Family Lycopodiaceae.
Habitat Indigenous to North America, Europe, Asia; found in Kumaon, eastwards in West Bengal, Sikkim, Asam, Khasi Hills, Manipur and in Western Ghats.
English Common Club Moss.
Folk Naaga-beli (Nepal), Bendarali (Maharashtra).
Action Sedative, antispasmodic, diuretic. At one time used for urinary disorders (spasmodic retention of urine, catarrhal cystitis and chronic kidney disorders), and as a gastric sedative in gastritis.
388 Lycopus europaeus Linn.
The plant contains alkaloids (about 0.1—00.2%), including lycopodine, lycodoline, faucettimine and lycoflexine; triterpenoids including clavatol and oxoserrat derivatives; flavonoids including apigenin; polyphenolic acids including dihydrocaffeic.
Lycopodine produces uterine contractions and stimulates peristalsis in the small intestines of rodents.
The plant contains (dry basis): lipid 4.06 and desmethylsterols 0.05%.
Used in homoeopathy for distended abdomen, cough, cystitis, renal colic and disorders of menstruation.
Chinese Club Moss, equated with Huperzia serrata, is a different herb. Its constituent, huperzine A is thought to be beneficial in dementia due to its effect on acetylcholine levels.
L. annotinum Linn., L. complanatum Linn. (American Club Moss) and L. selago Linn. are among other species of Lycopodium occurring in India.
Lycopus europaeus Linn.
Family Labiatae.
Habitat Western Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh.
English Gipsywort, Bugleweed. Folk Gandam-gundu, Jalneem. Action Cardioactive, diuretic,
peripheral vasoconstrictor, sedative, narcotic, antihaemorrhagic, antitussive, thyrostatic.
Key application In mild thyroid hyperfunction (contraindicated in thyroid hypofunction, enlargement of thyroid) with disturbances of
vegetative nervous system; mastodynia (tension and pain in breast). No simultaneous administration
of thyroid preparations. Administration of Bugleweed preparations interferes with the administration of diagnostic procedures using
radioactive isotopes. (German
Commission E.)
The leaves contain lithospermic acid. Plant contains luteolin-7-glucoside; ursolic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, sinapic acid, ellagic acid and other derivatives of phenolic acid. The antioxidant
