(Jacq.) A. DC.
Family b Campanulaceae.
Habitat East Asia; introduced into India and cultivated in rockeries
and borders.
English Balloon Flower, Chinese Bell Flower.
Action Expectorant and antitussive. Root—used to treat cough, tonsillitis and asthma, also to treat stomatitis, peptic ulcer and inflammatory
diseases. (WHO.)
The major chemical constituents of the root are triterpene saponins. The root exhibits haemolytic action.
Plectranthus mollis Spreng.
Synonym P incanus Link.
Family Labiatae; Lam iaceae.
Habitat Temperate Himalayas
from Simla to Sikkim and in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Western
Chats.
Folk Laal-Aghaadaa (Maharashtra). Action Leaves—styptic, febrifuge.
The aerial parts yielded an essential oil (0.35%) containing piperitenone oxide (45.01) and cis-pipestone oxide (35.70%) as major constituents.
The antimicrobial activity of 10 mg of the oil was found to be the same as that of 10 units of penicillin G. sodium. The essential oil also exhibited cardiac depressant, respiratory stimulant and vasoconstrictor action. The leaves and
500 Plesmonium margaritiferum Schott.
flowering tops, in addition to the oil, also contain resin and tannin.
Plesmonium margaritiferum
Schott.
Family Araceae.
Habitat Bengal, Chhota Nagpur, Ranchi, Purnea, Vishaithapatnam and Tamil Nadu.
Ayurvedic Vajrakanda.
Folk Kharhar (Uttar Pradesh).
Action Anti-inflammatory (wellground tubers are rubbed on swellings of the extremities). Seeds—
