Asplenium adiantum-nigrum Health Dictionary

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Asplenium Adiantum-nigrum: From 1 Different Sources

Linn.

Family: Aspleniaceae.

Habitat: Kashmir at 1500-2000 m and extending to Dalhousie and Chamba in Himachal Pradesh.

English: Black Spleenwort.

Folk: Krishna fern.

Action: Fond—expectorant, pectoral, emmenagogue. Rhizome— anthelmintic. Plant—bitter, diuretic, laxative, anti-inflammatory. It is used for diseases of spleen and in jaundice; produces sterility in women.

The fonds contain aliphatic hydrocarbons, the chief one being hentri- acontane, non-acosane and triterpe- noid hydrocarbons, mainly of 22 (29)- hopene.

Alcohols, sterols and fatty acids are also reported.

Related sp. include: A. laciniatum D. Don (vitamin K3 and phthiocol have been isolated for the first time from the plant); A. adiantoides (L.) C. Chr., synonym A. falcatum Lam. (used in the treatment of enlarged spleen, in in- contenence of urine, in calculus, jaundice and malaria); A. nidus Linn. synonym Thamnopteris nidus (L.) C. Presl., known as Bird's Nest Fern (used as a depurative and sedative).
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Adiantum Aethiopicum

Linn.

Synonym: A. emarginatum Bedd.

Family: Adiantaceae.

Habitat: North Kanara and the Nilgiri and Palni hills at higher elevations.

Ayurvedic: Hansapadi (related sp.).

Action: Rhizomes—decoction abortifacient. Astringent and emetic. Emollient in coughs and diseases of the chest; sudorific.... adiantum aethiopicum

Adiantum Capillus-veneris

Linn.

Family: Adiantaceae.

Habitat: All along the Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim between altitudes of 1,800 and 2,700 m.

English: American Maidenhair Fern, Venus Hair, Rock Fern.

Ayurvedic: Hansaraaja, Hansapadi (related sp.).

Unani: Parsiaavashaan.

Siddha/Tamil: Seruppadai.

Folk: Mubaaraka.

Action: Astringent, demulcent, expectorant, antitussive, stimulant, emmenagogue. Fonds used in chronic catarrh (as an ingredient of cough and bronchial medicines); also in cold imposthumes of uterus, hard swellings and hard tumours of spleen, liver and other viscera.

The fern contains flavonoid gluco- sides, including rutin, isoquercetin, as- tragalin, kaempferol; hydroxycinnam- ic acid esters; terpenoids, including adiantone.... adiantum capillus-veneris

Adiantum Incisum

Forsk.

Synonym: A. caudatum Linn.

Family: Adiantaceae.

Habitat: The plains and the lower slopes of the hills in Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Ayurvedic: Nilakantha-shikhaa, Mayurshikhaa, Vahrishikhaa.

Action: Used in hemicrania, cough, fever; externally in skin diseases; used as a substitute for A. capillus-veneris.

The fern yields adiantone, isoadian- tone, fernene, hentriacontane, hentri- acontanone-16, beta-sitosterol.... adiantum incisum

Adiantum Lunulatum

Burm.

Synonym: A. philippense Linn.

Family: Adiantaceae.

Habitat: Throughout the greater part of India, up to an altitude of 1,200 m.

English: Walking Maidenhair Fern. Black Maidenhair (A. venustum G. Don is also known as Hansaraaja.)

Ayurvedic: Hansapadi, Hansapaadi, Raktapaadi, Kitamaataa, Tri- paadikaa, Hansaraaja; a substitute for Taamrachuda-paadikaa.

Siddha/Tamil: Seruppadai.

Folk: Raajhans, Mubaaraka.

Action: Febrifugal, antidysenteric, soothing agent in erysipelas. The rhizome is also prescribed for strangury, atrophy, emaciation or cachexy, muscular pain; emetic in large doses.

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of the dried whole plant in psychosis-related fear. (It is one of the ingredients of the classical drug Maanasamitra Vataka, prescribed for mental disorders.)

The chemical constituents are chlorophyll-degradation products and higher carotenoids.

