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The following points highlight the seven main types of drugs obtained from roots. The types are: 1. Aconite 2. Indian Belladona 3. Belladona 4. Liquorice 5. Chitraka 6. Ashwagandha 7. Asafetida.
Type # 1. Aconite:
Aconitum heterophyllum Wall., of family Ranuncualceae; Eng. Aconite; Hindi—Atis; Sanskrit— Ativisha
This herb is commonly found in the subalpine and alpine zones of the Himalayas from the Indus to Kumaon, from 6,000 to 15,000 feet.
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Uses:
The drug commonly known as aconite is obtained from the roots. The roots are used as astringent, tonic, antiperiodic in diarrhoea, dyspepsia and cough. It contains the alkaloids, atisine, dihydroatisine, heteratisine and hetisine. It is used externally for rheumatism and internally to relieve pain and fever.
Total alkaloidal content is 0.79 per cent. Plant is considered a valuable febrifuge and bitter tonic. Roots are used for hysteria, throat infections, dyspepsia and vomiting, abdominal pain and diabetes
Type # 2. Indian Belladona:
Atropa acuminata Royle ex Lindley, of family Solanaceae; Eng. Indian belladonna; Hindi— Sag-angur.
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This is tall erect herb, 3-5 feet high. It is found in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Uses:
The roots are used in the manufacture of tinctures and plasters. It is used as an anodyne of rheumatism, neuralgia and local inflammations.
Type # 3. Belladona:
Atropa belladonna Linn, of family Solanaceae; Eng. Belladona; Hindi—Sag angur.
This is also a tall erect herb. It is native of Europe, now cultivated in Kashmir.
Uses:
The roots are used as sedative, stimulant and antispasmodic. It is used externally to relieve pain and internally to check excessive sweat, cough, etc.
Dried roots and leaves are used as sedative, antispasmodic, and anodyne; also used in ophthalmology to dilate pupils. Leaves are stimulant and narcotic, contains atropine and hyoscyamine, extremely toxic alkaloids.
Type # 4. Liquorice:
Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn, of family Papilionaceae, Eng. Liquorice, sweet-wood; Hindi— Mulhatti-, Sanskrit—Madhuka; Bengali—Jashtimadhu, Marathi—Jestha madha; Gujarati—Jethi madha; Telugu—Atimadhuramu; Tamil—Atimadhuram; Kannda—Atimadhura; Malayalam— Iratimadhuram.
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This is a perennial herb; native of the Mediterranean region but grown in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir.
Uses:
The root contains glycyrrhizic acid. It is sweet demulcent, emollient, pectoral, alterative; laxative and expectorant; it is given in cough, bronchitis and other chest complaints, catarrhal condition of bowels, urinary passages, asthma, hoarseness of voice, etc. Its infusion is given in sore throat. It is also used in preparation of nauseous drugs.
Liquorice is also chewed with betel leaves. Principal constituents of liquorice to which it owes its characteristic sweet taste is glycyrrhizin, 2 to 14 per cent.
Type # 5. Chitraka:
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Plumbago zeylanica; Hindi—Chitraka; Family Plumbaginaceae. The plants grow as perennial herbs in the plains of West Bengal and South India. The root has been reported to be a powerful poison. It yields plumbagin (chitraka) a crystalline substance. It is when given internally or applied to the osuteri causes abortion. Plumbagin has been reported to be a powerful irritant to the smooth muscles and uterus.
Type # 6. Ashwagandha:
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Withania somnifera Dunal; Hindi—Ashwagandha of family Solanaceae; Sanskrit— Ashwagandha-, Bengali—Ashvagandha; Marathi—Askandha; Gujarati—Ghodakun-, Telugu—Pulivendram, panneru; Tamil—Amukkura; aswagandhi; Kannada—Panneru, aswagandhi; Punjab—Asgand; Rajasthan—Chirpotan; Trade—Aswagandha.
The wild plants are generally erect branching shrubs up to one metre in height. The cultivated plants are morphologically distinct from wild plants. The cultivated plants are “different from the wild ones not only in their therapeutic properties but in all morphological characters like roots, stems, leaves, flowers, pollen grains, mature seeds and the enlarged calyx.”
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Except for a limited collection of roots from W. somnifera plants growing wild, the supplies of Ashwagandha roots are obtained exclusively from cultivated sources.
The entire plants are uprooted for the collection of roots. The roots are separated from the over-ground parts as soon as possible after collection by cutting the stems 1-2 cm. above the crown.
The entire root system along with the remains of aerial stems is either cut transversely into smaller pieces or dried in the whole in the sun. The roots undergo further cleaning, trimming and grading before they are despatched to the various drug markets of India.
Uses:
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This is used as a tonic in geriatrics, being efficacious in relieving hand and limb tremors of elderly people. It is prescribed for all kinds of weaknesses and is supposed to promote strength and vigour, being regarded as an aphrodisiac and rejuvenator.
It is used for the treatment of rheumatic pain, inflammation of joints and certain paralytic conditions. Several preparations of this drug are used for all types of nervous disorders and as sedatives in the treatment of insanity and in hypertension.
The leaves of the plant are used as a local application for all types of skin lesions, ulcers, boils, and swelling to reduce pus formation, inflammation to promote healing processes.
Roots have long been in use for hiccup, cough, dropsy, rheumatism, and female disorders. The pharmacological activity is ascribed to the presence of several alkaloids. The leaves are used as a febrifuge and applied to lesions, painful swellings and sore eyes. Withaferin A is the most important withanolide to which the curative properties of leaves are attributed.
Type # 7. Asafetida:
Ferula asafoetida Linn., of family Umbelliferae (Apiaceae); Eng. Asafetida; Hindi—Hing; Sanskrit—Balhika, hingu; Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati and Kannada—Hing; Telugu— Inguva; Tamil and Malayalam—Perungayam; Oriya—Hengu; Kashmir—Yang; Mumbai—Hing.
This is an unpleasant smelling perennial herb, commonly grown in the Punjab and Kashmir.
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Uses:
The oleo-resin gum that exudes from the root-stock is carminative, antispasmodic, nervine, stimulant, digestive, sedative, expectorant, diuretic, anthelmintic and emmenagogue. It is prescribed in flatulent colic, dyspepsia, asthma, hysteria, convulsions, cholera, chronic constipation, chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, cough, spasmodic disorders of the bowels and angina pectoris.
The fried gum is given either as a solution or emulsion or pills, preferably as pills.
