Isapgol

Synonym: Ispaghula,Spongal seeds
Botanical Source: Isapgol consist of the dried seedes plantago ovata
Family: Plantanginaceae

Morphology

Size: 1-3.5cm(l) & 1-1.7mm(w)
Shape: Ovate and boate shaped with a dorsal or convex surface and ventral convex surface v-sur-a deep furrow may be seen,Hileum which is covered by thin membrane appears as a red spot in the centre
Ordour&Taste: Mucilagenous

Active Constituents

Carbohydrates-mucilage(pentosan + Aldobonic acid),Pentoson-hydoxylose + arabinose,Aldobionic acid.hyd-galanturonic acid + rhamnose

Uses:
1.Demulcent
2.In chronic constipation
3.In chronic diarrhoea

Myrobalan

Synonym: Myrobalan
Botanical Source: Myrobalan consist of the dried fruits of terminatia chebula.

Morphology
1. Semi meture fruits
Colour: Yellowish brown
Shape: Ovoid
surface: Wainkled longitudinally hard & strong
Seed Colour: Light yellow
Odour & Taste: Astringnet & some sweetish
2.Young Fruits
Deep brown to blank
Shape: Elongated and both side tapering
Size: Smaller in size than semimatire fruits
Surface: Hard longitudinal ribs and wrinkled
Odourless and Taste: Astringent or Bitter

Chemical Constituants
Tannis(30%),pyrogallal type,chebulagic acid, chebulic acid,gallic acid etc.Oleorisins,carbohydrates.

Uses:

1.As an external applicant to chronic ulcers and wounds
2.As a gargle in stomach
3.Laxative

Benzoin

Synonym: Gum Benzoin
Botanical Source: Benzoin is a balasmic resin obtained from the incised stum of styrex benzoin
Family: Styraceae

Morphology

Form appears as hard masses,consisting of tears embedded in a translucent,reddish brown matrix
Fracture: birittle
Odour: Aromatic,balsamic and pleasant
Size: Varies
Surface: Rough but smooth tears
Taste: Slightly acid

Active Constituents

Balsamic acid,linnamic acid 20%,Benzoic acid 10%,triterpenoid acid,siaresinole acid,samarisinoic acid

Uses

1.Expectorant
2.Antiseptic
3.Diuretic property
4.Ingrediant of compound benzoin tinuture

Asafoetida

Synonym: Devils dung
Botanical source: asafoetida is the oleo-gum-resin obtained by incising the rhizomes and roots of ferula asafoetida
Family: Umbelliferae

Morphology

Comersial asafoetida occures in two form
1.Tears either in round or flattened forms.
Size: 1-3cm
Colour: Dull Yellow,Greyish White
2.Masses-Most-Common form
Tears agglutinate to form masses and also contain imparites like piece of fruit,root etc.
Surface: Rough
Fracture: Brittle
Odour: Storng

Active Constituents

Volatile oil(4-20%), isobatyl propanyl disulphide also responsible for bad smell.Resines(40-65%), free arasesinol tannol as well in combination with fermic acid.

Uses:


1.As a Carminative
2.As a Expentorant
3.As antipasmodic
4.As a laxative

Colophony

Synonym: Long needle pine
Botanical Source: Colephony is the solid residue obtained after distilling the oleo resin from various species of pinus like D-longifolia,P-ecchinata
Family: Pinaceae

Morphology

Form: Angular masses,glassy&irregular
Colour: pale or brownish yellow
Odour&Taste: Faintly terbinthinate
Solubility: Being a resin,insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol,ether,benzene,glacial acetic acid & light petrolium

Active Constituents

Resin acids-Resin acids or diterpene acid like abiatic acid(90%) Nutralk inert substane(resenes) Ester of Fatty acid

Uses:

1.In ointments and plasters
2.Manufacturing of varnishes and disinfectant liquids

Dill

Synonym: Indian Dill
Botanical Source: Dill consist of dried fruits of anethum graviolense
Family: Umbelliferae

Morphology

Type of Fruits : cremocarp,market sample comparises of both entire as well as seperated mericarp
Form: Broadly ovate,dorsally compressed and has thin,flat wings
Colour: Pale brown and some variety greyish green as well
surface: Yellowish primary ridges
Size:4mm(l),2-3mm(w)
Odour and Taste: aromatic and spicy

