Herbal Extract

Boswellia acts as a spiritual symbol and an effective medicinal herb; it seems to function as both an analgesic and an anti-inflammatory agent. A gummy oleoresin extracted from the trunk of the tree is used to prepare modern herbal remedies. Reports and personal claims indicate that the boswellia herb may be used in connection with joint mobility, pain, and stiffness, and may be a useful remedy for a variety of inflammatory diseases, including bursitis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Boswellia serrata extract prepared by us is an effective tonic to cure varied vitiated conditions such as pitta, cough, asthma. It is useful in fevers, urethrorrhea, diaphoresis, convulsions, chronic laryngitis, jaundice and arthritis. Gum resin is antiseptic, expectorant, anti inflamatory and diuretic in nature. It also helps in the treatment of bronchitis, diarrhea, jaundice, ringworm and other skin diseases.

Product details:

• Botanical name: boswellia serrata

• Family name: bruseraceae

• Common name: indian olibanum tree, olibanum , luban, gond

• Part used: bark, gum resin

• Product offered: gum resin

Caralluma fimbriata is a common road side shrub mainly used as hedges. For centuries this plant has been used in rural india as a vital food item. The main characteristics of this plant are its capability to suppress hunger pangs and appetite and act as a stamina booster. This it purportedly achieves by controlling appetite center in the brain. We manufacture caralluma extract, the benefits of which were established in scientific clinical trials. The key phytochemical constituents of the herb are pregnane. Glycosides,flayone glycosides,megastigmane glycosides, and saponins

We have been successfully preparing medicine from coleus forshkoli.

Uses:

The root of this plant is extensively used for a varied of medicinal purposes. Ancient sanskrit texts bear the testimony to the medicinal properties of coleus which has been used to treat heart and lung diseases, intestinal spasms, insomnia and convulsions. It also lowers blood pressure. It is antispasmodic anddilates the blood vessels.

 

Trials and research have found that medicines prepared from this plant has the capability to treat skin conditions as eczema and psoriasis. Coleus is also recommended for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, congestive heart failure and angina. Medicine prepared from this plant is effectively used for the treatment of asthma, intestinal colic, uterine cramps as well as painful urination. Coleus is also effective for the treatment of the digestive system, mal absorption disorders by stimulating secretion of saliva, hydrochloric acid, pepsin, amalyase and pancreatic enzymes. It further stimulates nutrient absorption in the small intestine coleus is truly a storehouse of varied medicinal properties. It accelerates the breakdown of existing fat stores and promotes healthy cardiovascular function, lowers blood pressure. Eczema and other allergic skin conditions respond beautifully to medicines prepared from coleus. . The oil is a rich source of fragrance and aromatherapy.

Product details:

• Botanical name: coleus forskohlii

• Family name: lamiaceae

• Common name: coleous

• Part used: roots

• Habitat: grows on the dry slopes on the indian plains and in the foothills of the himalayas.

• Product offered: roots

Grape seed extracts are industrial derivatives from whole grape seeds that have a great concentration of vitamin e, flavonoids, linoleic acid, and opcs. They are a great source of antioxidants. Our grape seeds extracts are an excellent source of oligomeric proanthocyanidins and have been the subject of clinical research all over the worls particularly in france for their antioxidant activity. Antioxidants are vital in the development of collagen including skin, connective tissue and vascular walls. Natural way standardized grape seed extract is a high potency(955) polyphenol extract.

 

Product details:

 

• Product specification: 95% opc/ polyphenols (uv-vis)

• Latin name: vitis vinifera. L

• Botanical source: seed/skin

 

What are health benefits?

