leaf; Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia
accepted it as expectorant and
antispasmodic.
Whole plant contains 0.26% alkaloids (seeds 0.98% and stem 0.08%); also flavonoids, withanolides, coumarins and tannins; the major alkaloid is hyoscyamine (44—67%), hyoscine (13.2—25.3%) and atropine (0.01—0.1%). The tropane alkaloids are similar to those found in Atropa belladonna.
Hyoscine is five times as active as atropine in producing mydriasis, but its main use is as antimotion sickness drug; and in combination as a sedative.
Toxic constituents include anticholinergic alkaloids.
Dosage Leaf—60—185 mg powder; seed—60—120 mg powder (CCRAS.)
Daucus carota Linn. var.
sativa DC.
Family Umbellferae; Apiaceae.
Habitat Native to Europe and the Mediterranean region; extensively cultivated in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for its fleshy tap roots which are eaten raw or cooked. Wild Carrot: Native to Europe, Africa and Asia. Grows at 3,000—3,600 m in the Himalayas.
English Carrot, Cultivated Carrot. Wild carrot (D. carota Linn.wild
var.: the root, small and white), Queen Anne’s Lace, Bird’s Nest. Bees’ Nest Plant.
Ayurvedic Gaajara, Garjara, Granjana.
Unani Gaajar.
Action Roasted roots—prescribed in palpitation, burning micturation, cough and bronchitis. Carrot
increases the quantity of urine and helps the elimination of uric acid; also lowers blood sugar. Juice—a rich source of carotene. Seeds—diuretic, emmenagogue, spasmolytic (prescribed in anuria and sexual debility). Wild carrot— diuretic and antilithic (used for kidney stones, cystitis and in gout). Seeds—emmenagogue. Also used for hot flushes of the menopause.
In cooked (orange) carrots beta- carotene content (1890 mcg) was found much higher than in raw carrots- (1045 mcg!100 g). Heat processing of carrots affected alpha- and beta-carotene contents; their value decreased (3.7; 5.3) in water blanching, whereas increased (5.8; 8.2) in steam blanching compared to that in fresh carrots (5.2; 8.1 mg!100 g) respectively.
An interferon inducer has been isolated from carrot. It stimulates cells to produce the protein that increases human resistance to virus infections.
Aqueous extract of carrots showed hepatoprotective activity against CC14- induced hepatic damage in
