This document provides information on 13 traditional drugs of India - Chirata, Shatavari, Kalmeg, Tinospora, Punarnava, Karela, Guggul, Brahmi, Neem, Tulsi, Amla. For each drug, it summarizes the synonym, biological source, geographical source, macroscopic characteristics, chemical constituents, and uses. The document contains detailed information on the traditional medicinal plants and herbs commonly used in Ayurveda and Indian traditional medicine systems.

1. TRADITIONAL
DRUGS OF
INDIA

2. CHIRATA
1. Synonym: Bitter stick; Chiretta; Chirayita
2. Biological Source: It is the dried plant of
Swertia chirata (Roxb); belonging to family
Gentianaceae
3. Geographical Source: It is found in India from
Himalaya to the mountainous regions in
Kashmir, Bhutan, Meghalaya and Khasi Hills.
It is also grown in Nepal. Jegan

3. 4. Macroscopic characteristics:
• Colour : Leaves, flowers and fruits-yellowish shade; stem-yellowish brown to purple
• Odour : Odourless
• Taste : Extremely bitter
• Size : Stems = Length: 1.0 meter; Breadth = 6 mm
Jegan
Jegan

4. 5. Chemical Constituents:
• It invariably contains
 Bitter principles : ophelic acid;
 Bitter glycosides : amarogentin and chiratin;
 Alkaloids : gentianine and gentiocrucine.
Jegan
Jegan

5. 6. Use:
• It is invariably used as a bitter
tonic.
• It also finds its use as a febrifuge.
• It is employed in dyspepsia.
• It has been recommended as a
diuretic and in epilepsy.
• Industrially, it is extensively used
in dyeing cotton cloth
Jegan
Jegan

6. SHATAVARI
1. Synonym: Asparagus, Shatamul, Narayani
2. Biological Source: The shatavari mostly comprises of the dried
roots and the leaves of the naturally occurring plant known as
Asparagus racemosus Will, belonging to the family Liliaceae.
3. Geographical Source: It is widely distributed
throughout the tropical regions of
Africa, Australia, Asia and India
Jegan

7. 4. Macroscopic characteristics:
• Color: roots are silver, white or ash
colored
• Odour: None
• Taste: Starchy, slightly bitter
followed by sweet taste
Jegan

8. 5. Chemical Constituents:
• The shatavari contains four steriodal saponins usually designated as shatavarin I-IV present
collectively to the extent of 0.2%;
• However, shatavarin I is the major glycoside present.
• The other components present are β-sitosterol, stigmasterol
Jegan

9. 6. Use:
• The roots are employed mostly as galactogogue to promote the flow of milk.
• The roots are used invariably as tonic and diuretic.
• The steroidal saponin Shatavari-I is reported to exert antioxytocic activity.
• The roots are extensively employed as a medicinal oil for the control and management of
nervine disorders and rheumatism.
• In the Ayurvedic System of Medicine it is widely used both in threatened abortion and
safe delivery because of its distinct uterine blocking activity
Jegan

10. Jegan

11. KALMEG
1. Synonym: Andrographis, Kiryet, Bhui-
nimb
2. Biological Source: It consist of dried
leaves and tender shoots of the plant
Andrographis paniculata Nees
belonging to family Acanthaceae
3. Geographical Source: Grows
abundantly in Southeastern Asia-
India, Sri-lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia
Jegan

12. 4. Macroscopic characteristics:
• Color- leaves are dark green, while flowers are pink color
• Odour- Odourless
• Taste- Intensely bitter
• Size- Leaves 7x2.5 cm, flower 1.8 cm length
Jegan
Jegan

13. 5. Chemical Constituents:
• It is rich in diterpenoids and diterpenoid glycosides, like
 Andrographolide
 Andrographiside
 Deoxyandrographiside
 Neoandrographolide
 Deoxyandrographolide
 Isoandrographolide
 14-deoxyandrographolide
 Andrographolide is the primary bioactive component
Jegan

14. 6. Use:
• Kalmegh is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in nature.
• The regular use of Kalmegh is helpful to cure cough, cold, and body pain.
• Kalmegh is used as antibacterial, anti-parasitic and antifungal.
• It is used as a blood purifier and enhances immunity.
• It protects the liver and used as a Liver tonic.
• Traditionally, Kalmegh is used in the treatment of leprosy and cholera.
• The tonic is used against weakness to add strength and vigour to the body
• The extract of Kalmegh is used in the treatment of slow digestion and irregular menstrual syndrome.
• It is used against various skin infection, scabies, boil and patches.
• The Kalmegh syrup is also used against fever and malaria
• Kalmegh juice is used to cure ulcer traditionally.
• The bitter extract of the leaves is useful in killing worms in the large intestine.
Jegan