 

• Aging

• Cancer prevention

• Cataracts

• Eczema heart disease prevention

• Lupus psoriasis

The dried rind of garcinia cambogia , commonly known as malabar tamarind,has unique and varied use as condiment for flavouring curries, curingand drying fish and used as medicines for various ailments. In kerala the dried rind is used to add flavor curries. In sri lanka, the fruits picked under-ripe, the thick pericarp is cut into sections which along with salt is used in curing and drying fish . Rich in acids it possesses marked antiseptic properties. The dried rind is also used for polishing gold and silver and as a substitute for acetic and formic acids in the coagulation of latex. A decoction of the fruit rind is very effective in rheumatism and bowel complaints. It is also used as a rinse for some veterinary diseases. An yellow translucent resin from the tree which is soluble in turpentine, gives an yellow varnish. It combats blood fat levels and increase metabolism helping in in weight loss. Garcinia is a rich source of vitamin c and has been used as a heart tonic

 

Product details:

 

• Botanical name: garcinia cambogia

• Family name: cluciaceae

• Common name: malabar tamarind, brindall berry, chikana red mango, mangosteen.

• Part used: fruits

• Habitat: commonly found in the evergreen and shola forests of western ghats in india up to 6,000 ft. High.

• Product offered: fruits

The leafless,spiky and succulent plant, an indigenous plant from south africa, hoodia gordonii is an effective agent for appetite suppression and according to scientific trials has the capability for tricking the brain by auto suggesting that food has already been ingested. We have been successfully preparing medicines from this plant using scientific methodology.

The stem "core" of the hoodia gordonii species has very strong molecule dubbed "p57" which works on an area of the brain called the hypothalamus in a way similar to, but 10,000 times as potent as glucose which "alerts" the body that it is satiated and no longer needs any feeding thus hooda restricts food craving leading to decreased appetite. As a result one simply eats less. It is great aid to sliming with out any adverse effect.

Milk thistle is a member of the sunflower family native to a narrow stretch of the mediterranean. Now, for centuries, it has been widely cultivated throughout europe. Presently it is a common weed in california. In north america, milk thistle was introduced as a coffee substitute, but its shiny black seeds covered with feathery tufts have a far longer history in herbal medicine. The edible thistles were given the name silybum by dioscorides, a greek physician who served in the roman army over 1,900 years ago. The thistle with white coloring on its leaves became known as the "milk" thistle.

 

Constituents

Silymarin (silibinin, silydianin, and silychristin), vitamin e (tocopherols), and about 90% fatty acids.

 

Parts used

The threshed, dried seed.

 

Typical preparations

It is used as whole seeds or seed powder, encapsulated or used to make an infusion. The most convenient form has been either an alcohol or glycerin extract.

It belongs to the terrestrial orchids family, which is commercially known as salep orchids,the tubers contain a bitter solid and a volatile oil. They are used as a farinaceous food, nervine tonic and aphrodisiac. They yield a lot of gelatinous substance with water and form a jelly that is supposed to be nutritious and very effective against diarrhea, dysentery and chronic fevers

 

Product details:

 

• Botanical name: orchis mascula

• English name: salep orchid

• Sanskrit / indian name: salabmisri

Commonly known as gokhru the roots and fruits are sweet. They have , cooling, diuretic, aphrodisiac properties. They have multifarious uses as emollient, appetizer, digestive, anthelmintic, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, laxative, cardiotonic, styptic and tonic. They are variously useful in strangury, dysuria, renal and vesical calculi, anorexia, dyspepsia, helminthiasis, cough, asthma, , cardiopathy, spermatorrhoea, anemia, scabies, ophthalmia and general weakness.

 

Leaves are astringent. They have curative properties ranging from , diuretic, aphrodisiac, depurative, anthelmintic and tonic. They are useful in gonorrhoea, inflammation, menorrhagia, strangury, leprosy, skin diseases and general weakness.

 

Seeds are astringent, and are useful in haemorrhages and ulcerative stomatitis. Fruit is diuretic and tonic prepared from it is used for the treatment of calculous affections and painful micturition. Poultice and paste prepared from leaves is used in treatment of stones in the bladder.

