Pastinaca secacul.)
Folk Mithaa-dudhiaa.
Action Used in Tibetan medicine for treating emaciation, senility; pulmonary affections. The rhizomes is valued as salep.
The dried rhizomes contain 6.2—9% diosgenin.
The lactins of the rootstock did not contain carbohydrates; the amino acid
revealed presence of 28% aspartic acid and asparagine.
The plant exhibits diuretic properties. It gave a digitalis glucoside and is considered poisonous by the hill people in the Himalayas.
Polygonum affine D. Don.
Synonym Bistorta affinis (D. Don) Green.
Family Polygonaceae.
Habitat Himalayas from Kashmir to Nepal at altitudes of 2,400— 4,800 m.
Folk Khukhudi.
Action Flowers—stimulant.
The inflorescence gave flavonoids, including quercetin, isorhamnetin, luteolin and apigenin derivatives. The leaves contain the flavonoids, 8-C- glucosyltricin and isorhamnetin.
Polygonum aviculare Linn.
Family Polygonaceae.
Habitat From Kashmir to Kumaon.
English Knotgrass, Knotweed, Mexican Sanguinaria.
Folk Machoti, Kesri.
Action Astringent and haemostatic. Used for excessive menstruation, bleeding piles; bleeding from bowel, stomach, lungs, nose, throat; mucous colitis, children’s summer diarrhoea.
Polygonum glabrum Wilid. 509
Key application In mild catarrhs of the respiratory tract, inflammatory changes to the oral and pharyngeal mucosa. (German Commission E.)
The plant gave flavonoids including quercetin, avicularin, quercitrin, and derivatives of kaempferol, esculetin and scopoletin. The plant also gave gallic, caffeic, oxalic., silicic, chlorogenic and p-coumaric acids; tannins including catechin.
The methanolic extract of the plant showed high protection against CC14- induced hepatotoxicity in mice. This activity is attributed to the presence of flavonoid glucosides.
