Category: Herbs & Plants

Botanical Name: Rauwolfia Serpentina
Family: Apocynaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Gentianales
Genus: Rauvolfia
Species: R. serpentina

Synonyms:
*Ophioxylon album Gaertn.
*Ophioxylon obversum Miq.
*Ophioxylon salutiferum Salisb.
*Ophioxylon serpentinum L.
*Ophioxylon trifoliatum Gaertn.
*Rauvolfia obversa (Miq.) Baill.
*Rauvolfia trifoliata (Gaertn.) Baill.

Common Names: Indian snakeroot, Devil pepper, or Serpentine wood
English Name: Indian Snake Wood, Serpentine Wood
Hindi Name: Sarpagandha, Chandrabagha, Chota chand
Sanskrit Name: Sarpagandha, Chandarmar
Ayurvedic Name: Sarpagandha
Bengali : Chandra
Kannada: Sutranavi, Patalagondhi, Shivavabhiballi, Sarpagandhi
Malayalam: Suvapavalforiyan, Chuvanna-vilpori
Tamil : Chivan amelpodi
Indonesia: pule pandak
Telugu : Paataala goni, Paataala garuda
Urdu: Asrel
Oriya: Sanochada, Patalgarur

Habitat: Rauwolfia Serpentina is native to the Indian subcontinent and East Asia (from India to Indonesia). It grows in India in the sub-Himalayan regions up to 1,000 metres.

Description:
Rauwolfia Serpentina is a perrinal undershrub. IIt grows up to around 2 feet in height, leaves are oval present in whorl of 3 with paler green below and dark green above, tip is acuminate and base is slender and tapering.. Flowers are Irregular corymbose white flowers with violet tinge and fruits are oval and fleshy of around 1 cm long, on ripening color turns to shiny purple black. The plant has milky sap.

. The plant has milky sap.

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Medicinal Uses:
Rauwolfia Serpentina roots are used for the medicinal purposes. Its roots contain the highest amount of active substances, which are beneficial as anti-anxiety, sedative, antihypertensive, and relaxing effects.
Ayurvedic Uses:
Sarpagandha mainly works on VATA DOSHA and KAPHA DOSHA. Therefore, Sarpagandha is most suitable for individuals with VATA and KAPHA dominant symptoms. Sarpagandha may not be suitable for patients with PITTA DOSHA manifestations or should be used with a proper care if required especially with milk. For decreasing its side effects, which occurs due to its effects on the Pitta Dosha, other medicines like Mukta Pishti, Praval Pishti, Rose Flowers or Gulkand, Kushta Zamurd or Panna Pishti, Centella Asiatica, Shankhpushpi, etc. should be used along with it.
Rauwolfia serpentina, also known as Sarpagandha or Indian Snakeroot, is used in Ayurveda as a medicine for hypertension, high blood pressure (bp), anxiety, insomnia (sleeplessness), and central nervous system disorders. It is a natural and effective anti-inflammatory and analgesic Ayurvedic medicinal herb.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rauvolfia_serpentina
https://www.ayurtimes.com/rauwolfia-serpentina-sarpagandha/

Botanical Name: Podophyllum emodi
Family: Berberidaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Ranunculales
Genus: Sinopodophyllum

Synonyms:
*Sinopodophyllum hexandrum
*Dysosma emodi (Wall. ex Royle) M.Hiroe
*Podophyllum emodi Wall. ex Hook.f. & Thomson
*Podophyllum hexandrum Royle
*Sinopodophyllum emodi (Wall. ex Hook.f. & Thomson) T.S.Ying

Common names:; include Himalayan may apple and Indian may apple

Habitat: Podophyllum emodi is native to Afghanistan, Bhutan, northern India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan, and western China (Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan). It grows in scrub forests and alpine meadows, usually in humus rich soils, 2000 – 3500 metres in the Himalayas. Very abundant in fir forests in Kashmir.

