This document provides information on 48 herbal drugs including their botanical name, parts used, chemical constituents and uses. Some key herbal drugs discussed include Aloe vera and rhubarb which have laxative properties, ginger and black pepper which are used as carminatives and flavouring agents, and cannabis, belladonna and aconite which have effects on the central nervous system. The document also covers herbal drugs used for conditions like hypertension, malaria, tumours, and leprosy.

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Pharmacognosy (103): Herbal Drugs
S.
No
Name of Drug Part used Biological Source Family Chemical Constituents Uses
1. Aloe vera juice Aloe barbadensis Liliaceae Anthraquinone
glycosides-aloin,aloe
emodin, aloe resin
cathartic and laxative properties. It is
hence useful as a cathartic in case of
constipation, cosmetics.
2. Rhubarb rhizomes Rheum emodi,
Rheum rhabarbarum
Polygonaceae glycosides— rhein,
glucorhein, and
emodin, tannin,
catechin
cathartic and laxative properties. It is
hence useful as a cathartic in case of
constipation
3. Ispaghula seeds Plantago ovata Plantaginacea
e
Pentasan, albidonic
acid, fixed oil and
proteins
laxative, in dysentery
4. Senna Leaves Cassia angustifolia Leguminoseae Sennosides A,B,C,D laxative.
5. Cardiotonics-
Digitalis
Leaves Digitalis purpurea,
Lanata
Scrophulariac
eae
Digitoxin,Gitoxin,Digit
oxigenin, Gitoxigenin
Cardiotonics (in CHF), Diuretic
6. Arjuna Bark Terminalia arjuna Combretaceae Tannins
(Pyrocatechol),
Arjunetin,Arjunolic
Acid
Cardiotonics ,analgesic and anti-
inflammatory properties, Diuretic,
Astringent
7. Cardamom Fruits Elettaria
cardamomum)
Zingiberaceae Volatile oil- Cineol,
terpinyl acetate
Carminative, Flavouring Agent
8. Ginger rhizomes Zingiber officinale Zingiberaceae Volatile oil-
Bisabolene, Zingib
erene, Zingiberal
Carminative, Flavouring Agent,
Condiment, Stimulant
9. Black pepper Fruits Piper nigrum Piperaceae Volatile oil, terpenes
Alkaloids - piperine,
Peperettine, Resin
Carminative, Flavouring Agent,
Condiment, Stimulant
10. Asafoetida Oleo-gum
resin from
roots and
rhizomes
Ferula Foetida Umbelliferae Volatile oil- isobutyl
proanyl disulphide,
rasin- ferulate, ferulic
acid
Carminative,
expectorents,antispasmodic, Laxative
11. Nutmeg Fruits Myristica fragrans Myristicaceae Fixed oil, volatile oil-
myristicin,eugenol,isoe
ugenol,Protein, starch
Carminative, Flavouring Agent,
digestive

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12. Clove flower bud
s
Eugenia
caryophyllus
Myrtaceae Volatile oil- Eugenol,
Gallotannic acid,
methylamyl ketone
carminative, naturalanthelmintic, spice,
antiseptic, dental analgesic, flavouring
agent.
13. Astringents–
Catechu
Dried
extract
Acacia catechu Leguminoseae Tannins- Catechins,
catechu tannic acid
Quercetin
As an astringent it has been used since
ancient times in Ayurvedic medicine as
well as in breath-freshening spice
mixtures—such as ready-made paan
masala and gutka,
Dyeing and tanning industry
14. Drugs acting
on CNS -
Cannabis
Dried
flowering
tops
Cannabis sativa
Cannabis indica
Cannabis
ruderalis
Cannabinacea
e
Resin-
tetrahydrocannabinol,
cannabinol,
cannabidiol
Sedative, hypnotics,analgesics,
psychotropic effect.
15. Belladonna Dried
Leaves
Atropa Balladonna Solanaceae Alkaloids –
Hyoscyamine,Atropine
Anticholinergic effect – mydratic,
antispasmodic
16. Aconite Dried
tuberous
root
Aconitum napellus Renunculacea
e
Alkaloids- Aconitine,
hypoconitine,
neopelline
Aconitic acid, starch
Lowering of body temp., diuretic, relief
of neuralgia
17. Ashwagandha Dried roots Withania somnifera Solanaceae Alkaloids-
withasomnine,
withanine, anaferine
Steroids- withaferin A
Sedative, tonic and aphrodisiac
18. Ephedra Dried
aerial parts
Ephedra Sinica
Ephedra equisetina
Gnctaceae Alkaloids- Ehpedrine,
pseudoephedrine, nor
–ephedrine
Sympathomimetic drug, bronchodilator,
CNS stimulant,Cardiac stimulant,
vasoconstrictore.
19. Opium Dried
Latex of
unripe
fruits
Papaver somniferum Papaverceae Alkaloids-morphine,
codeine, thebaine,
papaverine, noscapine
Analgesic, preanaesthetic
medication,cough suppressants, sedative
20. Nux vomica. Dried ripe
seeds
Strychnos nux
vomica
Loagniaceae Alkaloids-strychnine,
brucine
Loganin (glycoside)
Stimulant and bitter tonic, rodenticide.
21. Antihypertens
ives-
Rauwolfia.
Dried roots
and
rhizomes
Rauwolfia serpentine Apocynanceae Alkaloids- Reserpine,
ajmaline, ajmalicine,
serpentia, serpentinine
Antihypertensive, tranquisising agent,
ajmaline used in angina pectoris and
cardiac arrhythmias.