 

Product details:

 

• Botanical name: tribulus terrestris

• Family name: zygophllaceae

• Common name: land caltrops, puncture vine, gokhru

• Part used: whole plant, seeds

• Habitat: throughout india, up to 5400 m, as a weed along roadsides and waste places

• Product offered: seeds, whole plant, fruits

Source tinospora cordifolia (willd. ) miers ex hook. F. & thoms],family-menispermaceae

Other species tinospora crispa and tinospora rumphii boerl

Synonyms

South asia: guduchi , amrita (sanskrit), giloe , gulancha (bengali), giloya (hindi), gado , galo (gujarati), gulvel (marathi), duyutige , teppatige (telugu),amrutha balli (kannada), shindila kodi (tamil)

English: heartleaf moonseed

Indonesia: brotowali, andawali, putrawali

Philippines: makabuhay (tagalog), paliaban (bisaya), pañgiauban (bisaya), taganagtagua

Thailand: boraphet

Part used stem

Description

The sanskrit name guduci means the one, which protects the body. It is also called as amrta or nectar, as it is beneficial in strengthening the immune system of the body. A herbaceous vine indigenous to the tropical areas of india, myanmar and sri lanka. Glabrous climbing shrub found throughout india, typically growing in deciduous and dry forests leaves heart shaped, succulent bark is creamy white to grey in color, with deep clefts spotted with lenticels long, slender aerial roots, often growing on mango or neem trees, flowers are yellow, growing in lax racemes from nodes on old wood, fruits are drupes, turning red when ripe.

Chemical composition

Diterpene compounds including tinosporone, tinosporic acid, cordifolisides a to e, syringen, the yellow alkaloid, berberine, giloin, crude giloininand, a glucosidal bitter principle as well as polysaccharides, including arabinogalactan polysaccharide.

Applications

Anticomplementary and immunomodulatory, t. Cordifolia extract and turmeric extract is effective in preventing the hepatotoxicity, anti-diabetic, anti-periodic, anti-spasmodic,anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-oxidant, anti-allergic, anti-stress, anti-leprotic, anti-malarial,hepatoprotective, anti-neoplastic, anti- antipyretic, relaxes the intestinal and uterine smooth muscles, proved effective in prevention of fibrosis and in stimulating regeneration in hepatic tissue, swine flu. Bird flu, pyrexia of unknown origin (fever), throat infection, sneezing,  coughing, body aches, for some sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, treatment of various skin diseases, hyperacidity

 

Ilex paraguariensis- family- aquifoliaceae

Common names

Erva mate or yerba mate (spanish: yerba mate, portuguese: erva-mate)

Description

It is native to subtropical south america in northeastern argentina, bolivia, uruguay, paraguay and southern brazil. It is often served as a tea or an infusion with different fruit juices. The yerba mate plant is a shrub or small tree growing up to 15 meters tall. The leaves are evergreen, 7–11 cm long and 3–5. 5 cm wide, with a serrated margin. The flowers are small, greenish-white, with four petals. The fruit is a red drupe 4–6 mm in diameter.

chemical composition

mate contains xanthines derivatives, caffeine, theobromine and theophylline, the major being caffeine. Caffeine content varies between 0. 7% and 1. 7% of dry weight(compared with 0. 4–9. 0% for tea leaves, 2. 5-7. 6% in guarana, and up to 3. 2% for ground coffee), theobromine content varies from 0. 3-0. 9%; theophylline is present in small quantities, or can be completely absent. A substance previously called "mateine" is a synonym for caffeine (like theine and guaranine). Mate also contains elements such as potassium, magnesium and manganese.

Applications

The three xanthines present in mate have been shown to have a relaxing effect on smooth muscle tissue, and a stimulating effect on myocardial (heart) tissue. Antiobesity properties, cholesterol lowering properties, e-ntpdase activity,antioxidant potential, anti-carcinogenic potential have also been reported.

 

 

Source paullinia cupana, kunth. (h. B. And k. ) (syn. P. Sorbilis )family sapindaceae

Synonyms---paullinia. Guarana bread. Brazilian cocoa. Uabano. Uaranzeiro. Paullinia sorbilis.

