credited with carminative, anti-spasmodic and anti-bacterial properties. The essential oil free alcoholic extract of the rhizome was found to possess sedative and analgesic properties and to cause a moderate depression of blood pressure and respiration. The oil when administered intraperitoneally to experimental animals reduces spontaneous movement.
Ayurvedic system of medicine, the rhizomes are considered to possess anti-spasmodic, carminative and anthelmintic properties, and are used for the treatment of a host of diseases such as epilepsy and other mental ailments, chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, bronchial catarrh, intermittent fevers and glandular and abdominal tumours. They are also employed for kidney and liver troubles, rheumatism and eczema.
The rhizomes are used in the form of powder, balms, enemas and pills and also in ghee preparations. The powdered drug is reported to be adulterated with siliceous earth, ground root of marsh-mallow (Althaea officinalis Linn.) The skin of the rhizomes is said to be haemostatic.
2. Medicinal Uses of Adhatoda Zeylanica:
The shrub is the source of the drug, vasaka, well known in the indigenous systems of medicine for its beneficial effects, particularly in bronchitis. The drug comprises fresh or dried leaves, often mixed with stems or other aerial parts. The powdered drug is greyish brown and tastes bitter, with characteristic odour. The drug is official in IR Foreign organic matter should not be more than two per cent.
The leaves from different localities in India, on analysis, gave the following values – ash, 12.35-12.9 (with negligible acid-insol ash); alcohol-sol extr, 10.32-24.32; and loss on drying at 100°, 5.34- 6.0%. The leaves are adulterated with those of Ailanthus excelsa Roxb.
The leaves, flowers, fruits and roots are extensively used for treating cold, cough, whooping-cough and chronic bronchitis and asthma, as sedative-expectorant, antispasmodic and as anthelmintic. The drug is employed in different forms, such as fresh juice, decoction, infusion and powder; also given as alcoholic extract and liquid extract or syrup. The dried leaf is smoked as a cigarette. It is also given along with other expectorants, and forms a part of several proprietary compounds.
In chronic bronchitis, it is efficacious and affords relief, especially when the sputum is thick and tenacious, acting very much similar to ipecacuanha. The cough is relieved and the sputum is liquefied and is easily expelled. The leaf-juice is stated to cure diarrhoea, dysentery and glandular tumour, and is given as emmenagogue. The powder is reported to be used as poultice on rheumatic joints, as counter-irritant on inflammatory swellings, on fresh wounds, urticaria and in neuralgia.
Vasicine & Vasicinone:
Several alkaloids are present in the drug and the chief principle is a quinazoline alkaloid, vasicine; the yield of the alkaloid from different samples in India ranged from 0.541 to 1.105 per cent on dry basis. Yield as high as 2.18 per cent on dry basis has been reported from a foreign sample of which more than half was the l- form and the remainder the dl- form of the alkaloid. Vasicine is accompanied by l-vasicinone.
Vasicine is bitter and probably occurs in nature in its l-form, and is racemized during the process of isolation. Vasicine forms colourless crystals, readily soluble in chloroform. The specific rotation of l-vasicine is strongly dependent on the nature of the solvent and the concentration of solution. Its salts are dextro-rotatory.
dl-Vasicine is readily resolved through d-tartarate, the l-vasicine salt being more sparingly soluble in methanol. Vasicine is highly susceptible to oxidation at C7 position, when exposed to bright daylight. Photo-oxidation of vasicine yields a mixture of l- and dl- forms of vasicinone, whereas, the naturally occurring vasicinone is laevo-rotatory. The fact that vasicine is present in leaves, in spite of its high susceptibility to oxidation, suggests the presence of an anti-oxidant.
The pharmacological activities of vasicine arid vasicinone are not yet fully known. The l-forms of vasicine and vasicinone are more active than their racemic forms. Recent investigations on vasicine showed bronchodilatory activity (comparable to theophylline) both in vitro and in vivo. Vasicinone showed bronchodilatory activity in vitro but bronchoconstrictory activity in vivo; it is probably bio-transformed in vivo, causing bronchoconstriction.
