rhamnosidoglycoside of caffeic acid. Seeds contain 1.1% aucubin. Aucubin exhibits antibacterial activity. Hepatoprotective effect is also attributed to the aucubin content.
Alcoholic extract of young leaves exhibit antibacterial action against Streptococcus betahaemolyticus, Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus and Bacillus subtilis, thus confirming their wound- healing properties.
498 Plantago major Linn.
Plantago major Linn.
Family Plantaginaceae.
Habitat The temperate and alpine Himalayas from Kashmir to Bhutan at altitudes of 600—3,500 m.
English Broadleaf Plantain.
Ayurvedic Ashvagola (var.).
Folk Isabgol.
Action Plant—haemostatic, antihistaminic, antibacterial, wound-healing in burns and inflammation of tissues. Leaves— cooling, astringent, diuretic, vulnerary, febrifuge. Used for diarrhoea, bacillary dysentery, hepatitis, urinary diseases, piles, ulcers and skin diseases. Leaves are used for cystitis with blood, haematuria and other bladder disorders.
The aqueous extract of the leaves
showed anti-inflammatory activity in
mice.
The aerial parts contain an iridoid
glucoside, maj oroside. The leaves
contain a phenyipropanoid glycoside,
plantamajoside, exhibiting antibacte ria activity against several pathogenic
bacteria including E. coli and Staphy lococcu aureus. (The glycoside is less
inhibitory than the free acids, caffeic,
ferulic, and rosmarinic and esculetin.)
Plantago ovata Forsk.
Synonym P ispaghula Roxb.
Family Plantaginaceae.
Habitat Cultivated in parts of Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
English Ispaghula, Spogel seeds, Blond Psyllium.
