Use of the drug in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus reduces the dose of insulin. It decreased the plasma glucose and serum cholesterol levels after oral administration for 3—6 weeks. (The plant is mixed with Helleborus nigar in a ratio of 1:3.) The plant extract inhibited tobacco-induced mutagenesis by 47.5% at a concentration of 1 mg/plate.
Dosage Root—500 mg to 1 g powder. (CCRAS.)
Anagallis arvensis Linn.
Family Primulaceae.
Habitat Northwestern Himalayas from Kashmir eastwards to Nepal, hills of West Bengal; Central and southern India.
English Bird’s Eye, Bird’s Tongue, Blue Pimpernel, Scarlet Pimpernel.
Unani Anaaghaalis.
Folk Jonkmaari (Maharashtra), Dhabbar (Punjab), Jighanaa, Jenghani.
Action Plant—anti-inflammatory, astringent, deobstructant, antifungal, nematocidal; toxic to leeches.
The plant yields anagalligenone B. The presence of quaternary alkaloids, gluco-fructoside and tannin have been reported. The root yields glycosidic sap onins, including cyclamin. An acetyl saponin, isolated from the plant, was found to possess marked taenicidal activity but had no effect on round- worms.
A methanolic extract of the aerial parts showed activity against herpes simplex I, adenovirus type II and polio type II. Triterepene saponins have oestrogenic activity.
Anamirta cocculus
(Linn.) Wight and Am.
Synonym A. paniculata Colebr. Family Menispermaceae. Habitat The Khasi Hills, Orissa and
peninsular India.
English Fish Berry, Levant Berry, Poison Berry, Crow Killer.
Ayurvedic Kaakaadani, Kaakamaari. Siddha/Tamil Kaakkaikkollividai. Action Insecticide, antifungal;
highly valued in skin diseases; used
48 Ananas comosus (Linn.) Merrill
externally to kill lice and other
parasites.
The leaves and fruit contain picrotoxin (up to 5%) and alkaloids. Picrotoxin (sesquiterpene glycoside) is a powerful poison and nerve stimulant. It is rarely taken internally. Cocculus (a tincture prepared from