Both the alkaloids in combination (1:1) showed pronounced bronchodilatory activity in vitro and in vivo. Vasicine also exhibited strong respiratory stimulant activity, moderate hypotensive activity and cardiac-depressant effect; vasicinone was devoid of these activities. The cardiac-depressant effect was significantly reduced when a mixture of vasicine and vasicinone was used. Vasicinone (dl-form) showed no effect on the isolated heart.
3. Medicinal Uses of Althaea Officinalis:
The herb is useful in medicine as demulcent and emollient due to the presence of mucilage, starch and pectin. The root is useful in inflammation and irritation of the alimentary canal and of the urinary and respiratory organs. In the form of a decoction (sometimes with sugar), the root is reported to be helpful where the natural mucous membrane is abraded, and in healing bruises, curing muscle-aches or sprains; it is also used in the form of an emollient enema in irritability of the urino-genital and alimentary passages and in other nephritic and stone complaints.
The decoction is used as an expectorant in coughs, hoarseness of voice, bronchitis and whooping-cough. As a poultice or fomentation, the root can be used in inflammatory tumours, burns, and other local affections. The root is used as excipient in making absorbent pills and pastilles; and also in ointments and in hair and skin-protection preparations.
The mucilage content is highest in the root. It is composed of galacturonic acid, galactose, glucose, xylose and rhamnose. Glucose and sucrose are also present as free sugars. The presence of a mucous polysaccharide “althaea mucilage O” is also reported. Besides mucilage (25-35%), the roots contain asparagin (c2%), betaine, lecithin, phytosterol, sugars (5-10%), starch (30-38%), pectin (c 11%), tannin (c 2%), phosphate-rich minerals (c 7%) and fatty oil (1.7%).
The leaves collected during flowering are reported to contain 15.7 per cent mucilage, and are used in the same way as the roots. When eaten fresh, they stimulate the kidney. A poultice of fresh leaves, made after steeping in hot water, is applied to burns and insect-bites. The crude leaf-drug can be adulterated with the leaves of Datura stramonium Linn and Hyoscyamus niger Linn. The leaves yield an essential oil (0.02%). The presence of hydroxycinnamic acid is also reported.
The flowers are an ingredient of various cough mixtures. They are boiled in oil and water, and are used along with honey and alum as a gargle for sore throat. They contain mucilage (5.8%) and an essential oil (0.02%). The seeds contain fatty oil (15.3%) having the following composition- oleic, 30.8; linoleic, 52.9; linolenic, 2.5; palmitic, 9.7; and stearic acid, 9.7%.
4. Medical Action and Uses of Amaranthus:
Some species have slightly astringent properties, others are diaphoretics and diuretics, and a few are tonics and stimulants.
In ancient Greece, the Amaranth was sacred to Ephesian Artemis- it was supposed to have special healing properties and as a symbol of immortality was used to decorate images of the gods and tombs. The name, from the Greek signifying un-withering, was applied to certain plants which from their lasting forever, typified immortality.
Some of the species are old favourites as garden flowers, viz., Amaranthus hypochondriacus, known as Prince’s Feather, an Indian annual-with deeply-veined, lance-shaped leaves, purple on the underside with deep crimson flowers, densely packed on erect spikes, and A. caudatus (Jacq.) (Lovelies-bleeding), a native of Africa and Java, a vigorous hardy annual with dark purplish flowers crowded in handsome drooping spikes.
It is considered astringent and a decoction of the flowers has been administered in spitting of blood and various haemorrhages and has been said to be so energetic that it may be used in cases of menorrhagia. With several other species belonging to the closely allied genus Aerva natives of India, it has also been used as an anthelmintic.
A. spinosa (Linn.) A. campestris (Willd.) and many others are used in India as diuretics. A. oleraceus (Linn.) is used in India in diarrhoea and menstrual disorders and the young leaves and shoots are also eaten as a vegetable, similarly to spinach. A. poly-gonoides, a common garden weed in India, is also used as a pot-herb and considered so wholesome that convalescents are ordered it in preference to all other kinds.
