MURRAYA EXOTICA

Common name: Orange Jasmine, Chinese box • Hindi: Kamini कामिनी • Manipuri: কামিনী কুসুম Kamini kusum • Tamil: வெங்காரை Vengarai • Telugu: Nagagolungu • Marathi: कुन्ती Kunti • Kannada: Kadu karibevu • Malayalam: Maramulla

Botanical name: Murraya paniculata   

Family: Rutaceae (citrus family)

Synonyms: Murraya exotica

Introduction:

Kamini flowers have an aromatic orange-like fragrance. Native to India, Kamini is a large, multi-trunked shrub, but can grow to become a small tree. It can be pruned and also grown as garden hedge! The evergreen leaflets are dark green and pinnately compound with three to nine leaflets arranged alternately along the spine. The dark green leaves make a dramatic backdrop for the highly fragrant cream colored flowers. The shrub blooms most of the year. The flowers are followed by small oval red fruits with one or two seeds. The shrub is usually propagated from seed.

Chemical constituents

Mahanimbine, girinimbine, murrayanine, murrayafoline- A, Bismurrayafoline- A and chrestifoline- A. Murranimbine, Murrayamine- O and murrayamine- P, 3-formyl-2, 7- dimethoxycarbazole, 7-methoxy murrayacine, 3-formyl-2- methoxycarbazole or methylmukonal, 9-carbethoxy-3-methylcarbazole and 9-formyl-3-methylcarbazole.

 Medicinal uses

The carbazole alkaloids- antiimplantation, hypoglycaemic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, mosquitocidal, anti-diabetic, antilipdemic; wheras the coumarins show anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antimicrobial potential.

The coumarins :-  used as antidote against snake venom.

The leaves of Murraya koengii can be utilized in Alzheimer’s disease and in dementia.

The different parts of the plants of this genus help in scavenging free radicals and to control the oxidative stress.

MURRAYA KOENIGII

Common name: Curry Leaf • Hindi: Kari patta करी पत्ता • Marathi: Kudianim • Tamil: கரிவேப்பிலை Karivepillai • Malayalam: Kareapela • Telugu: karepaku, karepeku, kari-vepa-chettu • Kannada: gandhabevu, kari-bevinagida • Bengali: Barsunga • Oriya: lesunadando • Assamese: Bishahari, Narasingha • Mizo: Arpatil • Sanskrit: Alakavhaya, Chhardighna, गिरिनिम्ब Girinimba, Kadarya

Botanical name: Bergera koenigii    

Family: Rutaceae (Citrus family)

Synonyms: Murraya koenigii, Chalcas koenigii

Geographical distribution

The plant occurs throughout India, in damp and hot parts and also cultivated in houses and gardens.

Introduction: Curry Leaf tree is a small or medium sized tree, most famous for its aromatic leaves that provide curry spice. Curry leaves are extensively used in Southern India and Sri Lanka (and are absolutely necessary for the authentic flavour), but are also of some importance in Northern India. It is a small tree, growing 4-6 m tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter. The leaves are pinnate, with 11-21 leaflets, each leaflet 2-4 cm long and 1-2 cm broad. They are highly aromatic. The flowers are small white, and fragrant. The small black, shiny berries are edible, but their seeds are poisonous. Together with South Indian immigrants, curry leaves reached Malaysia, South Africa and Réunion island. When cooking, the leaves are generally used fresh off of the tree. Outside the Indian sphere of influence, they are rarely found. The yellow "curry powder" that is common in Western countries is actually not curry at all, but a mix of spices intended to mimic the true curry flavor. The yellow color comes from turmeric root.

Medicinal uses: information Leaves are digestive, tonic, stimulant, rich in vitamin A and calcium. Leaves are also used for diarrhoea, dysentry and checking vomitting. Bark-paste is antisceptic, applied to skin eruptions. Root extract is taken for relief from renal pain.

Chemical composition

The leaves contain an essential oil and glucoside-koeinigin.

Therapeutic uses

The leaves are useful in dysentery, diarrhoea, diabetes and to check vomiting. The bark and roots are stimulants.