Partused- seeds.

Habitat---brazil, uruguay.

 

Description

Guarana is a shrub or small tree native to venezuela and northern brazil, known for the high stimulant content of the fruit. The name 'guaraná' comes from the guarani tribe that lives in brazil. It has divided compound leaves, flowers yellow panicles, fruit pear shaped, three sided, three-celled capsules, with thin partitions, in each a seed like a small horse-chestnut half enclosed in an aril, flesh coloured and easily separated when dried. The seeds of paullinia sorbilis are often used or mixed with those of p. Cupana. They break with an irregular fracture, have little smell, taste astringent, and bitter like chocolate without its oiliness, and in colour like chocolate powder; it swells up and partially dissolves in water.

Chemical composition

A crystallizable principle, called guaranine, identical with caffeine, which exists in the seeds, united with tannic acid, catechutannic acid starch, and a greenish fixed oil.

Applications

Nervine, tonic, slightly narcotic stimulant, aphrodisiac, febrifuge, leucorrhoea, diarrhoea, used in europe and america for headache, especially if of a rheumatic nature. A beverage is made from the guaran sticks the herb guarana is commercially promoted in the health food industry, among other uses, as a weight loss agent and a smoking cessation aid.

 

Source

The most widely available source of EPA and DHA is cold water oily fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines. Krill oil is a relatively new source of n−3 fatty acids. Green-lipped mussel (from New Zealand known as Perna canaliculus) is another source of n-3 fatty acids. Botanical sources incluide- Perilla-Perilla frutescens, Chia- Salvia hispanica, Flax- Linum usitatissimum, Lingonberry- Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Camelina -Camelina sativa, Purslane-Portulaca oleracea, Black Raspberry-Rubus occidentalis, and Hemp- Cannabis Sativa. Eggs, Meat, cheese and Seal Oil are also the good sources of n−3.The microalgae Crypthecodinium cohnii and Schizochytrium are rich sources of DHA. Oil from brown algae (kelp) is a source of EPA. Walnuts are one of few nuts that contain appreciable n−3 fat. Acai palm fruit also contains n−3 fatty acids.Omega-3 is also found in softgels in pharmacies and nowadays it is also found in combination with omega-6, omega-9 and shark liver oil.

Flax seeds containing

high n−3 content

Description

EPA, DHA is an essential fatty acid which stands for eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. This essential fatty acid is an Omega 3 fat, which is found in cold water fish. EPA DHA are highly unsaturated fat because of they contain 6 and 5 double bonds on their long structural chain. The term n−3 (also called ω−3 or omega-3) signifies that the first double bond exists as the third carbon-carbon bond from the terminal methyl end (n) of the carbon chain. n−3 fatty acids which are important in human nutrition are: α-linolenic acid (18:3, n−3; ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5, n−3; EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, n−3; DHA). These three polyunsaturates have either 3, 5 or 6 double bonds in a carbon chain of 18, 20 or 22 carbon atoms, respectively.

Applications

EPA and DHA are vital nutrients and maintain healthy function of the brain and retina. DHA is a building block of tissue in the brain and retina of the eye. It helps with forming neural transmitters, such as phosphatidylserine, which is important for brain function. DHA is found in the retina of the eye and taking DHA may be necessary for maintaining healthy levels of DHA for normal eye function. EPA and DHA regulate cell activity and healthy cardiovascular function, Human growth and intellectual development. DHA plays a very important role during fetal development, early infancy, and old age. Taking EPA DHA may also help with mental abnormalities, such as Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. There are other benefits to taking EPA and DHA because it also plays as a source of energy, insulates the body against heat loss, prevents skin from drying and flaking, and cushions tissues and organs.

 

 

 

Chlorophyllin refers to a group of closely related water-soluble salts that are semi-synthetic derivatives of chlorophyll, differing in the identity of the cations associated with the anion. Its most common form is a sodium/copper derivative used as a food additive and in alternative medicine. Chlorophyllin is present in green leafy vegetables and reaching levels as high as 5.7% in spinach.