5. Medicinal Uses of Amorphophallus:
For treating leprosy and other skin diseases it is given as an ointment or dusting powder. Compound proprietary preparations of the plant have been patented for cosmetic use in France. Internally it has been valued as a tonic and is used in bronchitis, asthma, gastric catarrh, leucorrhoea, kidney troubles, urethritis and dropsy. A decoction of very young shoots is given for haemorrhoids.
The plant showed good therapeutic effects on peptic ulcers. It is one of the components of the drug ‘Geriforte’ which is used for senile pruritus. A paste of the plant is applied on boils and tumours. The whole plant mixed with Drymaria cordata Willd and Oxalis corniculata Linn, is boiled and taken to cure dysentery. In large doses, the plant acts as narcotic, producing cephalagia, vertigo and sometimes coma. The plant is considered as aphrodisiac and used in venereal diseases.
A syrup of the leaves with ginger and black pepper is taken for cough. Leaf juice with palm jaggery is given to women as a tonic after delivery. The leaf juice is rubbed on the forehead to cure severe headache. Mixed with bath water, it is used in eczema. The leaf extract is used in the preparation of medicated oil for bone fracture. The leaves are diuretic. Pills prepared from the paste of leaves of the plant and Ocimum sanctum Linn, and black pepper are used in the treatment of intermittent fever.
Two glycosides, asiaticoside and madecassoside have been isolated from the plant grown in Malagasy. On hydrolysis, these glycosides yield the triterpene acids, asiatic acid and madegascaric acid (madecassic acid), respectively. These acids are also present in free form in the plant. A sample of the air-dried plant from Sri Lanka showed the presence of three triterpene acids, viz., centic, centellic and centoic and a water soluble glycoside, centelloside which on hydrolysis gives centellic acid. The triterpene acids and glycosides isolated from the Sri Lankan plant are different from those isolated from the Malagasy variety of the plant.
6. Medicinal Uses of Aristolochia Indica:
Extracts or isolates of A. indica containing aristolochic acid-possess anti-cancer activity. The compound is active against adenocarcinoma 755 and ascitic hepatoma in rats. It is also active against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice but is inactive against a wide spectrum of experimental neoplasms.
It stimulates phagocytic activity in guinea pigs administered chloramphenicol, cyclo-phosphamide and to a limited extent prednisone. Kidney damage has been observed in rats treated with aristolochic acid. The clinical assessment of the drug was terminated as a result of renal damage caused by the drug
Of the other important compounds isolated from the roots, aristolic acid (isolated from CHCl3 extract, yield, 0.007% of the root) was found to be an effective anti-fertility agent in mature female albino rabbits. No adverse reaction in blood was observed. It has been found to possess anti-estrogenic activity and to prevent implantation in the early stage of pregnancy in mice. Methyl ester of aristolic acid (present in CHCl3 extract in small amounts), however, showed damage to liver and kidney and increase in uterine weight.
A sesquiterpene (mp 150°) isolated from petroleum ether extract and p-coumaric acid (isolated from alcoholic extract; yield, 0.0025% of the root) showed 100 percent interceptive activity in mice (at 100 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg dose level, respectively) with high margin of safety, the former with 91.7 per cent anti-implantation activity, and the latter without any teratogenic effect.
The root is recommended in atonic types of dyspepsia, bowel troubles of children and in intermittent fevers. It is prescribed as a tincture. In Maharashtra it is administered as a powder. In large doses, it acts as a local irritant provoking nausea and griping pains in the bowels and sometimes vomiting and tenesmus.
The chloroform extract of the roots has exhibited an anti- spermatogenic effect on mice, and the petroleum ether, chloroform and alcoholic extracts have exhibited 100 per cent interceptive activity in mice and hamsters at 50 mg/kg dose level. The roots are also active against Helminthosporium sativum in vitro. The juice of fresh leaves is useful in treating cough of children by inducing vomiting without any depression. The seeds are tasteless and useful in treating inflammations, biliousness and dry cough.