Folk medicinal uses

The leaves are eaten to check sugar in blood (to cure diabetes). In case of fever a decoction of the leaves is given with bitters. A poultice of the leaves is applied over eruptions and bruises.

Flowers and Fruits : Summer season 

MUCUNA PRURIENS

Common name: Velvet bean, Cowitch, Cowhage, Kapikachu, Nescafe, Sea bean • Hindi: Kiwach •Marathi: खाज कुइरी Khaj-kuiri • Malayalam: Naicorna • Nepali: काउसो Kauso • Telugu: Pilliadugu •Kannada: Nayisonanguballi • Bengali: Akolchi • Tamil: Punaippidukkan

Botanical name:   Mucuna pruriens    

Family: Fabaceae (bean family)

Introduction: Velvet bean is an annual, climbing shrub with long vines that can reach over 15 m. Leaves are trifoliate, gray-silky beneath; petioles are long and silky, 6-11 cm. Leaflets are membranous, terminal leaflets are smaller, lateral very unequal sided. Dark purple flowers (6 to 30) occur in drooping racemes. Fruits are curved, 4-6 seeded. The longitudinally ribbed pod, is densely covered with loose orange hairs which cause a severe itch if they come in contact with skin. The beans are shiny black or brown. It is found in tropical Africa, India and the Caribbean.

Medicinal uses:   Velvet bean can be beneficial, since it is high in levodopa which helps maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The seed powder of Mucuna pruriens has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine for diseases including parkinsonism, and has proven in medical tests to have equal or superior effectiveness in the treatment of parkinsons disease over conventional, synthetic levodopa medications. Another benefit of Mucuna is that it can increase the production of human growth hormone, and extracts are commonly sold as body-building supplements.

Chemical Constituents: M. pruriens seeds contain high concentrations of LDOPA, an unusual non protein amino acid and a direct precursor to the neuro transmitter dopamine, an important brain chemical involved in mood, sexuality and movement. Besides, it also contains some other amino acids, glutathione, lecithin, gallic acid and beta sitosterol. The mature seeds of the plant contain about 3.1 to 6.1% L-DOPA, with trace amounts of 5-hydroxy tryptamine (serotonin), nicotine, dimethyl tryptamine (DMT), bufotenine, 5-MeO-DMT and beta-carboline. The leaves contain about 0.5% L-DOPA, 0.006% dimethyl tryptamine and 0.0025% 5-MeO-DMT.

Medicinal Uses: All parts of Mucuna possess valuable medicinal properties. It is used against a wide range of disorders, such as urinary tract, neurological and menstruation disorders, constipation, edema, fever, tuberculosis, ulcers, PD and helminthiases like elephantiasis (Oudhia, 2002).

Traditionally, the powdered seeds of M. pruriens was found to increase the general mating behavior and thereby sexual activity in rats. Roots, according to the Ayurveda, are bitter, thermogenic, anthelmintic, diuretic, emollient, stimulant, aphrodisiac, purgative, febrifuge, and tonic. It is considered useful to relieve constipation, nephropathy, dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea, elephantiasis, dropsy, neuropathy, ulcers, helminthiasis, fever and delirum.

MORUS ALBA

Common name: White Mulberry, Russian Mulberry, Silkworm Mulberry • Hindi: शहतूत Shahtoot • Tamil: கம்பிளிச Kambli chedi • Manipuri: কব্রঙচাক অঙৌবা Kabrangchak angouba

Botanical name: Morus alba   

Family: Moraceae (Mulberry family)

Geographical distribution: The plant occurs throughout India in tropical and subtropical regions and also cultivated in most areas.

Introduction: A beatiful, large leaved, naturally well shaped tree that offers dense shade. Grows at about 1 ft/yr to 30 ft. Berries are mildly sweet, reminiscent of watermelon. This is the mulberry used to feed silkworms. Birds love the berries. The white mulberry is so-named for the color of its buds, rather than the color of its fruit. The thin, glossy, light green leaves are variously lobed even on the same plant. Some are unlobed while others are glove-shaped. Leaves of the red mulberry are larger and thicker, blunt toothed and often lobed. Mulberry trees are either dioecious or monoecious, and sometimes will change from one sex to another. The flowers are held on short, green, pendulous, nondescript catkins that appear in the axils of the current season's growth and on spurs on older wood. They are wind pollinated and some cultivars will set fruit without any pollination. Cross-pollination is not necessary. Botanically the fruit is not a berry but a collective fruit. The color of the fruit does not identify the mulberry species. White mulberries, for example, can produce white, lavender or black fruit. The white mulberry is native to eastern and central China.