Active Constituents:

volatile oil(3-3.5%),dill-carvone(50-60%) dihdro carvone in traces,d-limonene,phellendrone
Indian Dill-Dill apiole(toxic and poisonous),carvone(15-30%),dihydrocarvone(4-12%) and myrist thymol and 30-40% of hydrocarbons

Uses:
1.carminative
2.Used also stimulant
3.Indian dill because of poisonous substance is not generally used expect in veterinory practices

Catechu(Black)

Synonym: Cutch tree
Botanical source: Black catechu consist of dried acqous extract prepared from the heart wood of Acacia catachu
Family: Leguminosae


Morphology

colour: Black or dark brown
Form: Irregular masses or cubes
surface: Rough,dull or slightlyglassy and porous
Feature: Very brittle breaking in to powdery masses
Odour: none
Taste: Bitter to taste with forms Sweet & finally astringent

Active constituents
Tannis Catachins(2-12%),catechutemic acid(20-60%) a condansation product of acatachin,flavonoids-quercetin & its derivaties

Uses:

1.Astringent
2.Cooling and digestive
3.Used in relaxed conditions of throat,mouth&gum

Catechu(Pale)

Synonym: Gambier,Gambir
Botanical Source: Pale catechu Consist of the dried acqous extarct prepared from the leaves & shools of uncaria gambier
Family:Rubiaceae

Morphology

Form: smaller cubes
Colour: Dull greyish brown to dark reddish brown externally and pale brown internally
Odour: None
Surface: Dull,farcture brittle
Active Constituents
Taste: bitter to start with turns sweet and finally astringent
Tannis-catachins(7-33%) ,catachutannic acid(22-50%) , Flavonoids-quercetin and a fluoresent substance-gambir fluoresin


Uses:

1.Astringent
2.Used in case of diarrhoea
3.Used as dye and tanning industries

Capsicum

Synonym: Chilli,Red pepper,Spanish pepper
Botanical Source: Capsicum consist of the dried ripe fruit of capsicum frutescence
Family: solanaceae

Morphology
Form: Oblong,conical,obtuse and two celled
Colour: Dull orange red to brownish red, inferior calyx and straight slender pedicelSeeds 3-4mm(l);loose or attached to a thin reddish dissepiment
Odour: Characteristic
Taste: Pungant
Size: 12-25mm(l) and up to 7mm maximum(w)

Active Constituents

Pungent phenolic component
Capsinoids,amixture of 5 isomeric acid amides-capsacin(70%) – homo capsacin- D hydro capsacin-homo dihydro capsaicin-nordihydro capsacin
Carotinoids(.12-.35%) , Ascorbic acid(.1-.5%) , Fixed oil,flavonoids

Uses:

1.Carminative
2.Nerve stimulent
3.Increase in the capilarity of blood vessel
4.Source of vitamine-C

Cotton

Synonym: Cotton
Botanical Source: Cotton consist of the epidermal trichomes of seeds of gossypium-herbaceum and other cultivated species of gossypium
Family: Malvaceae

Active Constituents
Carbohydrates-polysachrides,cellulose(90%), wax,oil and fat in traces

Uses:

1.surgical dressing
2.Filtering medium

Beeswax

Synonym: Bees Wax
Botanical Source: Yellow bees wax is the purified wax from the honey comb of the bee namely Apis dorsata,Apis melifera and other species of Apis
Family: Apidae

Morphology

Colour: White or yellow
Fracture: Brittle and granular

Solubility: Soluble in chloroform,ether and both essential and fatty-oil,but insoluble in water,M.P-62 degree-64 degree,Refractive index to 80 degree
Odour: Honey like
Taste: Waxy

Active Constituents
Lipids: Wax,Myrieyl palmitate(80%), Wax-acid-cerotic acid(15%)

Uses:

1.As a pharmaceutical aid
2.In the preparation of plasters,ointments and polishers

NUTMUG

Synonym: Myristica
Botanical Source: Nutmug consist of dried kernels of the seeds of myristica fragrans
Family: Myristicaceae

Morphology

Shape: Ovoid depending on the variety either broad or elongated
Colour: Light brown to greyish brown
Surface: shows a network of shallow,reticulate groves and is marked with numerous small dark brown points and lines
Ordour: aromatic and characteristic
Taste: aromatic and bitter

Active constituents
Volatile oil(4-16%) , myristicin(4-8%), pinene, camphene,satrole,eugenol,methyl eugenol,ISO eugenol,fixed oil(25-30%) – saponin etc.

Uses:
1.Flavouring agent
2.Carminative
3.Digestive
4.Abortifacient