Habitat: Throughout India.
Ayurvedic: Bhumyaamalaki (var.).Folk: Mothi-bhuiaamvali (Maharashtra).Plant—antiseptic. Fresh leaves, bruised in butter milk, are used as a wash for itch. Fresh leaves, flowers and fruits with cumin seeds and sugar, are used in gonorrhoea. Root—applied to mammary abscesses. Fruits contain oxalic acid.Symptoms Symptoms vary with the age of infection. In young infants, herpes simplex may cause a generalised infection which is sometimes fatal. In young children the infection is usually in the mouth, and this may be associated with enlargement of the glands in the neck, general irritability and fever. The condition usually settles in 7–10 days. In adults the vesicles may occur anywhere in the skin or mucous membranes: the more common sites are the lips, mouth and face, where they are known as cold sores. The vesicles may also appear on the genitalia (herpes genitalis) or in the conjunctiva or cornea of the EYE, and the brain may be infected, causing ENCEPHALITIS or MENINGITIS. The ?rst sign is the appearance of small painful swellings; these quickly develop into vesicles which contain clear ?uid and are surrounded by a reddened area of skin. Some people are particularly liable to recurrent attacks, and these often tend to be associated with some debilitating condition or infection, such as pneumonia.
Except in the case of herpes of the cornea, the eruption clears completely unless it becomes contaminated with some other organism. In the case of the cornea, there may be residual scarring, which may impair vision.
Treatment Aciclovir is e?ective both topically as cream or eye drops or orally. In severe systemic infections it can be given intravenously.... herpes simplex
Habitat: The Temperate Himalaya from Kashmir to Sikkim, from 1,350 to 4,000 m.
English: Eyebright.Action: Plant—astringent, antiallergic, bechic, anticatarrhal.
Key application: Externally as lotions, eye-baths, poultices, for eye complaints associated with inflammatory conditions, and as a preventive measure against mucus of the eyes, "glued" and inflammed eyes. (Traditional uses mentioned by German Comission E.)Orally, Eyebright is used to treat allergies, common cold, bronchial conditions and sinusitis. Ophthalmic application is not recommended. Eye- bright has been used in a British herbal tobacco product, which was smoked for cold and chronic bronchial conditions.Aerial parts showed presence of phenol, carboxylic acid, flavones and methyl flavone derivatives. Plant gave quercetin glucoside, diosmetin, kaem- pferol, caffeic and ferulic acids, stig- masterol and beta-sitosterol. Iridoid glycosides, including aucubin, are also present. Tannins include both condensed and hydrolysable gallic acid type.... euphrasia simplexHabitat: Throughout the hotter parts of India, particularly on cultivated land, up to 1,000 m.
Ayurvedic: Bhuumyaamalaki, Bahu- patri, Bhuudhaatri, Bahuphalaa, Taamalaki.Unani: Bhui Aaamalaa.Siddha/Tamil: Keelkaay Nelli.Action: Plant—diuretic, deobstru- ent, astringent, anti-inflammatory, styptic. Used as a single drug in the treatment of jaundice. Used in prescriptions for dyspepsia, indigestion, chronic dysentery, urinary tract diseases, diabetes, skin eruptions.
The leaves yielded lignans—phyl- lanthin (bitter), hypophyllanthin (nonbitter); niranthin, nirtetralin and phyl- tetralin. The whole plant gave a number of flavonoids, including quercetin, quercitrin, astragalin, rutin, kaempfer- ol. Isolation of a hydrolysable tannins, amarulone, is reported from the plant.The plant is reported to show antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus and related hepadna virus. It was also found to effectively repair CCl4-induced liver damage in rats.The herb exhibited hypotensive and hypoglycaemic activity. (Indian J Exp Biol 1995, 33 (11) 861-864.)Phyllanthus fraternus Webster: The ethanolic extract of the plant exhibited hepatotoxic-protective activity in albino rats pretreated with CCl-4, The petroleum extract is reported to possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The flavonoids, isolated from the ethanolic extract of the plant, exhibit hypoglycaemic activity in alloxan-treated albino rats. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the plant exhibit antibacterial and antifun- gal activity.Dosage: Root, stem, leaf—3-6. powder. (API, Vol. I and III.)... phyllanthus amarusHabitat: Throughout drier parts of India.
Unani: Kanochaa, Isfahaan Marv.Siddha/Tamil: Mela-nelli.Action: Leaves—an infusion is used in headache. Seeds—carminative, diuretic.
Whole plant revealed antispasmod- ic action in isolated guinea-pig ileum, CNS depressant and hypothermic effects in mice.... phyllanthus maderaspatensisHabitat: Indian gardens.
English: Country Gooseberry.Ayurvedic: Lavali-phala, Lowani Hariphala.Siddha/Tamil: Aranelli.Action: Fruit—astringent, tonic to liver; improves appetite, useful in biliousness, constipation, vomiting, bronchitis. Roots and seed— cathartic. The juice of the root bark produces headache and severe abdominal pain.
The root bark contains 18% tannin, saponin, gallic acid and a crystalline substance (probably lupeol). The bark contains beta-amyrin and phyllanthol.The fruit is sour; contains acidity (as acetic acid) 1.70%.... phyllanthus distichusHabitat: Native to America.
English: Chanca Piedra.Ayurvedic: Bhuumyaamalaki, assigned to P. niruri, has now been equated with P.fraternus.Action: Antispasmodic, antipyretic, diuretic, antiviral, bactericidal.
Taking Chanca Piedra orally does not seem to be effective for treating hepatitis B. The herb contains niuride, which inhibits specific HIV-protein binding activity, but does not protect cells from acute HIV infection. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)... phyllanthus niruriHabitat: Throughout the plains of India from Punjab to Assam and Southward to Kerala up to 1,000 m.
Ayurvedic: Bhuumyaamataki (var.), Taamravalli.Siddha/Tamil: Senkeezhnelli.Folk: Laal-bhui-aamlaa, Hazaar- mani.Action: See P. amarus.
The leaf and stem gave flavonoids— quercetin, astragalin, quercitrin, iso- quercitrin and rutin; Me-brevifolin- carboxylate and tri-dehydrochebulic acid.... phyllanthus urinariaHabitat: Arid and sandy tracts of Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Folk: Alethi (Punjab), Lunio, Lunwaa (Rajasthan).Action: Leaves and seeds—an infusion is applied to the eyes in ophthalmia and glucoma. Seeds— anthelmintic.
An acylated glycoside was isolated from aerial parts. Isorhamnetin, its 3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O- rutinoside, sitosterol glucoside and quinovic acid-3 alpha-L-rhamnoside were present in the herb.An infusion of the leaves acts as a skin cleanser. The plant contains free ascorbic acid. The leaves and fruits contain kaempferol; quercetin (0.10 mg/g dry weight) is present in fruits.... zygophyllum simplex
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