Chemical Constituents: The plant is a very good source of ascorbic acid, of which over 90% is present in a reduced form, and also contains carotene, Vitamin B1, folic acid, folinic acid, isoquercetin, quercetin, tannins, flavonoids and saponins, which act as a good source of natural antioxidants. White mulberry leaf contains triterpenes (lupeol) Sterols (β- Sitosterol), bioflavonoids (rutin, moracetin, quercetin-3-triglucoside and isoquercitrin), coumarins, volatile oil, alkaloids, amino acids and organic acids. Morus alba leaves contain rutin, quercetin and apigenin as bioactive constituents. The one of major constituent of Morus alba is 1-deoxynojirimycin. Morus alba leaf extract has been found to produce nitric acid, prostaglandin E2 and cytokines in macrophages. Further, a polysaccharide isolated from Morus alba root bark. Many flavones were isolated from the root bark as active principles. Many biochemical compounds such as Moranoline, Albafuran, Albanol, Morusin, Kuwanol, Calystegin and Hydroxymoricin are isolated from mulberry plants which play an important role in pharmaceutical industry. Review shows the presence of thiamine, protein, carbohydrates. The plant is reported to contain the phytoconstituents tannins, phytosterols, sitosterols, saponins, triterpenes, flavonoids, benzofuran derivatives, morusimic acid, anthocyanins, anthroquinones, glycosides and oleanolic acid as the main active principles.

The plant is a very good source of ascorbic acid, of which over 90% is present in a reduced form, and also contains carotene, vitamin b1, folic acid, folinic acid, isoquercetin, quercetin, tannins, flavonoids and saponins. These reports are very encouraging and indicate that herb should be studied more extensively for its therapeutic benefits.

Medicinal Use: The review reveals the wide range of important Pharmacological activities including antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antioxidant, anticancer, anxiolytic, anthelmintic, antistress, immunomodulatory, hypocholesterolemic, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective. Various other effects like adaptogenic effect, effect on hyperlipidemia, inhibition of melanin biosynthesis used in psychiatric disorder, also in gut and airways disorders.

Folk medicinal uses: A tea made from root is used to treat diarrhoea. Fruit preparation is given for high fever.

Flowers: February-March

Fruits : May-June

MORINGA OLEIFERA

Common name: Drumstick tree, Horseradish tree, Senjana सेंजन (Hindi), Muringai (Malayalam), முறுங்கை Murungai (Tamil), Shevga शेवगा (Marathi), Mashinga मशींग (Konkani)

Botanical name: Moringa oleifera    

Family: Moringaceae (drumstick family)

Geographical distribution

It occurs throughout India in tropical and sub-tropical regions and also cultivated.

Introduction: Drumstick tree is a small, deciduous tree, of the family Moringaceae, native to tropical Asia but also naturalized in Africa and tropical America. Drumstick trees can reach a height of about 9 m (30 feet); they have corky gray bark, branching and fernlike leaves. Highly scented white flowers and long bean like seed pods. Seed pods are used as a vegetable, especially in south Indian cuisine, e.g. drumstick sambar. An excellent oil is derived from the seeds, which is used for cooking and lubrication of delicate mechanisms. The leaves are extensively used as a vegetable in many parts of the world, and the root can be made into a condiment similar to horseradish

Chemical composition

Root and its bark contain spirochic, pterygospermin (an antibiotic), moringine and moringinene.

Therapeutic uses

The plant is used as a tonic, abortifacient, anthelmintic, antilithic, carminative, digestive, emmenagogue, rubifacient, stomachic, stimulant and vesicant. Oil obtained from the seeds is a useful remedy for gout and acute rheumatism.

Folk medicinal uses

The tender leaves are given in scurvy and catarrhal diseases; in doses of one and a half gm. A poultice of the fresh leaves is applied to wounds, boils and swellings. It is believed that by keeping roots of this tree in homes, snakes do not enter and keep away. Forest-ethnics often store the roots in their houses for this purpose as observed by their elders.

