Calotropis gigantean (L.)

Calotropis gigantean belongs to Asclepiadaceae family. Its Bengali name is Akanda. A tall shrub with white latex, up to 3 m high. Leaves are 10-20 cm long, elliptic-oblong or ovate-oblong, thick.

Distributed throughout the country in road side and fallow lands. The root, root-bark, leaves and flowers are used in traditional medicine.

Calotropis gigantea is a perennial herb with a long history of use in traditional medicines. A wide range of chemical compounds including cardiac glycosidis, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, tennins, & resins have been isolated from this plant. Root-bark reported to promote secretions and used for skin diseases, enlargement of the abdominal viscera, intestinal worms, coughs, ascites, anasarca, leprosy, syphilis, cachexia, idiopathic ulcerations, dysentery, diarrhea, and chronic rheumatism. In India, pulverized root made into ointment, used in the treatment of old ulcers and the acrid milky juice from bruised leaves and stems used for skin affections and as depilatory. For toothaches, milky juice mixed with salt used for toothache; or juiced cotton inserted in the decayed tooth. Flowers used for coughs, asthma, catarrh, and loss of appetite.

In Bangladesh, leaves used for treatment of diabetes and pain.

The principal constituent of the leaves and stems is milky latex, which contains protease enzymes, calotropain FI, calotropain FII, calotropisn DI and DII and uscharine, glutathione, ascorbic acid, calotoxin, calactin and caoutchouc and also a nitrogen and sulphur containing cardiac and fish poison, gigantin. Various cardiac glycosides, including calotropin, uscharin, uscharidin and calotoxin and four ursane-type triterpenoids have also been identified in the roots. α-amyrin, ß-amyrin, taraxasterol, ψ- taraxasterol and ß-sitosterol have also been isolated from the plant (http://www.mpbd.info).

&RULDQGUXPVDWLYXP/

&RULDQGUXP VDWLYXPEHORQJV WR 8PEHOOLIHUDH IDPLO\ ,WV %HQJDOL QDPH LV 'KDQLD $Q DQQXDO DURPDWLF KHUE RI FP KLJK )ORZHUV DUH VPDOO DQG IUXLWV DUH VXEJORERVH ,Q %DQJODGHVK FXOWLYDWHGWKURXJKRXWWKHFRXQWU\

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

)LJXUH$&DORWURSLVJLJDQWHDQ/%URRW&VWHP

26

Essential oil is the chief constituent of the fruits, which is composed of about 70% of coriandrol (linalool), cymene, pinene, limonene, phellandrene, geraniol and borneol, malic, oxalic and tannic acids. It also contains 1,8-cineole, ß-caryophyllene, citronellol, thymol, linalyl acetate, geranyl acetate, caryophyllene oxide, elemol, methylheptenone, flavonoids, coumarins, phthalides and phenolic acids. Presence of chlorogenic, caffeic acids, coumarins, quercetin, rutin, umbelliferone, scopoletin, triacontane, triacontanol, ß-sitosterol, tricosanol, psoralen, angelicin and coriandrinol have also been reported from the plant (Ghani, 2003; Rastogi & Mehrotra, 1993).

2.3.1.4 Trigonella foenum-graecum (L.)

Trigonella foenum-graecum belongs to Fabaceae family. It’s known as Methi in Bengali and Fenugreek in english. An annual aromatic herb with 30-45 cm high. In Bangladesh, cultivated in the western districts.

Fenugreek is one of the most promising medicinal herbs, known from ancient times, having nutritional value too. Its green leaves and seeds are used for multipurpose. In ancient Egypt, fenugreek was used to ease childbirth and to increase milk flow. It is well known for its gum, fibre, alkaloid, flavonoids, saponin and volatile contents. In various medicinal applications, it works as

Figure 2.3 Coriandrum sativum L.

DQWLGLDEHWLF DQWLFDUFLQRJHQLF UHPHG\ IRU K\SRFKROHVWHUROHPLD DQG K\SRJO\FHPLD DQWLR[LGDQW DQWLEDFWHULDO DJHQW JDVWULFVWLPXODQWDQGDQWLDQRUH[LDDJHQW ,QPRGHUQ IRRGWHFKQRORJ\LWLV XVHGDVIRRGVWDELOL]HUDGKHVLYHDQGHPXOVLI\LQJDJHQWGXHLWVILEUHSURWHLQDQGJXPFRQWHQW7KH SODQWVDQGVHHGVDUHVXSSXUDWLYHDSHULHQWGLXUHWLFDQGHPPHQDJRJXHXVHIXOLQGURSV\FKURQLF FRXJKDQGHQODUJHPHQWRIWKHVSOHHQDQGOLYHU,WLVDOVRXVHIXOLQK\SHUWHQVLRQGLDEHWHVVH[XDO SUREOHPVDQGUKHXPDWLVP