Descriptiion:
Podophyllum emodi is a perennial herb, 15-30 (-45) cm. tall, erect, smooth, glabrous, somewhat fleshy or succulent, simple; rhizome short, horizontally creeping, scaly above, with dense thick fibrous roots; scales up to 5 cm long, 1-2 (.3) , cm broad, ovate-lanceolate, striated, pale, entire; stem scapigerous, simple, erect, terete, naked below with (1-) 2 (-3) alternate leaves above the middle and usually 1 supra axillary flower (or fruit). Leaves palmate, deeply 3 (-5) lobed; lamina (7-) 12-20 (-25) cm in diam., with petiole about as long as the lobe and somewhat swollen at base; lateral lobes obliquely ovate, sometimes 2-lobulate; middle lobe broadly elliptic and symmetrical; all lobes sharply toothed, acute to slightly acuminate, 5-12 (-15) cm long, 3-5 (-8) cm broad, sessile, coarsely veined below. Flower blooms duriing April-May. Flowers are white to pink, 2-4 (-5) cm in diam:, ± terminal in bud but becoming supra axillary later; peduncle short, elongating up to 2 (-3) cm in fruit, erect or ascending, somewhat thickened. Sepals 3, broadly oblong, caducous, petaloid. Petals (4-) 6, obovate-oblong, 2-3 cm long, 1-1.5 cm broad. Stamens usually 6, about half as long as the petals; filaments ;slightly flattened; anthers c. 3 mm long, oblong, obtuse. Berry oblong-ovoid or oblong-ellipsoid, 2-4 (-5) cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm broad, scarlet or red, pulpy, narrowed below the stigma, many seeded; ,seeds 2-3 mm in diam., obovoid or suborbicular.

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Cultivation:
Prefers a moist peaty soil and filtered light or shade. Grows well in a moist open woodland. Hardy to about -20°c, it takes some years to become established but is very long lived in a suitable habitat[130]. Young leaves may be damaged by late frosts but otherwise the plants are quite hardy. Over collection of the plant from the wild is becomimg a cause for concern as local populations are being endangered. Young plants only produce one leaf each year, older plants have 2 or 3 leaves each year. Plants in this genus have excited quite a lot of interest for the compounds found in their roots which have been shown to have anti-cancer activity. There are various research projects under way (as of 1990). The sub-species P. hexandrum chinense. Wall. has larger flowers and more deeply divided leaves.

Propagation:
Through seeds – best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in a cold frame in early spring. The seed germinates in 1 – 4 months at 15°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least 2 growing seasons. Plant them out into their permanent positions in the winter when the plants are dormant. Division in March/April.

Edible Uses:
Fruits are edible, eaten – raw. It must only be eaten when it is fully ripe. Juicy but insipid. The fruit is about 5cm long. The leaves are edible according to one report but this must be treated with some caution, see notes on toxicity below.

Mediciinal Uses:
The whole plant, but especially the root, is cholagogue, cytostatic and purgative. The plant contains podophyllin, which has an antimiotic effect (it interferes with cell division and can thus prevent the growth of cells). It is, therefore, a possible treatment for cancer, and has been used especially in the treatment of ovarian cancer. However, alopecia is said to be a common side-effect of this treatment. This species contains about twice the quantity of active ingredient than P. peltatum. The roots contain several important anti-cancer lignans, including podophyllin and berberine. The roots are also antirheumatic. The root is harvested in the autumn and either dried for later use or the resin is extracted. This plant is highly poisonous and should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women.

Other Uses: A medicinal resin is obtained from the plant. It is extracted with alcohol.

Known Hazards : The leaves and the roots are poisonous. Only the root is poisonous, it is more toxic than P. peltatum.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinopodophyllum
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200008409
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Podophyllum+hexandrum

Botanical Name: Picrorhiza kurroa
Family : Plantaginaceae
Kingdom : Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Genus : Picrorhiza

Common names : Kutki, Kardi, karwi, Karu. Sanskrit names: Arishta, Anjani

Habitat: Picrorhiza kurroa is native to North-Western Himalayan region from Kashmir to Kumaun and Garhwal regions of India and Nepal. It grows in the hilly regions .

Description:
Picrorhiza kurroa is a small perennial herb. The stem is small, weak, creeping, erect at flowering, leafy, and slightly hairy. Leaves are 5–10 cm long, almost radical, sharply serrate, turning black on drying. Flowers are very small, white or pale blue purple, in dense terminal spikes. Flowering and fruiting occur from June to August. Fruit is a two-celled spherical capsule. Seeds are many, white, with an oblong curved raphae.Rhizomes are jointed and zigzag, greyish-brown, cylindrical, irregularly curved with branching and rooting at the jointed nodes.

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Cultivation:
*The plant grows well in cool and moist climate.
*Sandy clay textured soil is the best for its growth.
*It needs porous soil layers, which facilitate horizontal spreading of the rhizomes underneath, that produce aerial sprouts from the nodes.
*The plant prefers sufficiently moist and shaded locations.
*Picrorhiza kurroa is a long-duration high-altitude plant and cannot be successfully propagated under montane conditions.
*It suffers heavy mortality during prolonged and intense rains.