Preparations

Sobhanjanadi-lep, syamadi-churna, sudarsan-churna, sarva-jwar-hara-lauha (seeds) and sobhanjanadi-kwath.

Flowers : February-April Fruits : April-June

MORINDA CITRIFOLIA

Common name: Indian Mulberry, Great morinda • Hindi: Bartundi बारतुन्डी • Telugu: Mogali • Marathi: Nagakunda • Tamil: Nuna • Malayalam: Mannapavatta • Kannada: Tagase maddi • Gujarati: Surangi सुरंगी • Oriya: Pindre • Bengali: Hurdi • Konkani: Bartondi

Botanical name:   Morinda citrifolia  

Family: Rubiaceae (coffee family)

Introduction: Great morinda is a shrub or small tree native to Southeast Asia but has been extensively spread by man throughout India and into the Pacific islands as far as the islands of French Polynesian, of which Tahiti is the most prominent. It can also be found in parts of the West Indies. The plant grows well on sandy or rocky shores. Apart from saline conditions, the plant also can withstand drought and grows in secondary soils. It can grow up to 9 m tall, and has large, simple, dark green, shiny and deeply veined leaves. The  plant flowers and fruits all year round. The flowers are small and white. The fruit is a multiple fruit that has a pungent odor when ripening, and is hence also known as cheese fruit or even vomit fruit. It is oval and reaches 4-7 cm in size. At first green, the fruit turns yellow then almost white as it ripens. It contains many seeds. It is sometimes called starvation fruit. Despite its strong smell and bitter taste, the fruit is nevertheless eaten as a famine food. 

 Chemical Constituents:

Major components A number of major components have been identified in the Noni plant such as scopoletin, octoanoic acid, potassium, vitamin C, terpenoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones (such as nordamnacanthal, morindone, rubiadin, and rubiadin- 1-methyl ether, anthraquinone glycoside), b-sitosterol, carotene, vitamin A, flavone glycosides, linoleic acid, Alizarin, amino acids, acubin, L-asperuloside, caproic acid, caprylic acid, ursolic acid, rutin, and a putative proxeronine
Medicinal uses: Scientific studies have investigated noni's effect on the growth of cancerous tissue. One such study found that noni inhibited and reduced growth of the capillary vessels sprouting from human breast tumor explants and, at increased concentrations, the noni caused existing vessels in tumors to rapidly degenerate. The fruit juice isin high demand in alternative medicine for different kinds of illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, muscle aches and pains, menstrual difficulties, headaches, heart disease, AIDS, cancers, gastric ulcers, sprains, mental depression, senility, poor digestion, atherosclerosis, blood vessel problems, and drug addiction. Scientific evidence of the benefits of the Noni fruit Juice is limited but there is some anecdotal evidence for successful treatment of colds and influenza. Allen reported some information on the ethnobotanical properties of Noni. He said that the fruit is used as deobstruent and emmenagogue. This is one of the earliest articles on the medicinal benefits of Noni.

MIRABILIS JALAPA LINN

Common name: Four O'clock, Beauty-of-the-night, Marvel of Peru • Hindi: गुल अब्बास Gul abbas, Gulbakshi • Manipuri: মুকাক লৈ Mukak lei • Marathi: गुलबस Gulabas or गुलबास Gulabaas, सायंकाळें saayankaale • Tamil: Pattarashu, அந்தி மந்தாரை Andhi Mandarai • Malayalam: Anthimalari, Anti-mantaram, naalu mani poovu • Telugu: Chandramalli • Kannada: Gulamaji, Naalku ghante hoo • Bengali: সংধ্যা মালতী Sandhya malati • Oriya: Rangini • Konkani: आकाशमुरी Akashmuri, Meremdi • Sanskrit: Krishnakeli

Botanical name: Mirabilis jalapa   

Family: Nyctaginaceae (Bougainvillea family)

Geographical distribution

The plant is mostly cultivated as an ornamental.

