ACTH, corticosterone and glucose in rats. Hippocaesculin and barringtogenol-C-21-angelate show antitumour activity in vitro.
The hydroxycoumarin aesculin leads to increased bleeding time. (Roasting seems to destroy the toxins.) A few fruits can cause severe toxic symptoms. (Francis Brinker.) In some countries, an intravenous mixture containing aescin is used after surgery. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)
Aesculus indica Hook.
Family Sapindaceae; Hippocastanaceae.
Habitat The Himalayas from Kashmir to western Nepal, Kulu and Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, Tehri-Garhwal and Kumaon in Uttar Pradesh at 900—3,600 m.
English Indian Horse Chestnut, Himalayan Chestnut.
Folk Bankhor.
Action Antirheumatic, galactogenic, antileucorrhocic.
The leaves contain aescin, quercetin and beta-sitosterol. Stems also contain rutin, astragalin, aesculin. Seeds contain aescin, aesculuside A and B, also aliphatic esters. Seeds possess anti- inflammatory activity.
The extract of seeds is considered to be active against P-388 lymphocytic leukaemia and human epidermoid carcinoma of nasopharynx.
Aframomum melegueta
(Rosc.) K. Schum.
Synonym Amomum melegueta Rosc.
Family Zingiberaceae.
Habitat Native to tropical Africa; cultivated in Indian gardens.
English Grains of Paradise, Alligator pepper, Meleguetta pepper.
Unani Heel Habshi.
Action Roots possess cardamom- like taste and are given as a decoction for constipation; also as a vermifuge for tapeworms. Juice of young
leaves—styptic. The seeds contain an alkaloid, piperine; also gingerol, paradol, shogaol and zingerone.
Gingerol and shogaol suppress gastric contractions; also have sedative and analgesic actions. Pungency of the grains is due to paradol.
A decoction of the whole plant is taken internally as a febrifuge.
High oxalic acid content in the fruit may cause reduced function of the heart.
Aframomum korarima K. Schum., native to tropical Africa, known as
