GARLIC Fresh/dried cloves (bulbules) of Allium sativum  (Fam. Liliaceae). Volatile oil (0.1-0.3%), containing several sulfur-containing compounds, mostly alliin, which is unstable and changes to allicin by allinase enzyme, and ajoene, which is the condensation product of allicin. In addition to allyl disulfide. Minerals (selenium, germanium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium, copper, and zinc). Vitamins A, B1, B2 and C. Nicotinamide and glutathione.

1. SUBTERRANEAN ORGANS
By
Dr. Mostafa Mahmoud Hegazy ( PH.D.)

2. FILIX MAS (Male Fern)‫الذكر‬ ‫السرخس‬
• Part Used:
• Male fern is the carefully dried rhizomes and frond bases of Dryopteris
filix-mas
(Fam. Polypodiaceae) collected late in the autumn.
• Male fern contains not more than 2% of foreign organic matters and
yields not less than 1.5% of filicin.
Lady fern = Athyrium filix foemina

3. Active Constituents
• A yellow amorphous substance of acid nature called filmarone (5%),
which causes the vermifuge properties of the drug.
• Filicic acid and its lactone filicin, and tannic acid.
• Fixed oil.
• Therapeutic Uses
• It has anthelmintic properties, with powerful toxic action on
tapeworms.
• In large doses, it is an irritant poison (cause blindness).

4. GARLIC ‫ثوم‬
• Part Used:
• Fresh/dried cloves (bulbules) of Allium sativum (Fam. Liliaceae).

5. Active Constituents
• Volatile oil (0.1-0.3%), containing several sulfur-containing
compounds, mostly alliin, which is unstable and changes to allicin by
allinase enzyme, and ajoene, which is the condensation product of
allicin. In addition to allyl disulfide.
• Minerals (selenium, germanium, iron, magnesium, manganese,
potassium, calcium, copper, and zinc).
• Vitamins A, B1, B2 and C.
• Nicotinamide and glutathione.

6. Therapeutic Uses
• In detoxification, infection protection, immune enhancement.
• It lowers blood pressure, improves circulation, and lowers blood lipid levels.
• It is recommended for: arteriosclerosis, arthritis, asthma, cancer, circulatory
problems, colds, flu, digestive problems, heart disorders, insomnia, liver disease,
sinusitis, ulcers, yeast infections.
• It possesses antiplatelets aggregation, hypotensive and hypoglycemic effects.
• Powerful antioxidant due to its glutathione and selenium content.
• Hypoglycemic due to allicin and diallyl sulphide content.
• As a powerful antiseptic, antibiotic, antiviral and antimycotic, and used in the
treatment of infectious diseases e.g. typhoid, dysentery, pneumonia, etc.
• Recently it was found to have anticarcinogenic effects.
•

7. Podophyllum rhizome
• Podophyllum peltatum and P. emodi. (Berberidaceae)
• Active const.
Resins, purgative substances, and flavonoids.
podophyllotoxin (toxic S.Eunsuitable for clin. use)
etoposide, teniposide (Synthetic derivatives)
• Uses
1-As a powerful purgative in moderate doses but causes intestinal irritation in
large doses.
2-In skin warts and some cases of skin cancer.
3-In some malignant tumors.
Lymphoma, lung, testicular cancer
Bind to tubulinblock mitosis
(teniposideTopoisomerase IIDNA rep.)

9. Differences between American and Indian Podophyllum
American Podophyllum Indian Podophyllum
1. Shape Subcylindrical. Tortuous.
2. Internodes Long. Shorter and thicker.
3. Nodes Show few root-scars. Thicker with numerous
root-scars.
3. Fracture Short and starchy. Hard and horny.
4. Vascular bundles Numerous, collateral. Less numerous, more
radially elongated.
5. Therapeutic activity Less active. Twice the activity, due to
higher content of resin and
podophyllotoxin.
6. Effect of KOH No gelatinization Gelatinization.
7. Effect of 5%
Cu acetate
Bright green color. Brown precipitate.