vasoconstrictor.
The herb contains 10—20% minerals, of which over 66% are silicic acids and silicates; alkaloids, including nicotine, palustrine and palustrinine; flavonoids, such as iso-quercitrin and equicertin; sterols, including cholesterol, isofucosterol, campesterol; a saponin equisitonin, dimethyl-sulphone, thiaminase and aconitic acid. Diuretic action of the herb is attributed to its flavonoid and saponin constituents, Silicic acid strengthens connective tissue and helps in healing bones.
Erigeron canadensis Linn.
Family b Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat Punjab, Upper Gangetic Plain, Assam, Western Ghats and Western Himalayas.
English Canadian Fleabane.
Ayurvedic Jaraayupriya,
Makshikaa-visha, Palit (non classical). Action Astringent, haemostatic, antirheumatic, diuretic. Used
for diarrhoea, kidney disorders, bronchitis and for bleeding piles, wounds, bruises. Essential oil— used in bronchial catarrh and
cystitis.
The extracts of the plant gave sesquiterpenes, beta-santalen, beta-himachalene, cuparene, alpha-curcumene, gamma-cadinene.
The petroleum ether and ethanolic extracts of aerial parts exhibit significant anti-inflammatory activity.
Aqueous extract of powdered plant produces fall in blood pressure, depresses the heart and increases respiration in animals.
The essential oil, obtained from aerial parts in Japan, is found to contain 47 volatile compounds of which 91.0% are terpenoids. The leaves contain cumulene derivatives.
For preparing plant extract as a drug, the volatile oil is removed from a hot aqueous extract and the residue is filtered and concentrated to 24% or 60% of dry matter content. The 6% dry matter extract contains flavones 0.83, tannins 0.52, reducing sugars 6.37 and total sugars 12.6%. The extract is anti- inflammatory, analgesic, bactericidal and fungicidal.
Eriobotrya japonica Lindi.
Family Rosaceae.
Eruca sativa Miii. 243
Habitat Native to China; now
cultivated mainly in Saharanpur,
Dehradun, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut,