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22. Antitussives-
Vasaka
Fresh or
dried leaves
Adhatoda vasica Acanthaceae Alkaloids- vasicin,
vasicinone
Expectorants, bronchodialator,oxytocic,
antitubercular
23. Tolu balsam Semisolid
mass from
trunk of
Myroxylon
balsamum
Leguminoseae Resin, benzoic zcid Antiseptic, expectorants, flavouring
agent
24. Tulsi Leaves Ocimum sanctum Labiatae Volatile oil- eugenol,
methyl eugenol,
carvacrol,caryophylin
Antiseptic, expectorants, flavouring
agent, carminative, antifertility agent,
insecticides
25. Antirheumati
cs-Guggul
Gum Commiphora mukul Burseraceae Guggulosterone, gum
resin, volatile oil
Antirheumatic,used in dental,urinary,
skine disease, antitubercular, used in
marasmus
26. Antitumour-
Vinca
Dried
entire
Catharanthus rosens Apocynaceae Alkaloids- vincristine,
vinblastine, ajamaline,
serpentine
In leukemia, hodgkins disease,
choriocarcinoma
27. Antileprotics-
Chaulmoogra
Oil
Oil of seeds Hydnocourpus
wighiana
Flacourtiacea
e
Fatty acid-hydnocarpic
acid,chaulmoogric
acid, gorlic acid,oleic
acid, palmitic acid
In leprosy and tuberculosis
28. Diuretics–
Gokhru
Dried ripe
fruits
Triulus terrestris Zygophyllacea
e
Saponins- diosgenin,
gitogenin
Diuretic
29. Punarrnava Whole
plant
Boerhaavia diffusa Nyctaginaceae Alkaloids-
punarnavine
Diuretic, anti-inflammatory
30. Antidysentrics
-Ipecacuanha
Dried root/
rhizome
Cephalis ipecacunha Rubiaceae Alkaloids- emetine,
cephaline
Expectorant, emetic, antiamoebic
31. Antiseptics
and
disinfectants
Benzoin
Resin Styrax benzoin Styracaceae Cinnamic acid, benzoic
acid
Expectorant, antiseptic, diuretic
32. Nim Dried bark Azadirachta indica Meliaceae Alkaloids- margosine,
tannic acid
Astringent, antiseptic, disinfectant
33. curcuma Dried
rhizomes
Curcuma longa Zingiberaceae Curcumin, volatile oil,
resin
Anti-inflammatory, condiment and
colouring agent
34. Antimalarials
–Cinchona
Dried bark Cinchona
officianalis
Rubiaceae Alkaloids- quinine,
quinidine, cinchonine
Antimalarials, antiarrhythmic
35. Oxytocics- Dried Claviceps purpurea Clavicipitacea ergometrine, Oxytocic, in migraine

4. Gyandeep Academy
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Ergot sclerotium
of fungus
e ergometrinine,
ergotmine
36. Vitamines-
Shark liver
Oil
Fixed oil-
liver
Hypoprion
brevirostris
Carcharhinida
e
Vit. A Treatment of xerophthalmia, Source of
vit. A, tonic
37. Amla Fruits Emblica officinalis Euphorbiacea
e
Vit. C Treatment of scurvy, diabetes,
antibacterial, antiviral
38. Enzymes-
Papaya
Latex of
unripe
fruits
Carica papaya Caricaceae Papain- Digestive
enzymes
digestant
39. Peppermint
oil( menthal)
Volatile oil Mentha piperata Labiatae Volatile oil- menthol Carminative , stimulant, perfuming
agent
40. Acacia Dried gum Acacia Senegal Fabaceae Arabin, D-galactose Binding, suspending, emulsifying agent
41. Tragacanth Gum Astragalus gummifer Leguminoseae Tragacanthin, bassorin Demulcent, amolient, Binding,
suspending agent
42. Miscellaneous
–Liquorice
Roots/
stolon
Glycyrrhiza glabra Leguminoseae Glycyrrhizic acid,
glycerhizinic acid
Demulcent, expectorant, sweetening
agent, anti-inflammatory agent
43. Garlic Ripe bulbs Alium sativum Liliaceae Allin, allicin Flavouring agent, antihypertensive
44. Picrorhiza Dried
roots/
rhizomes
Picrohiza kurro Scrophulariac
eae
Picroside I, Picroside
II, kutkoside
Bitter tonic, stomachic, treatment of
jaundice, laxative
45. Dioscorea Tubers Dioscorea deltoidea Discoreaceaea Diosein, diosgenin Synthesis of steroidal drugs
46. Satavari Dried roots Asparangus
racemosus
Liliacaeae Saponins- shatavarin
I,II,III and IV
Diuretic, antioxytocic
47. cotton Hairs of
seeds
Gossypium hirsutum Malvaceae Cellulose Surgical, filter medium etc
48. Silk Fibre bombyx mori Bombycidae Protein- fibroin Surgical, filter medium etc