Habitat Native to Europe and Asia. Occurs in the temperate Himalayas from Kashmir to Garhwal.
English Indian Henbane, Black Henbane.
Ayurvedic Paarsika-yavaani,
Yavaani, Madkaarini, Turushkaa, Khuraashaanikaa, Khuraasaani Ajwaayin.
Unani Barz-ul-Banj, Khuraasaani Ajwaayin.
Siddha/Tamil Paarseekayavani, Khurasani Omam.
Action Sedative. Narcotic drug. Used for convulsions. Action
similar to Belladonna.
Key application In spasms of gastrointestinal tract. (German
Commission E, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)
The leaves and flowering tops contain tropane alkaloids, 0.045—00.14%, the principal ones being hyoscyamine and hyoscine. The alkaloids are parasympatholytic, with similar actions to Belladonna, although with less cerebral excitement.
The seeds show inhibitory activity against digestive enzyme, lipase in vitro.
Contraindicated in tachycardias, prostatic hyperplasia, narrow-angle glaucoma, acute pulmonary oedema, stenosis of gastrointestinal tract, maga colon.
Dosage Seed—3—5 g powder. (CCRAS.)
Hypecoum leptocarpum
Hook. f. & Thoms.
Family Papaveraceae.
Habitat Mediterranean region and temperate Asia. (Allied species: H. pendulum Linn. and H. procumbens Linn., found in Peshavar, Multan, Waziristan and Baluchistan). Occurs in Sikkim.
Folk Zirgulaki, Waziri.
Action Used in stomachache. Juice of the plant has the same effect as opium. Leaves diaphoretic. Plant— narcotic.
The whole plant contains protopine (0.19) as the major alkaloid.
Hypericum perforatum Linn. Family Hypericaceae.
Habitat Temperate Western Himalayas from Kashmir to Shimla at 2,000—3,000 m.
English Common St. John’s wort.
Unani Heufaariqoon, Bassant, Balsaan.
Action Antidepressant, sedative, relaxing nervine, anti-inflammatory. Used in anxiety, stress, depression, menopausal nervousness, menstrual cramps, neuralgia and rheumatism.