Introduction: Four o'clock flowers are trumpet shaped, about an inch across at the end and about two inches long. They open in the evening and wilt the next morning. Four o'clocks are leafy, shrublike, multi-branched perennials which bloom throughout summer. The plants are erect and spreading, 2-3 ft tall and just as wide. They have numerous branches and opposite, pointed leaves 2-4 in long. The fragrant flowers are borne singly or in clusters, and can be red, magenta, pink, yellow or white, sometimes with more than one color on the same plant. Like Petunia, bicolored flowers can also be grown. The plants continue to produce new flowers from late spring untill fall. Four o'clocks have large, black carrot shaped tubers that can be a foot or more long. In warm regions, the roots can weigh up to 18 kg or more.

Chemical composition

The plant contains trigonelline.

Therapeutic uses

The leaves are used as maturant, anti-inflammatory and roots are aphrodisiac, purgative and useful in syphilitic sores.

Folk medicinal uses

The leaf juice is used for cleaning and healing of wounds and bruises. The root fried in butter is used as a tonic. A poultice of the roots is applied over carbuncles, contusions and wounds.

Flowers and Fruits: August-December

MIMUSOPS ELENGI.

Common name: Spanish cherry • Hindi: Maulsari मौलसरी • Urdu: Kirakuli किराकुली • Manipuri: বোকুল লৈ Bokul lei • Tamil: மகிழம்பூ Magizhamboo • Malayalam: Ilanni • Bengali: Bakul • Marathi: Bakuli •Konkani: Omval • Kannada: Ranjal • Gujarati: Barsoli

Botanical name: Mimusops elengi  

Family: Sapotaceae (Mahua family)

Geographical distribution

The plant occurs throughout greater parts of India and also cultivated.

Introduction: Spanish cherry is a lovely green small tree of the Indian subcontinent. With its small shiny, thick, narrow, pointed leaves, straight trunk and spreading branches, it is a prized oranamental specimen because it provides a dense shade and during the months from March to July fills the night air with the delicious heady aroma of its tiny cream colored flowers. Flowers are small, star-shaped, yellowish white in color, with a crown rising from the center. Oval leaves, wavy at margin, about 5-16 cm and 3-7 cm wide. In the morning the fragrant flowers which so graciously scented their surroundings with their deep, rich, fragrance during the evening hours, fall to the ground. People love to collect them as they retain their odor for many days after they fall. They are offered in temples and shrines throughout the country. Appears in Indian mythology as Vakula - said to put forth blossoms when sprinkled with nectar from the mouth of lovely women. Fruits are eaten fresh.

Medicinal uses:   Various parts of the tree have medicinal properties. It is used in the treatment and maintenance of oral hygiene. Rinsing mouth with water solution made with bakul helps in strengthening the teeth. It also prevents bad breath and helps keep the gums health

Chemical composition

Its bark contains tannin, gum and saponin and seeds contain oil.

Therapeutic uses

The bark is astringent and tonic; its decoction is given in catarrh of the bladder and urethra as an astringent; in fevers it is given as a febrifuge and tonic. The decoction is a useful mouthwash in diseases of the gums and teeth and excessive salivation. The unripe fruit is masticated as an astringent.

Folk medicinal uses

Powdered seeds are pasted with oil and used as suppositories in case of obstinate constipation especially in children. A paste of the roots made with vinegar is applied to swellings on the face.

Flowers : March-July Fruits : January-February

MIMOSA PUDICA

Common name: Sensitive Plant, Touch-me-not • Hindi: Chui-mui छुई-मुई, Lajwanti लाजवंती • Manipuri: Kangphal, Kangphal ikaithabi • Tamil: தொட்டாச்சுருங்கி thottaccurungi • Malayalam: Tintarmani • Assamese: Nilajban • Bengali লজ্জাবতী Lajjabati

Botanical name: Mimosa pudica   

Family: Mimosaceae (Touch-me-not family)

Geographical composition

The plant is native to America but naturalized throughout India.