Source Various species of Mulberry - Morus alba L. – White Mulberry, Morus australis Poir. – Chinese Mulberry,Morus celtidifolia Kunth, Morus insignis, Morus mesozygia Stapf – African Mulberry, Morus nigra L. – Black Mulberry, Morus microphylla – Texas Mulberry, Morus rubra L. – Red Mulberry

Family Moraceae

 

Description

Mulberries are swift-growing when young, but soon become slow-growing and rarely exceed 10–15 m (33–49 ft) tall. They are native to warm temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, with the majority of the species native to Asia.The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, often lobed, more often lobed on juvenile shoots than on mature trees, and serrated on the margin.The fruit is a multiple fruit, 2–3 cm (0.79–1.2 in) long. The fruits when immature are white or green to pale yellow with pink edges. In most species the fruits are red when they are ripening, turning dark purple to black and have a sweet flavor.

Applications

It prevents cancer. Chlorophyllin, being water-soluble, can significantly bind to environmental mutagens such as the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons benzo[a]pyrene and dibenzo{a,i}pyrene. Chlorophyllin binds to mutagens twenty times better than resveratrol and thousands of times better than xanthines. It was shown to be a potent, dose-responsive inhibitor of aflatoxin B-1 DNA adduction and cancer formation in rainbow trout liver.Chlorophyllin is the active ingredient in a number of internally-taken preparations intended to reduce odors associated with incontinence, colostomies and similar procedures, as well as body odor in general. It is also available as a topical preparation, purportedly useful for both treatment and odor control of wounds, injuries, and other skin conditions - notably radiation burns.

 

Source ipecac - cephaelis ipecacuanha (brot. ) a. Rich (syn. Psychotria ipecacuanha stokes), family –rubiaceae. Syrup of ipecac commonly referred to as ipecac, is derived from the dried of the ipecacuanha plant, and is a well known to induce vomiting.

Partused-root and rhizome.

Description

Shrubby plant about a foot high, found in most parts of brazil, growing in clumps or patches, in moist, shady woods. The drug is chiefly collected in the interior, in the province of matto grosso and near the german colony of philadelphia, north of rio de janeiro. It is also found in new granada and in bolivia.
the plant has a slender stem, fibrous rootlets, which grows partly underground and is often procumbent at the base, the lower portion being knotted. Ipecacuanha roots are collected in india, during the months of january and february, when the plant is in flower and are prepared by separation from the stem, cleaning and hanging in bundles to dry in the sun. The drug is known in commerce as brazilian or rioipecacuanha. The name of the plant is the portuguese form of the native word, i-pe-kaa-guéne, which is said to mean 'road-side sick-making plant. Ipecacuanha occurs in commerce as slender and somewhat tortuous closely annulated pieces, which seldom exceed 6 inches in length and 1/4 inch in thickness. It varies in color from very dark brown to dark red. The root is hard and breaks with a very short fracture. The drug has a bitter taste, but only a slight, rather musty odour.

substitutes- cartagena ipecacuanha, east indian ipecacuanha, from cryptocarpus spiralis, ionidium ipecacuanha, richardsonia scabra and p. Emetica, r. Scabra, b. Ferruginia and b. Poaya.

Chemical composition

The chief constituents of ipecacuanha root are the alkaloids emetine, cephaelin and psychotrine, of which the bark may contain from 1. 5 to 2 per cent, of which about 72 per cent consists of emetine and 26 percent of cephaelin, while only 2 per cent consists of psychotrine. Other constituents are a crystalline saponin- like glucoside, an amorphous, bitter glucoside, which is a modification of tannin, and is known as ipecacuanhic acid, choline, resin, pectin, starch, sugar, calcium oxalate,odorous, fatty matter and a disagreeable-smell in volatile oil.