Dosage: Whole plant-1-3 g (API Vol. III.)... adiantum lunulatum

Piper Nigrum

Linn.

Family: Piperaceae.

Habitat: Native of the Indo- Malaysian region; cultivated in Western Ghats, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam and Kerala.

English: Black Pepper.

Ayurvedic: Maricha, Vellaja, Uushna, Suvrrita, Krishnaa.

Unani: Filfil Siyaah, Safed.

Siddha/Tamil: Milagu. Milaguver (root).

Action: Stimulant, carminative, diuretic, anticholerin, sialagogue, bechic, antiasthmatic. Used in fevers, dyspepsia, flatulence, indigestion, and as mucous membrane and gastro-intestinal stimulant. Externally—rubefacient and stimulant to the skin. Used as a gargle for sore throat. Used with ginger and Piper longum for viral hepatitis.

The fruit yielded piperine, pipera- tine and piperidine; amides, pipery- line, piperoleins A and B, and N-i'so- butyl-cicosa-trans-2-trans-4-dienami- de.

The aqueous extract of roasted black pepper is reported to show cholinomi- metic effect on rat abdominis muscles.

Dosage: Fruit—500 mg to 1 g. (CCRAS.)... piper nigrum

Ribes Nigrum

Linn.

Family: Grossulariaceae.

Habitat: Cold temperate regions extending from Himalayas to northern Asia and Europe.

English: European Black Currant.

Folk: Nabar.

Action: Dried leaves and twigs— a home remedy for coughs. Leaves—diuretic, hypotensive, refrigerant. An infusion is used for inflammatory conditions, sore throat, hoarseness. Fruits— refrigerant, mildly spasmolytic, vasoprotective, anti-inflammatory.

Black currents are very rich in vitamin C (average 150 mg/100g) and contain 0.9-1.7% pectin as calcium pec- tate, also minerals, potassium (372 mg/ 100 g). The acidity of the fruit is mainly due to citric acid; malic acid is present in small amounts. Glucose and fructose are principal sugars; sucrose is a minor component.

The flavonoids in the fruits include kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin. About 0.3% anthocyanosides, concentrated mainly in the skin, consist of glycosides of cyanidol and delphinidol.

The anthocyanosides are reportedly bacteriostatic and exhibit vasopro- tective and anti-inflammatory activity. They are antisecretory against cholera toxin-induced intestinal fluid secretion in vitro.

The leaves contain an anti-inflammatory principle, pycnometol and minute quantities of an essential oil composed mostly of terpenes.

Polyphenolic extract of buds inhibited lipid peroxidation by rat liver mi- crosomes.

Polyphenols present in R. nigrum and R. rubrum (Red Current, Western Himalayas from Kumaon to Kashmir) exhibit free radical scavenging activity. The seed oil lowers VLDL and total cholesterol.

Contraindicated in bleeding disorders. (Sharon M. Herr.)... ribes nigrum

Solanum Nigrum

Linn.

Synonym: S. rubrum Mill.

Family: Solanaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India, in dry parts, up to an elevation of 2,100 m.

English: Black Nightshade.

Ayurvedic: Kaakamaachi, Kaakaahya, Kaakamaataa, Dhvankshamaachi.

Unani: Mako (smallar var., black var.)

Siddha/Tamil: Manittakkali.

Action: Plant—anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, sedative, diuretic, laxative, antiseptic; fresh extract is used for inflammatory swellings, enlargement of liver and spleen and in cirrhosis of liver. Berries— antidiarrhoeal, antipyretic. Berries and flowers—prescribed in cough and cold. Leaves— applied hot to swollen testicles; paste used as poultice to gout, rheumatic swellings and skin diseases.

The berries contain steroidal alkaloid glycosides, solasonine, alpha- and beta-solanigrine, alpha-and beta- solamargine; steroidal sapogenins, di- osgenin and tigogenin; solasodine and solasodine.

Solamargine and solasonine are present also in leaves. The total alkaloid content of fruits and leaves are 0.101 and 0.431% respectively.

Dosage: Whole plant—5-10 ml juice. (API, Vol. II.)... solanum nigrum

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