7ULJRJHQLQ QHRWULJRJHQLQ GLRVJHQLQ \DPRJHQLQ JLWRJHQLQ K\GUR[\LVROHXFLQH YLWH[LQ LVRYLWH[LQVDSRQDUHWLQKRPRRULHQWLQYLFHQLQYLFHQLQDQGWZRIODYRQRLGJO\FRVLGHVTXHUFHWLQ DQG OXWHROLQ DQG VWHURLGDO VDSRQLQV KDYH EHHQ LVRODWHG IURP VHHGV 3UHVHQFH RI ȕVLWRVWHURO NDHPSIHUROTXHUFHWLQVDSRQLQVJUDHFXQLQ$JUDHFXQLQ%DQGJUDHFXQLQ&KDYHEHHQUHSRUWHG LQOHDYHV*KDQL5DVWRJL 0HKURWUD

7HFWRQDJUDQGLV/

7HFWRQD JUDQGLV EHORQJV WR 9HUEHQDFHDH IDPLO\ ,W¶V NQRZQ DV 6HJXQ LQ %HQJDOL$ ODUJH GHFLGXRXVWUHHZLWKIOXWHGWUXQN,Q%DQJODGHVKSODQWHGWKURXJKRXWWKHFRXQWU\

7KHZRRGLVOD[DWLYHDQWKHOPLQWLFDQGH[SHFWRUDQWXVHIXOLQSLOHVOHXFRGHUPDDQGG\VHQWHU\

3DVWHRIWKHZRRGLVDORFDOUHIULJHUDQWDQGVHGDWLYHDVWULQJHQWKHSDWLFVWLPXODQWDQGGLXUHWLF 3RZGHURIZRRGLVVDLGWREHDOOD\LQJVNLQLQIODPPDWLRQV2LO\SURGXFWIURPZRRGFKLSVLVXVHG

)LJXUH$7ULJRQHOODIRHQXPJUDHFXP %OHDYHV

28

in eczema and ringworm. The wood ash is applied on swollen eyelids. The bark and flowers are useful in bronchitis. Oil of nuts used to promote hair growth and also to cure itching of the skin.

Flowers and seeds possess diuretic properties. The roots are given in anuria and retention of urine (http://www.mpbd.info).

Wood contains a resin, a little essential oil, fatty oil, fatty acids (stearic, palmatic, oleic and linoleic acids) and a quinine-like substance, tectoquinine (2-methylanthra-quinone). It also contains anthraquinones, naphthaquinones, quinones, different fatty acids, squalene, betulic acid, a triterpene (C30H48O5) and other terpenoids. Bark contains tannins. The skin-irritant lapachomone and the antioxidant tectol are present in the heartwood. Leaves contain a number of quinones (Ghani, 2003). Root contain lapachol, tectol, dehydrotectol, tectoquinone, β-lapachone, dehydro-α-lapachone and β-sitosterol (Rastogi & Mehrotra, 1993).

2.3.1.6 Allamanda cathartica (L.)

Allamanda cathartica belongs to Apocynaceae family. It’s known as Malatilata, Ghanta Phul, or Harkakra in Bengali. A woody much-branched stragling shrub. In Bangladesh, cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens throughout the country.

Figure 2.5 Tectona grandis L.

The bark acts as a hydragogue in ascites. The leaves are a valuable cathartic in moderate doses.

The root is used as a remedy for snake-bites. Alcoholic and aquous extract of root is hypotensive.

Leaf extract showed antifungal and anticancer properties (Asolkar et al., 1992).

Roots contain an anti-leukaemic iridoid lactone, allamandin and two other iridoids, allamandicin and allamdin. Leaves and stems yield ursolic acid, ß-amyrin and ß-sitosterol. Leaves also contain sesquiterpenes. Flowers contain kaempferol, quercetin and hesperitin. Stems and root bark contain triterpenoids lactones, alkaloid and glucoside (Ghani, 2003; Asolkar et al., 1992).

2.3.1.7 Persicaria orientalis (L.)

Persicaria orientalis L. belongs to Polygonaceae family and originated in East Asia. Persicaria orientalis locally known as Bishkatali in Bangladesh, is an herb widely distributed throughout the country in low-lying areas.

Figure 2.6 Allamanda cathartica L.

30

Persicaria orientalis is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various diseases including bacterial infections, tumor, hypertension and cardiomyopathy. In Bangladesh, it is used in traditional medicine to treat wounds, whooping cough, menorrhagia, fever, and splenic diseases (Medicinal plants of Bangladesh, http://www.mpbd. info). Flavonoids are the major active compounds in P. orientalis. Many studies reported the chemical constituents of this plant, including taxifolin, myricitrin, luteolin, protocatechuic acid, apocynin, lappaol B, orientalin, naringenin, quercitrin, kaempferol, β-sitosterol, etc. (Li et al. 2005; Zheng et al. 1997). Extracts of P. orientalis have been found to exhibit important pharmacological effects including anti-diabetic, cardioprotective, osteoblastic, and antioxidant effects (Wei et al. 2009; Nigam et al. 2013; Shang‐

Liao et al. 2013; Xiang et al. 2011).

Figure 2.7 Persicaria orientalis L.