306 Helleborus niger Linn.
Helleborus niger Linn.
Family Ranunculaceae.
Habitat Native to sub-alpine woods in Southern and Eastern Europe.
Grown in Indian gardens.
English Black Hellebore, Christmas Rose.
Ayurvedic Khuraasaani Kutaki. Unani Kharbaq Siyah, Kutaki.
Action Digitalis-like action in cardiac disorders, drastic
purgative, abortifacient, diuretic, local anaesthetic, narcotic.
The rhizome contains cardiac glycosides; helleborin, helleborein, hellebrin and others based on helleborigenin.
Helleborin has a burning, acrid taste and is narcotic. Helleborein has a sweetish taste and is a highly active cardiac poison. Helleborin and veratrin (steroidal sap onins), helle - brin or helleborein (steroid glycoside) are main constituents of the root and leaves. The plant irritates mucous membranes.
A related species, Helleborus virdis Linn. (Bear’s Foot, Green Hellebore) is known as Kaali Kutaki and Krishnabhedi. The plant contains magnoflorine and corytuberine. The roots and rhizomes gave hellebrin, desgiucohellebrin, hellebrigenin, bufatetraenolide, beta-ecdysterone and 5beta-hy- droxyecdysterone.
Hemerocallis fulva Linn.
Habitat The Himalaya, Khasi Hills; cultivated in Indian gardens.
English Common Yellow Day-lily, Tawny Day-lily, Orange Day-lily.
Action Flower—analgesic, especially in child birth; blood purifier. (Flowers are sold in Chinese food shops as Gum-Tsoy or Gum-Jum.)
Hemerocallin, a neurotoxic principle, has been found in Hemerocallis sp. The plant gave amino acid—oxypinnatanine.
Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br.
Synonym Periploca indica Linn. Family Asclepiadaceae, Periplocaceae.
Habitat Throughout India; common in Bengal, Maharashtra and extending to Travancore.
English Indian Sarsaparilla (white var.). Sarsaparilla root is equated with Smilax sp. in Western herbal.
Ayurvedic Shveta Saarivaa, Anantmuula, Gopi, Gopaa, Gopakanyaa, Gopavalli, Gopasutaa, Krishodari, Sphotaa, Utpalsaarivaa, Kapuuri, Dugdhgarbhaa.