15. Jegan

16. TINOSPORA
1. Synonym: Heartleaved moonseed,
Guduchi, Giloe, Gurcha
2. Biological Source: It consist of dried
stems of Tinospora cordifolia belonging
to family Menispermaceae
3. Geographical Source: It’s a perennial
herb found in the Himalayas and in many
parts of the South India and Sri Lanka
Jegan
Jegan

17. 4. Macroscopic characteristics:
• Color- Young stems are green,
while older ones are light brown
color
• Odour- Odourless
• Taste- bitter
• Size-Thickness- 0.6-5cm in
diameter
Jegan
Jegan

18. 5. Chemical Constituents:
• It contain clerodane furanoditerpenes like
 Tinosporaside
 Columbin
• Contains Alkaloids like
 Jactrorhizine
 Palmatine
 Berberine
 Tembeterine
• Also contains sesquiterpene glycosides like
 Tinocordifolioside
 Cordifolioside A
 Cordifolioside B
Tinosporaside
Berberine
Jegan

19. 6.Use:
The drug is used as
• Rejuvinator
• Hypoglycemic
• Immunomodulator
• Astringent
• Antipyretic
• Blood purifier
• Cardiotonic
• Antiasthamatic
• Antineoplastic
Jegan

20. Jegan

21. PUNARNAVA
1. Synonym: Hog weed, Ghetuli,
Vasuchimuli
2. Biological Source: It consist of
fresh as well as dried whole plant
of Boerhaavia difusa Linn
belonging to family Nyctaginaceae
3. Geographical Source: Found in
India and Sri Lanka during rainy
season
Jegan
Jegan

22. 4. Macroscopic characteristics:
• Color-
 Stem- greenish purple in color
 Root- long cylindrical yellowish to brown in
color
 Flower- White (Sweta Punarnava) or
Red/pink (Rakta Punarnava) in color
• Odour- Odourless
• Taste- Bitter
Jegan

23. 5. Chemical Constituents:
• It contains a phenolic glycoside punarnavoside
• It also contains two rotenoids such as boeravinones A,B,C,D and E
• Lignan derivatives such as Liridodendrin
• Root contains boeravine, ursolic acid and B-sitosterol
Punarnavoside
B-sitosterol
Jegan

24. 6.Use:
• It possess potent
 Antifibrinolytic activity
 Anti-Inflammatory activity
 Diuretic property
 Hepatoprotective activity
• Useful in treatment of inflammatory renal disease
• The whole herb in the form of juice is given internally as
blood purifier
Jegan

25. Jegan

26. KARELA
1. Synonym: Momordica, Bitter gourd
2. Biological Source: It is fresh green
fruits of plant known as Momordica
charantia belonging to family
Cucurbitaceae
3. Geographical Source: It is a perennial
climbers found throughout India
Jegan
Jegan

27. 4. Macroscopic Characteristics:
• Color: Dark green
• Odour: Characteristic
• Taste: Intensely bitter
Jegan

28. 5. Chemical Constituents:
• The fruit contain charantin which has blood sugar lowering activity
• It also contain a cathartic principle called momorcidin
• The drug also contains
 Carbohydrate (10%)
 Mineral matter
 Ascorbic acid
• Additionally it also has alkaloids, glucoside, saponins and mucilage
Chrantin
Jegan

29. 6. Use:
• It is Stomachic
• Carminative
• Used in treatment of
rheumatism, disorders of
spleen and liver
• Fresh fruit juice reduce
blood sugar level so used
in treatment of Diabetes
mellitus
Jegan

30. Jegan

31. GUGGUL
1. Synonym: Gum guggul, gugal, guggula
2. Biological Source: It is a oleo gum resin obtained by
making deep incision on the barks of Commiphora
weightii and Commiphora mukul belonging to family
Burseraceae
3. Geographical Source: It is native to Africa. Widely found
in Somalia, Kenya, Zaira, Zimbabwe.In India it is found in
Rajasthan and Gujarat
Jegan
Jegan

32. 4. Description:
• Color: Brown to pale yellow
• Odor: Balsamic and aromatic
• Taste: Extremely bitter
• Solubility: when triturated with water,
it forms white solution
Jegan

33. 5. Chemical Constituents:
Guggul contains
• Gum (32%)
• Essential oil
• Carbohydrates
• Sterols
 Guggulosterols I to IV
 B-sitosterol
 Cholesterol
• It also contains sugars, amino acids,
ellagic acid, guggulosterone, flavanoids
Jegan

34. 6. Use:
• It significantly reduces blood cholesterol level
• Astringent
• Antiseptic
• Expectorant
• Aphrodisiac
• Demulcent
• Anti-inflammatory
• Reduces body weight
Jegan

