Vaccaria pyramidata (L.) Medik.
Synonym Saponaria vaccaria L.
Family Caryophyllaceae.
Habitat Throughout India, as a weed.
English Soapwort, Cow Herb. Folk Musna, Saabuni.
Action Roots—used for cough, asthma and other respiratory
disorders; for jaundice, liver and
spleen diseases (increases bile flow).
Mucilaginous sap—used in scabies.
Saponins of the root showed haemolytic activity. Lanostenol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and diosgenin have been isolated from the plant. Xanthones, vaccaxanthone and sapxanthone, and a oligosaccharide, vaccarose, have also been isolated.
Vaccinium myrtillus Linn.
Family Vacciniaceae.
Habitat UK, Europe and North America. (About 21 species of Vaccinium are found in India.)
English Bilberry, Blueberry.
Action Astringent, diuretic, refrigerant.
Key application Fruit—in nonspecific,acute diarrhoea; topically in mild inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat (German Commission E);
anthocyanine enriched extracts of the fruit, in symptomatic treatment of problems related to varicose
veins, such as heavy legs. (ESCOP) Cranberry (Vaccinium sp.) is used in urinary incontinence and for
UTI prevention. (Sharon M. Herr.)
The main constituents of the Bilberry fruit are anthocyanosides 0.5%. Other constituents include tannins, hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids, flavonol glycosides, flavan-3-ols, iridoids, terpenes, pectins and organic plant acids. (ESCOP)
In India, V symplocfolium Alston, syn. V leschenaultii Wight, known as Kilapalam in Tamil Nadu, is abundantly found in the mountains of South India up to an altitude of 2,400 m V neilgherrense Wight, known as Kalavu in Tamil Nadu and Olenangu in Karnataka, is commonly found in the hills of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu at altitudes of 600—2,000 m.
Valeriana dubia Bunge.
Synonym V officinalis auct. non
Linn.
