Medical Plants, Their Identification, Use, Chemical Content & other information

Opium (Popply)

B.N:- Papaver sominiferum

Family:- Papavaraceae

Origin:- Europe

Plant Part Used:- Fruits ( capsule)

Variety:- Kirtiman, Trishna, Chetak.

Chemical Content:- Morphine, Codine, Narcotine.

Uses:- God of sleep, Painkiller, Analgesies (Reduce pain) and Hypotonic effect, used to cure leukaemia.

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Aloe

B.N:- Aloe barbadensis

Family:- Liliaceae

Plant Part Used:- Leaves

Chemical Content:- Aloin oil

Uses:- Skin tonic and herbal cosmetics

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Neem

B.N:- Azadirachta indica

Family:- Meliaceae

Origin:- India

Plant Part Used:- Fruits & Leaves

Chemical Content:- Azadiractin

Uses:- Diabetes treatment.

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Datura

B.N:- Datura innoxia

Family:- Solanaceae

Origin:- Mexico

Plant Part Used:- Whole herb

Chemical Content:- Hyoscine, Tropane

Uses:- Preanasthetic in surgery, in relief of withdrawal symptoms in morphine.

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Ashwagandha

B.N:- Withamia somnifera

Family:- Solanaceae

Origin:- Africa

Plant Part Used:- Roots

Variety:- Jawahar, asgandh

Chemical Content:- Withanine somniferine

Uses:- Used to make general tonics

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Sarpagandha

B.N:- Rauvolfia serpentine

Family:- Apocynaceae

Origin:- India

Plant Part Used:- Roots

Variety:- R S-1

Chemical Content:- Serpentine, Reserpine, Saponins

Uses:- Used as treatment for hypertension as a sedative.

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Safed Musali

B.N:- Chlorophytum ssp.

Family:- Liliaceae

Origin:- Africa

Plant Part Used:- Roots

Chemical Content:- Saponins

Uses:- to make vital tonics, to cure general diabetes. IInd silajeet.

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Periwinkle or Vinca

B.N:- Catharanthus roseus

Family:- Apocynaceae

Origin:- West Indies

Plant Part Used:- Roots and Leaves

Variety:- Nirmal, Dhawal

Chemical Content:- Ajmacline, Vincristine, Vinblastine

Uses:- Used as tranquilized (Blood pressure control), Cancer Therapy.

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Medicinal Solanum

B.N:- Solanum khasianum

Family:- Solanaceae

Origin:- Newzealand

Plant Part Used:- Fruits

Variety:- Arka Sanjeev Galaxo

Chemical Content:- Solasodine

Uses:- Major source of steroid in India

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Belladona

B.N:- Atropa Belladona

Family:- Solanaceae

Origin:- Europe

Plant Part Used:- Leaves

Chemical Content:- Atropine

Uses:- Neurogenic pains, Ampholinergic property.

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Foxglove

B.N:- Digitalis purpurea

Family:- Scrophulariaceae

Origin:- Europe

Plant Part Used:- Leaves

Chemical Content:- Hyoscyamine

Uses:- Hyoscyamine used as truth confessor in criminological investigations.

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Henbane

B.N:- Hyoscyamus niger 

Family:- Solanaceae

Origin:- Europe

Plant Part Used:- Leaves

Variety:- Aela

Chemical Content:- Hyoscyamine

Uses:- Used to cure Asthma and whooping cough. Antispasmodic and Anticholingenic property.

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Senna

B.N:- Cassia angustifolia

Family:- Leguminoceae

Origin:- Europe

Plant Part Used:- Leaves

Variety:- Soona, ALFT-2 

Chemical Content:- Sennosides A, B, C, D

Uses:- Laxative property, constipation.

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Dill or Sowa

B.N:- Anethum graveolens

Family:- Apiaceae

Origin:- Europe

Plant Part Used:- Seeds

Chemical Content:- Carvone

Uses:- Oil is used to make Gripe water.

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Medicinal Yam

B.N:- Dioscorea floribunda

Family:- Dioscoreaceae

Plant Part Used:- Roots

Variety:- Arka upkar

Chemical Content:- Diosgenin

Uses:- Production of sex hormones and contraceptive pills.