7. Medicinal Uses of Atropa Belladonna:
The medicinal properties of belladonna herb and its preparations are similar to those of belladonna radix or root and its extracts. It is, however, possible to differentiate Indian root extracts from leaf extracts as the former contain cuscohygrine and the latter are devoid of it. Belladonna herb is used for preparing medicines for internal use, and the roots for making galenicals for external application.
Both belladonna drug and the “total alkaloids” have been employed in various diseases. Their oldest use recorded was in Bulgaria, where a root preparation was administered in the treatment of Parkinsonism and encephalitis and paralysis agitans. A proprietary medicine containing the salts of the three potent alkaloids, hyoscyamine, atropine and hyoscine, which approximates the composition of the so-called “Bulgarian cure”, has also been used.
Though several Synthetic substitutes have been introduced, the natural drug and the alkaloids are still being prescribed in combination with the other agents. The natural drug and the total alkaloids are administered as sedatives and tranquillizers and are useful in labour, delirium tremens, toxic psychoses and maniacal states. They are usually given in the combined form.
The alkaloids were among the first to be used to prevent motion sickness. They are less effective if given after the setting in of nausea or vomiting. Due to their property of inhibiting salivation, they are a component of pre-anaesthetic medication particularly when inhalation anaesthetics with irritant properties are employed. They have proved far more efficacious than other synthetic agents so far in use. They are employed predominantly to inhibit effects of parasympathetic nervous system.
Atropine and other belladonna alkaloids is a common constituent of proprietary medicines for the common cold and acute rhinitis though in the latter, they afford only symptomatic relief. They induce bronchial dilation and give relief in bronchial asthma. They are employed in diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract, in heavy- metal poisoning and Parkinsonism where again they provide only symptomatic relief. They are also useful in checking enuresis in children.
Belladonna extracts and the total alkaloids are commonly employed in ophthalmology to measure refractive errors. The most commonly used alkaloid for this purpose is aqueous solution of atropine sulphate used for dilation of the pupil of the eyes.
Belladonna preparations are reputed as local anodynes and counter irritants for external application for treating intercostal pains, rheumatism, lumbago, neuralgia and pleurisy. They are made into plasters and liniments for local application and into suppositories employed to relieve the spasms of anal fistula.
Belladonna leaves are employed for extracting total alkaloids for use as proprietary pharmaceutical preparations to treat various diseases like gastro-intestinal hypermotility, hyper-secretion, peptic ulcer, spastic constipation, spastic dysmenorrhoea, nocturnal enuresis, bronchial asthma and whooping cough. They have been found to be superior to the synthetic spasmolytic drugs.
A process has been developed by the Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu, for obtaining the total alkaloids of belladonna leaf. Based essentially on this process, the total alkaloids were being extracted from the belladonna leaves at the Drug Factory of CIMAP, Jammu.
In 1979- 80, 25kg of the total alkaloids of belladonna valued at Rs.375,000 were produced by the Drug Factory. The various steps involved in the industrial production of total alkaloids are summarised in the flowsheet. The product ([α], -17°8′ in 10% sol in abs. alcohol) thus obtained is granular and white or cream-coloured with the following average composition- /-hyoscyamine, 75.0; hyoscine, 7.5; and other alkaloids (including atropine), 17.0%.
The berries although highly poisonous are prescribed as specific antidote to opium and muscarine poisoning. Cases of Atropa poisoning in humans have been reported from all parts of the world; these are usually accidental, arising either from eating the berries in ignorance, usually by children, or from mistakes in dispensing, or the misuse of medicinal preparations. Ingestion of a few berries has been reported to cause death.
Poisoning due to alkaloids is also reported and of all the potent alkaloids, atropine has one of the widest margins of safety whereas, scopolamine is more toxic; nevertheless, idiosyncrasy to atropine and scopolamine and in sensitive cases even fatal poisonings are on record. Poisoning in animals is rare. Cats, dogs and birds are sensitive, horses and oxen less so, whereas pigs, goats, sheep and rabbits are comparatively resistant to the alkaloids.