Introduction: Touch Me Not is a wonderful and curious plant which is found growing wild throughout the tropical world. It native origin is unclear. Its fern-like leaves close up and droop when touched, usually re-opening within minutes. It has prickly stems and small, fluffy, ball shaped pink flowers in summer. It grows to a height of 50 cm with a spread of 30 cm. In some areas this plant is becoming a noxious weed. The stem is erect, slender and branching. The leaves are bipinnate, fern like and pale green- closing when disturbed. Stalked pale pink or purple flower-heads arise from the leaf axils. The round to ovoid heads are 8-10 mm in diameter (excluding the stamens). On close examination, it is seen that the floret petals are red in their upper part and the filaments are pink to lavender. The fruit consists of clusters of 2-8 pods from 1-2 cm long each, these prickly on the margins. The pods break into 2-5 segments and contain pale brown seeds some 2.5 mm long. The flowers are pollinated by the wind and insects. The seeds have hard seed coats which restricts germination.

Chemical composition

The plant contains beta-amyrin, beta-sitosterol and friedelin. Mucilage of seeds contain galactose and mannose. An adrenaline-like substance identified in extracts of leaves. The root contain tannin and mimosine.

Therapeutic uses

The leaves are astringent, cooling, antiseptic, alternative and blood purifier. It is resolvent and carminative. It is used in burning sensation of body, diarrhoea, dysentery, haemophilic condition, leucorrhoea and morbid condition of vagina. Root is aphrodisiac, cooling, vulnerary; cures kapha, asthma, biliousness, vaginal and uterine complaints. Juice is antiseptic alternative and blood purifier.

Folk medicinal uses

An infusion of the leaves is given in 10-20 ml. doses in gravel and allied urinary diseases. A decoction of the roots is given in small doses of 2-6 gm. for these diseases. For piles and fistula 2 gm. of the pulverized leaves and roots are given with milk. A paste of the leaves is applied to testicular and glandular swellings. A hot infusion or decoction of the leaves is given as hipbath for relieving pains of the hips and kidneys. Root powder is given in the dose of 6-12 gm. after menstruation with crystalline sugar for three consecutive days; this stops conception. Root is worn by the patient in the neck. The medicine is stated to have talismanic effect as claimed in the area.

Flowers and Fruits: August-November

MAGNOLIA CHAMPACA

Common name: Champa, Golden Champa • Assamese: Tita-sopa • Bengali: চম্পা Champa • Gujarati: Sachochampo • Hindi: चम्पा Champa, सोन चम्पा Son champa • Kannada: Sampige • Konkani: Pudchampo • Manipuri: লৈহাও Leihao • Marathi: पिवळु चम्पा Pivalu Champa • Nepali: अैाले चाँप Aule chaanp • Oriya: Chompa • Sanskrit: चम्पकः Champaka • Tamil: Sambagan • Telugu: Champangi • Urdu: Champa

Botanical name:   Magnolia champaca   

Family: Magnoliaceae (Magnolia family)

Synonyms: Michelia champaca, Michelia rheedei, Champaca michelia

Geographical Distribution: M. champaca is native to temperate Himalayan region and is distributed throughout the subtropical and tropical countries such as India, South China, Indonesia, Philippines and some Pacific Islands. Including Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Sumatra and in India, it is highly distributed in Eastern Himalayan tract and lower hills up to 3000 ft., Assam, Myanmar, Western Ghats, South India and Bangladesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar

Introduction: Champa is very well known flower native to the Himalayas, and popular for its fragrant flowers. It is a tree up to 50 m or taller, up to 1.9 m d.b.h. Flowers are fragrant, tepals 15-20, yellow, inverted-lanceshaped, 2-4 x 0.4-0.5 cm. Staminal connective is protruding and forming a long tip. Buds, young twigs, young petioles, and young leaf blades are pale yellow velvet-hairy. Twigs are ascending and forming a narrow umbelliform crown. Stipular scar 0.3-1 x as long as petiole. Leaf-stalks are 2-4 cm, leaves elliptic or ovate, 10-20 x 4.5-10 cm, slightly puberulous below, base broadly wedge-shaped or rounded, tip long-pointed tp falling off. Fruit is 7-15 cm; mature carpels obovoid-ellipsoid, 1-1.5 cm, tuberculate. Seeds 2-4 per carpel, rugose. Champa is found in the Himalayas, up to NE India and SE Asia, at altitudes of 600-1300 m. 

