A sterol found in yeasts and fungi and in plant and animal fat. Under the action of sunlight or ultraviolet rays it produces vitamin D2. The substance produced in this way is known as calciferol, and is used for the prevention and cure of RICKETS and OSTEOMALACIA. A similar change in the ergosterol of the skin is produced when the body is freely exposed to sunlight. Calciferol is probably not so active as, and di?ers chemically from, the vitamin D occurring in ?sh-liver oils. (See APPENDIX 5: VITAMINS.)
n. a plant sterol that, when irradiated with ultraviolet light, is converted to ergocalciferol (vitamin D2). See vitamin D.
Linn.
Family: Malvaceae.
Habitat: Native to the West Indies; now cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, Assam and Tamil Nadu.
English: Roselle, Jamaican Sorrel, Natal Sorrel, Red Sorrel.
Ayurvedic: Ambashtthaki.
Siddha/Tamil: Sivappu Kashmakki, Pulichai-keerai, Gogu, Seemai Kaseru.
Folk: Laal-ambaadi, Patavaa, Patsan.
Action: Digestive, choleretic, antibilious, laxative, diuretic, hypotensive, antiscorbutic. Used as a cardiac and nervine tonic for disorders of circulation, also for calcified arteries.
Key application: Flowers—used for loss of appetite, for colds, catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract and stomach, for disorders of circulation. (Included among unapproved herbs by German Commission E.)The seeds contain sterols, including 3.2% ergosterol; leaves contain sitosterol-beta-D-galactoside. Flowers contain myricetin, kaempferol and quercetin, but did not contain free mutagenic flavonol aglycons.The aqueous extract of flower buds has been reported to decrease blood pressure, cause relaxation of rat uterus. Succulent sepals and leaves—hypoten- sive, antimicrobial and anthelmintic.Oil and unsapanofiable matter—antibacterial, antifungal.
Dosage: Root—5-10 g. (API Vol. III.)... hibiscus sabdariffa
Linn.
Family: Palmae; Arecaceae.
Habitat: Cultivated in Punjab and Rajasthan.
English: Date Palm.
Ayurvedic: Kharjuura, Kharjuuraka, Kharjuurikaa. Pindakharjuurikaa. Chhuhaaraa (dry date). Pindakhar- juura is the fruit of Phoenix acaulis Roxb.
Unani: Khurmaa, Khajuur, Chhuharaa.
Siddha/Tamil: Perichchankay, Ita.
Action: Fruit pulp—antitussive, expectorant, demulcent, laxative, diuretic, restorative. Sap—cooling, laxative. Gum—used in diarrhoea and genitourinary diseases.
The fruit contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C), carotene (as vitamin A), nicotinic acid, riboflavin, thiamine, sugars (60-80%). Besides sucrose and invert sugars, rhamnose, xylose, ara- binose, ribose, galactose and galac- turonic acid have been identified in the fruit. Invert sugar predominates in the soft dates; sucrose in dry varieties. The dried date, used in Ayurvedic and Unani compositions, contains protein 2.5-3, fat 0.5, carbohydrates 75.882.9% and calcium 35.9, phosphorus 129.3 and iron 3.4 mg/100 g. Presence of sterols of ergosterol group, and esterone has been reported from dried date seeds.Charged C-glycosylflavones and caf- feylshikimic acid, leucocyanidin are characteristically present in the plant. Flavonol glycosides are also common. Several uncharged C-glycosylflavones were also detected.
Dosage: Fresh fruit—10-50 g, dried fruit—10-15 g. (API, Vol. IV.)... phoenix dactylifera
a fat-soluble vitamin that enhances the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestine and promotes their deposition in the bone. It occurs in two forms: ergocalciferol (vitamin D2, calciferol), which is manufactured by plants when the sterol ergosterol is exposed to ultraviolet light, and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), which is produced by the action of sunlight on 7-dehydrocholesterol, a sterol widely distributed in the skin. A deficiency of vitamin D, either from a poor diet or lack of sunlight, leads to decalcified bones and the development of *rickets and *osteomalacia. Good sources of vitamin D are liver and fish oils. An RNI (see Dietary Reference Values) was set for the first time in 2015, at 10 ug/d for all individuals over 4 years of age. Research continues into a possible association between vitamin D levels and multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D is toxic and large doses must therefore be avoided.... vitamin d
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