Applications: the actions of ipecac are mainly those of its major alkaloids, emetine (methylcephaeline) and cephaeline. They both act locally by irritating the gastric mucosa and centrally by stimulating the medullary chemoreceptor trigger zone to induce vomiting. In large doses, ipecacuanha root is emetic; in smaller doses, diaphoretic and expectorant, and in still smaller, stimulating to the stomach, intestines and liver, exciting appetite and facilitating digestion. When inhaled, it causes sneezing and a mild inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane. Toxic doses cause gastro-enteritis, cardiac failure, dilation of the blood-vessels,severe bronchitis and pulmonaryinflammation.

Preparations and dosages-powdered root, 5 to 30 grains. Fluid extract, b. P. , 2 to 20 drops. Comp. Tinct. (dover's), u. S. P. , 8 drops. Wine, b. P. , 10 drops to 6 drachms. Syrup, u. S. P. ,1/4to4drachms. Dover'spowder,b. P. ,5to15grains.
other plants possessing emetic properties - american ipec. , gillenia stipulacea; wild ipec. , euphorbia ipecacuanha; guinea ipec. , boerhavia decumbens; venezuela ipec. , sarcostemma glaucum; ipecacuanha des allemands, vincetoxicum officinale, and the bastard ipecacuanha, asclepias cuirassavica, of the west indies.

 

Source euterpe oleracea family-arecaceae

Common names: Acai, açaí, acaí, acaizeiro, acaí-do-Pará, asai, ashaí, assaí, cabbage palm, cansin, chonta, guasai, hasabis, hausai, huai, jicara, juçara, manac, manaka, manicole, morroke, naidí, palisade pine, palmito, palmiteiro, panan, pina, pinau, pinot, piriá, prasara, saké, uassi, ungurahua, wasei, wapoe, yisara,yuyuchonta

Parts used fruit, root

Description

The acai berry is an awesome fruit and have been an important component of food for the Amazon people of Brazil. acai berry have the antioxidants potential due to the high contents of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, iron and calcium, that also help to fight cancer cells.The fruit, a small, round, black-purple drupe about 1 inch (25 mm) in circumference, similar in appearance but smaller than a grape and with less pulp, is produced in branched panicles of 500 to 900 fruits. The exocarp of the ripe fruits is a deep purple color, or green, depending on the kind of açaí and its maturity. The mesocarp is pulpy and thin, with a consistent thickness of 1 mm or less. It surrounds the voluminous and hard endocarp, which contains a single large seed about 0.25–0.40 inches (7–10 mm) in diameter. The seed makes up about 80% of the fruit (Schauss, 2006c). Two crops of fruit are produced each year. The ripe fruits are harvested as food.

The closely-related species Euterpe edulis (jucara) is now predominantly used for hearts of palm.

Chemical Composition

100g of extract of the fruit contains 52,2g of Carbohydrates, 8.1g of protein, 32.5g of fat and 44.2g of fiber forms part of the carbohydrates portion of the fruit. Acai berry being a high fat content fruits also contains oleic acid, palmitic acid and linoleic acid, anthocyanins, Omega fatty acids.

Applications

Acai berry has several health benefits such improving mental clarity, promotes sound sleep, supplies the body with vital vitamins, cleanse and detoxifies the body of toxins that are infectious, builds the immune system, enhances sexual desire and performance, help in fighting cancerous cell, reduces the aging process, it alleviates diabetes, helps it normalizing and regulating the cholesterol levels, helps in proper functioning of the heart, Stroke, Heart attack, reduces inflammation, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Anti ageing, increases circulation as well as improves vision, strengthening of body muscles and tissue, blood and body cleansing.