Propagation:
*The planting stock can initially be raised through seedlings, but can also be propagated through rhizomes/stolons/offsets.
*Seeds may be collected in August–September for raising nursery.
*Viability of seeds is more than 60% for a period of about six months.

Medicinal Uses:
Picrorhiza kurroa is an important herb in the traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic systems of medicine, used to treat liver and upper respiratory conditions. Its traditional uses include treatment of a wide range of conditions, including fevers, chronic diarrhea, constipation, dyspepsia and jaundice.
*Root powder of this herb is strong laxative (virechak) in nature and help to cure chronic constipation (vivandh).
*Leaf paste of the herb is applied locally to relieve burning sensation (daha).
*The leaf paste also used to treat various skin related problems (charm roga).
*This herb is also an amazing remedy for treating chronic recurrent fevers (visham jwara)

Known Hazards:
Risk Factors of, and Cautions for Picrorhiza Kurroa Excess use may cause Vomiting, Anorexia, Diarrhea, Itching. Picrorrhiza Kurroa is a plant. Picrorhiza Kurroa and Picrorhiza Scrophulariiflora are two relative of the same species. Mix 1 teaspoon each of dried Picrorhiza Kurroa root powder and Honey.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/package-of-practices/medicinal-and-aromatic-plants/picrorhiza-kurroa

Botanical Name: Discoria deltoides
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Dioscoreales
Genus: Dioscorea
Species: D. deltoidea

Synonyms: Tamus nepalensis Jacquem. ex Prain & Burkill

Common Names: Yam or Nepal yam, Lady’s Cushion, Maiden Pink, Meadow Pink. *Yam or Nepal yam, Lady’s Cushion, Maiden Pink, Meadow Pink, *Hindi: Shingli-mingli, Baniatakari, Harvish, Janj, Jung kinch • Nepali: Bhyakur tarul

Habitat: Discoria deltoides is native range is the Himalayas through to south-central China and mainland Southeast Asia. It is found in the Himalayas, from Kashmir to Assam, Indo-China and W. China, at altitudes of 450-3100 m. It grows in forests and humus-rich soils.

Description:
Discoria deltoides is a hairless vine, twining clockwise. Tubers are ligneous, irregular. Alternately arranged leaves are simple, 5-11.5 cm long, 4-10.5 cm broad, ovate or triangular-ovate, often heart-shaped, the basal lobes rounded or sometimes dilated outwards, 7-9-nerved, long-pointed, hairless above, velvety on the nerves beneath. Leaf-stalks are 5-10 cm long, slender. Male flower spikes occur solitary in leaf axils, simple or sometimes branched, slender, lax, 7.5-25 cm long. Flowers are in small distant clusters; stamens 6, antheriferous. Female spikes are solitary, slender, up to 15 cm long, few-flowered. Capsule is 2 cm long, 3 cm broad, obovate or obcordate. Seeds are winged unequally all round. It produces many blooms in shades of red, pink, lavender or white with a darker star-like ring near the center.Flowering during May-July.

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Cultivation:
Easily grown in a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position or light shade. Prefers a rich light soil. Plants produce tubercles (small tubers that are formed in the leaf axils of the stems), and can be propagated by this means. A climbing plant that supports itself by twining around the branches of other plants. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Propagation:
Through seeds – sow March to April in a sunny position in a warm greenhouse and only just cover. It germinates in 1 – 3 weeks at 20°c. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow on in a greenhouse for their first year. Plant out in late spring as the plant comes into new growth. Basal stem cuttings in the summer. Division in the dormant season, never when in growth. The plant will often produce a number of shoots, the top 5 – 10 cm of the root below each shoot can be potted up to form a new plant whilst the lower part of the root can possibly be eaten. Tubercles (baby tubers) are formed in the leaf axils. These are harvested in late summer and early autumn when about the size of a pea and coming away easily from the plant. They should be potted up immediately in individual pots in a greenhouse or cold frame. Plant out in early summer when in active growth.

Edible Uses:
Tubers are edible – cooked and eaten. A slightly bitter flavour, it is usually boiled with some wood ash in order to remove the bitterness. Some caution is advised. See notes below on other uses of the root and above on toxicity.

Medicinal Uses:
The juice of the root tuber istaken in the evening in the treatment of roundworm. It is also used to alleviate constipation. The roots of most, if not all, members of this genus, contains diosgenin. This is widely used in modern medicine in order to manufacture progesterone and other steroid drugs. These are used as contraceptives and in the treatment of various disorders of the genitary organs as well as in a host of other diseases such as asthma and arthritis. The roots of this species contain an average of 4.8% diosgenin.

