northern Asia and Europe.
English European Black Currant. Folk Nabar.
Action Dried leaves and twigs— a home remedy for coughs.
Leaves—diuretic, hypotensive, refrigerant. An infusion is used for inflammatory conditions, sore throat, hoarseness. Fruits— refrigerant, mildly spasmolytic, vasoprotective, anti-inflammatory.
Black currents are very rich in vita mm C (average 150 mg/bOg) and contain 0.9—1.7% pectin as calcium pectate, also minerals, potassium (372 mg/ 100 g). The acidity of the fruit is mainly due to citric acid; malic acid is present in small amounts. Glucose and fructose are principal sugars; sucrose is a minor component.
The flavonoids in the fruits include kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin. About 0.3% anthocyanosides, concentrated mainly in the skin, consist of glycosides of cyanidol and delphinidol.
Ricinus communis Linn. 551
The anthocyanosides are reportedly bacteriostatic and exhibit vasoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity They are antisecretory against cholera toxin-induced intestinal fluid secretion in vitro.
The leaves contain an anti-inflammatory principle, pycnometol and minute quantities of an essential oil composed mostly of terpenes.
Polyphenolic extract of buds inhibited lipid peroxidation by rat liver microsomes.
Polyphenols present in R. nigrum and R. rubrum (Red Current, Western Himalayas from Kumaon to Kashmir) exhibit free radical scavenging activity The seed oil lowers VLDL and total cholesterol.
Contraindicated in bleeding disorders. (Sharon M. Herr.)
Ricinus communis Linn.
Family Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat Cultivated chiefly in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Orissa.
English Castor seed.
Ayurvedic Eranda, Chitrabija, Triputi; Tribija, Vaataari, Chanchu, Manda, Uruvaka, Gandharva-hastaa, Panchaangula, Vardhamaana, Uttaanpatraka, Vyaaghrapuchha, Chitraa.
Unani Bedanjeer, Arand. Siddha/Tamil Ammanakku. Action Oil from seeds and young
leaf—purgative. Oil is used in dermatosis and eczema. Leaves—
used as poultice to extract the worm. Root—a decoction is administered for lumbago and allied complaints. Bark—purgative.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the decoction of the dried, mature root in rheumatism, pain in the urinary bladder, lumbago, diseases of the abdomen and inflammations; fresh