Belladonna is used mainly as extract, tincture or plaster and it has been rarely used as a source of pure alkaloids. Recently, use of total alkaloids has become common. Various preparations of belladonna are employed in medicine, mainly because of anticholinergic action of tropane alkaloids. In case of diseases of respiratory tract like asthma, it is used to check glandular secretion and spasms of bronchial tube.
Similarly, for the same purpose, it is also used in intestinal disorders, peptic ulcers, colic pain, pain of urinary bladder and kidney stones to check spasms and pain as well as glandular secretions. It is also used in case of epileptic conditions, Parkinson’s disease, night sweats and bradycardia. In suitable doses it is also used as a sedative and in the form of plaster and ointments it is used as an anti-inflammatory agent. It is often used as antidote for opium-type poisoning.
8. Medicinal Action and Uses of Podophyllum Peltatum:
Antibilious, cathartic, hydragogue, purgative.
Podophyllum is a medicine of most extensive service; its greatest power lies in its action upon the liver and bowels. It is a gastro-intestinal irritant, a powerful hepatic and intestinal stimulant. In congested states of the liver, it is employed with the greatest benefit and for all hepatic complaints it is eminently suitable, and the beneficial results can hardly be exaggerated.
In large doses it produces nausea and vomiting, and even inflammation of the stomach and intestines, which has been known to prove fatal. In moderate doses, it is a drastic purgative with some cholagogue action. Like many other hepatic stimulants, it does not increase the secretion of bile so much when it acts as a purgative.
Podophyllum is a powerful medicine, exercising an influence on every part of the system, stimulating the glands to healthy action. It is highly valuable in dropsy, biliousness, dyspepsia, liver and other disorders. Its most beneficial action is obtained by the use of small doses frequently given. In such circumstances, it acts admirably upon all the secretions, removing obstructions, and producing a healthy condition of all the organs in the system. In still smaller doses, it is a valuable remedy in skin diseases.
It may either be given in infusion, decoction, tincture or substance, but it is not to be given warm;
It is often employed in combination with other purgatives, such as colocynth, aloes or rhubarb, and also administered in pills, with extract of henbane or belladonna, to prevent griping.
Externally applied, the resin, of podophyllum acts as an irritant. If incautiously handled, it often produces conjunctivitis, and in America it has on this account, when dissolved in alcohol, been used as a counter-irritant.
9. Medical Properties and Uses of Thornapple:
The action of stramonium on the system appears to be the same as that of belladonna, and Garrod says, that he made “many comparative clinical observations on stramonium and belladonna and on stramonium and henbane; he could not, however, distinguish between the action of the three plants when they were administered in corresponding doses.”
The properties of stramonium are regarded as anodyne and anti-spasmodic, and in overdoses it is a powerful poison. It has been found useful in neuralgic and rheumatic affections, in gastrodynia and other painful diseases; and some have regarded it as a very valuable remedy in mania and epilepsy; but in these, diseases it not un-frequently produces injurious effects. When used during the paroxysms of spasmodic asthma, it commonly gives great temporary relief and facilitates expectoration.
In the latter disease, and also in dyspnoea, catarrhs, and in other cases, the leaves are generally smoked like tobacco; or inhalation from their infusion in warm water is resorted to. But its use in these ways requires caution, as it has proved highly injurious and in some instances fatal. In Cochin, China a strong decoction of the leaves is regarded as a very efficacious remedy in hydrophobia. In India Datura alba is frequently used by the natives for chemical purposes,—the professional poisoners from this drug being called Dhatureeas.
In the forms of ointment, extract, plaster, fomentation, &c., the leaves and seeds of the different species of Datura have been found useful in allaying pain, &c., when applied to painful tumours, rheumatic enlargements of the joints, nodes, external piles, &c. Locally applied to the eye, stramonium produces dilatation of the pupil, and is therefore applicable in similar cases to belladonna, although, in this country at least, it is generally regarded as inferior.