rheumatic swellings.
The Himalayan plants yielded an essential oil (0.26%) with aipha-pinene, dipentene, linalool, cineol, methyl salicylate, decyl aldehyde, anisaldehyde, bergapten, eugenol, indole and salicylic and benzoic acids as major constituents. The oil is applied topically in sprains, bruises, sciatica, rheumatism, chest affections and in certain skin diseases.
The narcotic action of the bark is attributed to the presence of a yellow oleoresin. The bark also contain a saponin, pittosporin.
Plantago amplexicaulis Cay. var.
bauphula (Edgew.) Pilger.
Family Plantaginaceae.
Habitat Punjab, Rajasthan and
Delhi.
English Brown Ispaghula.
Unani Aspaghol.
Action Seed—astringent. Seed coat—demulcent.
See Plantago ovata.
Plantago lanceolata Linn.
Family Plantaginaceae.
Habitat Western Himalayas, from Kashmir to Garhwal and Simla.
English Rib Grass, Ribwort Plantain, English Plantain, Buckhorn Plantain.
Unani Baartang, Aspaghol.
Folk Balatang.
Action Leaf and root—astringent, bechic, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, hyp othermic, diuretic. Seed—cathartic, diuretic, haemostatic.
Key application Internally, for catarrhs of the respiratory tract and inflammatory alterations of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa; externally for inflammatory reactions of the skin. (German Commission E, ESCOP)
Globularin and methyl ester of desacetyl asperulosidic acid were isolated from the plant along with catapol. A crude mucilage, isolated from the leaves, contains L-arabinose 26.0, D-galactose 35.8, D-glucose 21.9, Dmannose 4.6, L-rhamnose 4.6 and uronic acid 6.9%. Alpha-D-glucan was separated from this mucilage.
Leaves gave aucubin and esculetin, in addition to polysaccharides. The whole plant yielded