Chemical Constituents: Numerous active principles and secondary metabolites (Fig. 2) have been isolated from various parts of M. champaca. Phytochemical studies on stem bark shows the presence of triterpenoids, steroids, fatty acid 4 and other studies revealed the presence of sesqiterpene lactones, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and saponins in leaves, stems and roots of M. champaca. Michelia chmpaca reported to contain liriodenine, parthenolide and guainanolides. Volatile oil have been isolated from the leaves of M. champaca containing compounds like benzyl acetate, linalool, isoeugeno. Stem bark contains michampanolide, 8 - acetoxyparthenolide, magnograndiolide, costunolide, dihydroparthenolide, β-sitosterol, ushinsunine, magnoflorine and micheliolide from root bark.

Medicinal Uses

Bark is used in the treatment of eye disorders, inflammation, antidote for scorpion and snake venoms, cough, gonorrhea . It is commonly used in traditional medicine for the treatment of stomach ulcer and as diuretic. It is also useful in cephalagia, opthalmia, gout and rheumatism.

Traditionally it is used as disinfectant, astringent, diuretic, cooling property, parasitic infection and disease due to vitiated blood. It is used also used for fever, colic, leprosy, post partum protection, in child birth and as febrifuge.

Flowering: June-July.

MENTHA PIPERITA

Common name: Peppermint • Hindi: विलायती पुदीना Vilayati pudina, पेपरमिंट Peppermint • Marathi: पेपरमिंट Peppermint • Tamil: புதீனா Pudina • Malayalam: കര്‍പ്പൂരത്തുളസി Karppoora-Tulasi • Telugu: మిరియాల ద్రావకము Miriyala dravakamu • Kannada: ಮೆರುಗು Merugu • Bengali: পুদিনা Pudina • Oriya: ପୋଦିନା Podina • Urdu: Pudina پودینہ, Lana لعناع • Assamese: পদুনা Poduna • Gujarati: ફૂદીનો Phudino • Nepali: पुदिना Pudina

Botanical name: Mentha x piperita    Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)

Synonyms: Mentha piperata, Mentha piperita

Introduction: Peppermint is a herbaceous perennial plant, growing to 30–90 cm tall from rhizomes. The rhizomes are wide-spreading and fleshy. Leaves are 4–9 cm long, 1.5–4 cm broad, dark green with reddish veins, and with a pointed tip and coarsely toothed margins. Leaves are very much like the mint leaves. The leaves and stems are usually slightly hairy. The flowers are purple, tiny, 6–8 mm long, 4-petalled, about 5 mm across. They are borne in whorls around the stem, forming thick, blunt spikes. Flowering is from mid to late summer. It was first described by Linnaeus from specimens collected in England - he treated it as a species, but it is now universally agreed to be a hybrid. is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint (Mentha aquatica) and Spearmint (Mentha spicata). Peppermint is sometimes regarded as 'the world's oldest medicine', with archaeological evidence placing its use at least as far back as ten thousand years ago. Peppermint has a high menthol content, and is often used as a flavouring in tea, ice cream, confectionery, chewing gum, and toothpaste. The oil also contains menthone and menthyl esters. It is the oldest and most popular flavour of mint-flavoured confectionery. Peppermint can also be found in some shampoos and soaps, which give the hair a minty scent and produce a cooling sensation on the skin.

Chemical Constituents:

The main elements identified in the volatile essential oil of Mentha spp. are menthol (33-60%), menthone (15-32%), isomenthone (2-8%), 1.8 cineol (eucalyptol) (5-13%), menthyl acetate (2-11%) menthofuran (1-10%), limonene (1-7%), β-myrcene (0.1-1.7%), β-caryophyllene (2-4%), pulegone (0.5-1.6%) and carvone (1%) (Pitter & Ernest, 1998). The main active component of peppermint oil is menthol, which is responsible for its medicinal properties, whilst esters, such as menthyl acetate, provide the familiar minty taste and associated aroma (Spirling & Daniels, 2001).

Medicinal use

The essential oil from Mentha spp. is used to treat discomfort of the gastrointestinal tract, irritable bowel syndrome, myalgia and neuralgia, as well as oral mucosal inflammation, and also as an expectorant, an antimicrobial and an ingredient in many analgesic creams.