Action The aril of the fruit is used in prescriptions of Chinese traditional medicine for treating insomnia, neurosis, palpitation, amnesia and anaemia.
It has been found to ameliorate the impaired learning process in mice.
An aqueous extract of the fruit pulp showed stimulating effect on superoxide dimutase activity in red blood cells of mice., indicating its possible use in delaying the aging process.
The seeds contain antimutagens, amino-hydroxy-hexynoic acid, hypoglycin A (which causes hypoglycaemia) and amino-hydroxy-heptynoic acid.
Euphrasia simplex D. Don.
Synonym E. officinalis Linn. Family Scrophulariaceae.
Habitat The Temperate Himalaya from Kashmir to Sikkim, from 1,350 to 4,000 m.
English Eyebright.
Action Plant—astringent, antiallergic, bechic, anticatarrhal.
Key application Externally as lotions, eye-baths, poultices, for eye complaints associated with inflammatory conditions, and as
a preventive measure against mucus of the eyes, “glued” and inflammed eyes. (Traditional uses mentioned by German Comission E.)
Orally, Eyebright is used to treat allergies, common cold, bronchial conditions and sinusitis. Ophthalmic application is not recommended. Eye- bright has been used in a British herbal tobacco product, which was smoked for cold and chronic bronchial conditions.
Aerial parts showed presence of phenol, carboxylic acid, flavones and methyl flavone derivatives. Plant gave quercetin glucoside, diosmetin, kaempferol, caffeic and ferulic acids, stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol. Iridoid glycosides, including aucubin, are also present. Tannins include both condensed and hydrolysable gallic acid
type.
Euryale ferox Salisb.
Family Nymphaeaceae.
Habitat Kashmir, Bihar, Rajasthan, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Bengal
and Uttar Pradesh, in lakes and ponds.
English Gorgan Nut, Fox Nut.
Ayurvedic Makhaann, Paaniyaphala, Padma-bijaabha, Ankalodya.
Unani Malthaanaa.
Action Seed—deobstruent,