Other Uses: A soap is obtained from the tuber. This soap is due to the presence of poisonous saponins in the root. The soap is also used as a body wash to kill lice. This plant provides excellent groundcover for landscapes .

Known Hazards : Edible species of Dioscorea have opposite leaves whilst poisonous species have alternate leaves.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dioscorea_deltoidea
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Dioscorea+deltoidea

https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Nepal%20Yam.html

Botanical Name: Berbevus arista
Family: Berberidaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Ranunculales
Genus: Berberis
Species: B. aristata

Synonyms : B. chitria. B. coriaria.

Common Names: Chitra, Indian Barberry or Tree Turmeric .

Habitat:
The genus comprises approximately 450-500 species of deciduous evergreen shrubs and is found in the temperate and sub-tropical regions of Asia, Europe, and America. Berbevus arista is native to the Himalayas in India and in Nepal. It is also naturally found in the Nilgiri Mountains of southern India and in Sri Lanka.

Description:
Berberis aristata is characterized by an erect spiny shrub, ranging between 2 to 3 m (6.6 to 9.8 ft) in height. It is a woody plant, with bark that appears yellow to brown from the outside and deep yellow from the inside. The bark is covered with three-branched thorns, which are modified leaves, and can be removed by hand in longitudinal strips. The leaves are arranged in tufts of five to eight and are approximately 4.9 cm (1.9 in) long and 1.8 cm (0.71 in) broad. The leaves are deep green on the dorsal surface and light green on the ventral surface. The leaves are simple with pinnate venation. The leaves are leathery in texture and are toothed, with several to many small indentations along the margin of the leaf.
The flowering season begins in mid-March and lasts throughout the month of April. The yellow flowers that develop are complete and hermaphroditic. The average diameter of a fully opened flower is 12.5 mm (0.49 in). The flowers form a racemose inflorescence, with 11 to 16 flowers per raceme, arranged along a central stem. The flower is polysepalous, with three large and three small sepals, and polypetalous, with six petals in total. The male reproductive structure, the androecium, is polyandrous and contains six stamens, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long. There is one female reproductive structure, the gynoecium, which is 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and is composed of a short style and a broad stigma. The plant produces bunches of succulent, acidic, edible berries that are bright red in color and have medicinal properties. The fruits start ripening from the second week of May and continue to do so throughout June. The berries are approximately 7 mm (0.28 in) long, 4 mm (0.16 in) in diameter, and weigh about 227 mg (0.0080 oz)

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Cultivation:
Berbevus arista prefers a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are very hardy, they survived the severe winters of 1986-1987 without problems in most areas of Britain. Plants can be pruned back quite severely and resprout well from the base. The fruits are sometimes sold in local markets in India. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Most plants cultivated under this name are B. chitria., B. coriaria., B. glaucocarpa. and, more commonly, B. floribunda.

Propagation:
Through seeds – best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, it should germinate in late winter or early spring. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate. Stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first winter. Once they are at least 20cm tall, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so be careful not to overwater them and keep them well ventilated. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Very difficult, if not impossible. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season’s growth, preferably with a heel, October/November in a frame. Very difficult, if not impossible.

Edible Uses:
The fruits of the species are eaten by people living in areas where the plant is found, often as a dessert. They are juicy and contain plenty of sugars and other useful nutrients that supplement their diet. The roots can also be used for making an alcoholic drink.

Mediciinal Uses:
Berbevus arista is used traditionally in Indian system of medicine as an antibacterial, antiperiodic, antidiarrheal and anticancer and it is also used in the treatment of ophthalmic infections. Its root, stem and leaves also find their use in treatment of various ailments and hence is used extensively in AyurvedaIts stem, roots, and fruits are used in Ayurveda.
A preparation called rasaunt is prepared by boiling the bark of the root and of the lower part of the stem in water. The solution is then strained and evaporated until a semi-solid mass, rasaunt, is obtained. It is mixed with either butter and alum, or with opium and lime-juice.
The root bark contains the bitter alkaloid berberine, which has been studied for its potential pharmacological properties.

Other Uses:The plant as a whole is a good source of dye and tannin which is used for dyeing clothes and for tanning leather.
A yellow dye is obtained from the root and the stem. An important source of dyestuff and tannin, it is perhaps one of the best tannin dyes available in India. The wood is used as a fuel. The spiny branches are used for making fencing around fields.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berberis_aristata
https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Berberis+aristata