In inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and gastrointestinal spasm. Externally, in skin, mucous membrane and ano-genital inflammation and bacterial skin
diseases. (German Commission E, The British Herbal Compendium.) As anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)
The flowers of German chamomile gave volatile oil up to about 2%, containing alpha-bisabolol up to 50%, azulenes including chamazulene, guiazuline and matricine; flavonoids including apigenin and luteolin and their glycosides, patuletin and quercetin; spiroethers; coumarins; p olysaccharides.
The flowers are used as herbal tea for cough and cold and for promoting the flow of gastric secretion and bile. In chamomlile extracts, chamazulene has been found responsible for anti- inflammatory activity. Matricine and (—)-alpha-bisabolol also show anti- inflammatory and analgesic activity. Bisabolol exhibits ulceroprotective ef fect. Natural (—)-alpha-bisabolol has been shown to be significantly effective in healing burns; (—)-alpha-bisabolol, spiroethers and apigenin exhibit spasmolytic effect comparable with that of papaverine.
The polysaccharides are immunostimulating and activate macrophages and B lymphocytes; play an important role in wound healing.
Crude aqueous extract of the plant has been reported to significantly delay the onset of convulsions and reduce
Medicago sativa Linn. 401
mortality rate produced by picrotoxin experimentally.
Matthiola incana R. Br.
Family Cruciferae; Brassicaceae.
Habitat Native of Europe; grown as ornamental.
English Stock, Gihi-flower. Unani Tudri Safed.
Action Expectorant, diuretic, stomachic.
The seeds contain mucilage, a fatty oil, two crystalline colouring matters and a volatile oil which yields methyl, isopropyl and 4-methylthiobutyl isothiocyanates. Beta-sitosterol is present in fatty oil. Fatty acids include palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and ru cic.
Meconopsis aculeata Royle.
Family Papaveraceae.
Habitat Western Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon, between