35. Jegan

36. BRAHMI
1. Synonym: Manduki, Karivana
2. Biological source: It is fresh or dried herb of
Centella asiatica belonging to family
Umbelliferae
3. Geographical source:
The plant is found in
swampy areas of India
Jegan

37. 4. Macroscopic Characteristics:
• Colour : Green
• Odour : None
• Taste : Bitter
Jegan

38. 5. Chemical Constituents:
• Saponin glycosides:
 Brahmoside
 Brahminoside
 Thankunoside
 Asiaticoside
 Oxyasiaticoside
• Triterpene Acids:
 Brahmic acid
 isobrahmic acid
 Asiatic acid
 Centic acid
 Centoic acid
Jegan

39. 6.Use:
• Improve memory.
• Sedative.
• Antiprotozoal
• In Case of epilepsy and other neurological
conditions.
• Blood purifier, tonic, diuretic etc.
• Anti-bacterial and to heal wounds
• Treatment of leprosy and skin disease.
• Reported to heal peptic ulcer.
Jegan

40. Jegan
Jegan

41. NEEM
1. Synonym: Margosa, nimb, limba,
nimba
2. Biological source: Neem consists
of the fresh or dried leaves, stems
and seed oil of Azadirachta indica
belonging to family Meliaceae
3. Geographical source: Neem is
native to India and Pakistan. It is
found throughout India
Jegan
Jegan

42. 4. Macroscopic Characteristics (leaves)
• Colour: Smooth and dark green
• Odour: typical
• Taste: Bitter
Jegan

43. 5. Chemical Constituents:
• Leaves:
 Nimbin, Nimbidine
 Nimbinene, 6- desacetylnimbinene, Nimbandiol, nimbolide.
 Quercetin, β-sitosterol.
 Ascorbic acid
• Fruits:
 Gedunin.
 Azadiredione, azadirone, nimbiol.
 17-epiazadiradione.
• Seeds:
 Azadirachtin.
 Bitter principle: Nimbidin, nimbidinin, Nimbin, nimbinin and nimbidol.
Jegan

44. 6. Use:
• Immunostimulant activity
• Hypoglycaemic activity
• Antiulcer effect
• Antifertility effect
• Antimalarial activity
• Antifungal, Antibacterial activity
• Antiviral activity
• Anticancer activity
• Antioxidant activity
• Natural pesticide
Jegan

45. Jegan

46. TULSI
1. Synonym: Holi Basil, Tulasi
2. Biological source: It consist of fresh
and dried leaves of Ocimum sanctum
belonging to family Labiatae
3. Geographical source: It is found
throughout India
Jegan
Jegan

47. 4. Macroscopic Characteristics
• Colour: Stem: Purplish Leaves: Green
• Odour: Characteristic
• Taste: Pungent and mucilaginous
Jegan

48. 5. Chemical Constituents:
• Leaves contain volatile oil containing chiefly
 Eugenol 21%
 β-caryophyllene 37%
 β-elemene
 Methyleugenol
 Carvocrol
 Camphene
 β- pipene
 α- pipene
• It also contains ursolic acid, campesterol, cholesterol, Stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol
Jegan

49. 6. Use:
• The leaves are used as aromatic, carminative,
stimulant and flavoring agent
• Leaves have activity like
 Hypoglycemic
 Immunomodulatory
 Anti inflammatory
 Antiulcerogenic
 Antibacterial
 Expectorant
 Diaphoretic
 Antitumor
• Used in cold, cough, fever and gastric disorder
Jegan

50. Jegan

51. AMLA
1. Synonym: Indian gooseberry, amalaka,
dhatriphala, anvala
2. Biological source: It consist of fresh or dried
fruit of Emblica officinalis belonging family
Euphorbiaceae
3. Geographical source: It is found throughout
India Jegan

52. 4. Macroscopic Characteristics
• Colour: Fruit is green when tender but turns to yellow or brick red on maturity
• Odour: Odorless
• Taste: Sour taste initially and sweet afterwards
Jegan

53. 5. Chemical Constituents:
• It contains
 Vitamin C
 Minerals
 Certain amino acids
 Gallic acid
 Ellagic acid
 Phyllembin
Jegan

54. 6. Use:
• The fruits are diuretic, refrigerant and laxative
• Dried fruit is used in hemorrhage, diarrhea, diabetes and dysentery
• It has properties like
 Antioxidant
 Antibacterial
 Antifungal
 Antiviral
• It is one of the famous ayurvedic preparation- Triphala Churna used
for chronic constipation
• Also used in chyavanprash
Jegan

55. Jegan

56. Thank You
JSN