Source

Species of echinacea - echinacea angustifolia – narrow-leaf coneflower, echinacea atrorubens – topeka purple coneflower, echinacea laevigata – smooth coneflower, smooth purple coneflower, echinacea pallida – pale purple coneflower, echinacea paradoxa – yellow coneflower, bush's purple coneflower, echinacea purpurea – purple coneflower, eastern purple coneflower, echinacea sanguinea – sanguine purple coneflower, echinacea simulata – wavyleaf purple coneflower, echinacea tennesseensis – tennessee coneflower

Family- asteraceae

Common names echinacea, purple coneflower, coneflower, american coneflower

 

Description

Herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family. The nine species it contains are commonly called purple coneflowers. They are endemic to eastern and central north america, where they are found growing in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas. They have large, showy heads of composite flowers, blooming from early to late summer. The generic name is derived from the greek word, echino, meaning "spiny," due to the spiny central disk. Some species are used in herbal medicines and some are cultivated in gardens for their showy flowers. Echinacea species are herbaceous, drought-tolerant perennial plants growing up to 140 cm in height. They grow from taproots, except e. Purpurea, which grows from a short caudice with fibrous roots. They have erect stems that in most species are unbranched. Both the basal and cauline leaves are arranged alternately. The leaves are normally hairy with a rough texture, having uniseriate trichomes (1-4 rings of cells) but sometimes they lack hairs. The flowers are collected together into single rounded heads that terminate long peduncles.

Chemical composition

All species have phenolic compounds called, cichoric acid and caftaric acid. Other phenols include echinacoside, which is found in greater levels within e. Angustifolia and e. Pallida roots than in other species. Other chemical constituents include alkylamides and polysaccharides. The immunomodulatory effects of echinacea preparations could be caused by fat-soluble alkylamides (alkamides), which occur mostly in e. Angustifolia and e. Purpurea but not in e. Pallida. Alkylamides bind to human cb2 and cb1 cannabinoid receptors and thus inhibit tumor necrosis factor α tnf-alpha.

Applications

Marketed and studied medicinal products contain different species (e. Purpurea, e. Angustifolia, e. Pallida), different organs (roots and herbs) and different preparations (extracts and expressed juice). Antitumor properties, fighting cough and cold, an immunostimulator, stimulating the body's non-specific immune system and warding off infections.

Part used leaves

Description

The plant grows throughout India, in hilly districts upto 3500 meters height. It is a perennial, herbaceous climber. The stems are often long, rough and grooved, with woody base. The leaves often in whorls of four. They are 5-10 cm long, variable, cordate – ovate to cordate-lanceolate, rough above and smooth beneath. The flowers, 0.3-2.5 cm long, blackish or greenish black, in terminal panicled glabrous cymes. The fruits are globose, fleshy, smooth, purplish black when ripe and shining. The roots are 4-8 cm long, reddish, cylindrical, flexuous, with a thin red bark.

 

Chemical Composition

The roots contain resinous and extractive matter, gum, sugar, coloring matter, - the salt of the pigment being a red crystalline principle purpurine. The yellow glucoside manjistin and a xanthine are also present, besides garancin and orange red alizarin. Anthroquinones pentacyclic triterpenes, quinines, cyclic hexapeptides and diethylesters are also reported. Other compounds isolated are xantho-purpurin, or Purpuroxanthin and Pseudopurpurin, glucose, sucrose and ruberythric acid. Alizarin, purpurin, purpurin carbohydrate, quinizarine and christofin isolated from roots. Antitumor cyclic hexapeptides – RA-V and RA-VII – isolated from roots.

Applications

skin diseases associated with edema and oozing, wounds and ulcers, acne, gives the skin an even tone and smoothness, powerful dye, imparting a reddish tinge to the skin and is used in dying the clothes, In diarrhea, in gastrointestinal ailments like loss of appetite, dyspepsia and worm infestations, as an appetizer, digestant, destroys ama and a vermicide, blood purifier, erysipelas, eczema, acne, scabies and allergic manifestations, epilepsy, improves the menstrual bleeding and relieves the pain in dysmenorrhea, cleanses the uterus-useful in postnatal ailments, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, as an adjunct in treating hepatitis, anti-diabetic and useful in treating urinary calculi, rejuvenative in pigment disorders of the skin and in general debility.