Capsicum frutescens Health Dictionary

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Capsicum Frutescens: From 1 Different Sources

Linn.

Family: Solanaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated as a condiment crop.

English: Bird Chilli.

Ayurvedic: Katuviraa.

Unani: Surkh Mirch.

Siddha/Tamil: Musi Milagay.

Action: See Capsicum annuum.

Key application: Externally, in painful muscle spasms in areas of shoulder, arm and spine; for treating arthritis, rheumatism, neuralgia, lumbago and chilbains. (German Commission E.) The British Pharmacopoeia reported rubefacient and vasostimulant action.

The plant contains hydroxybenzoic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid and ascorbic acid. Fruits contain up to 1% of capsaicin.
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Capsicum Annuum

Linn.

Family: Solanaceae.

Habitat: Native to the West Indies and tropical America; now cultivated throughout tropical regions of India.

English: Chilli, Red Pepper.

Ayurvedic: Raktamaricha, Lankaa, Katuviraa.

Unani: Mirch, Filfil-e-Ahmar, Filfl-e-Surkh, Surkh Mirch.

Siddha/Tamil: Milagay.

Action: Stimulant, accelerates oxygenation of cells, encourages adrenal glands to produce corticos- teroids, increases gastrointestinal secretion. Carminative, antispas- modic, antiseptic. Used externally for rheumatism, backache, lumbago, neuralgia, painful muscle spasm.

Red chilli contains capsaicin (0.11.5%), carotenoids, flavonoids, volatile oil; steroidal saponins (capsicidins, only in seeds).

Capsaicin stimulates the circulation and alters temperature regulation; topically desensitizes nerve endings and acts as a local analgesic.

Capsaicin produces a protective effect in rat lung and liver by strengthening the pulmonary antioxidant enzyme defence system. Acute capsaicin treatment causes release of substance desensitization of the respiratory tract mucosa to a variety of lung irritants.

Red pepper or an equivalent amount of capsaicin, when fed along with cholesterol-containing diets to female albino rats, prevented significantly the rise of liver cholesterol levels.

Vitamin P has been isolated from the chillies. Vitamin C gradually increases during maturation and reaches maximum at the semi-ripe or pink coloured stage and decreases thereafter.

Capsaicin exhibited a hypoglycae- mic effect in dogs; insulin release was increased. (Phytother Res, 2001, Aug 15(5), 391-4.)

Dosage: Fruit—30-60 mg powder. (CCRAS.)... capsicum annuum

Ichnocarpus Frutescens

R. Br.

Family: Apocynaceae.

Habitat: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and the Sunderbans.

English: Black Creeper.

Ayurvedic: Gopavalli, Krishna Saarivaa (var.), Krishna-muuli, Shyaamalataa.

Siddha/Tamil: Karunannari, Makalikilanzhu.

Folk: Kaalisar, Karantaa.

Action: Root—demulcent, diuretic, alterative, diaphoretic; used in fevers, dyspepsia and cutaneous affections. The roots of the plant are used as a substitute for Indian sarsaparilla and are often mixed with the roots of Hemidesmus indicus (their therapeutic properties for use as sarsaparilla have bot been established).

The root gave 2-hydroxy-4-meth- oxybenzaldehyde.

Alkaloids and flavonoids were present in the roots but not in the leaves and fruits. Saponins were absent in these parts. The whole plant gave n-butyl sorboside, kaempferol and its gluco- side.... ichnocarpus frutescens

Perilla Frutescens

(Linn.) Britton.

Family: Labiatae; Lamiacae.

Habitat: Throughout the Himalayas up to an altitude of about 3,500 m, and in the hills of Assam.

English: Perilla, Wild Coleus.

Folk: Bhanjeer, Ban-tulasi, Ban- jiraa, Bhasindi.

Action: Herb—sedative, antispasmodic, antiasthmatic, resolvent.

P. frutescens var. crispa is used in mixtures prescribed for cough and lung affections.

Several chemotypes of Perilla have been detected. The Indian type is rich in rosefuran. Other components are perillene, perilla ketone, beta-caryo- phyllene, phellandrene and a few ses- quiterpenoids. Aerial parts gave ethyl linolenate, linolenic acid and beta- sitosterol. The leaves also gave an an- thocyanin, perillanin. The leaves and flowering tops yield essential oils containing perilla ketone as major com- ponent—94% in leaf oils and 47% in inflorescence oils at fruiting stage.

Perillaldehyde, a major component of the plant extract, inhibits (moderately) a broad range of both bacteria and fungi. The MeOH extract of var. acuta Kudo is reported to prolong hexobarbital-induced sleep in mice. Dillapiol has been isolated as the active principle from the methanolic extract.... perilla frutescens

Sutherlandia Frutescens

R.Br.

Family: Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.

Habitat: Native to South Africa; cultivated in Indian gardens.

English: Bladdersenna, Cancerwort, Cape Baloon Pea.

Action: Leaves—infusion or decoction given in stomach and intestinal disorders and hepatic affections. Much milder in action than true Senna.... sutherlandia frutescens

Scaevola Frutescens

auct. non-Krause.

Synonym: S. koenigii Vahl. S. taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb.

Family: Goodeniaceae.

Habitat: Sea coasts all around India and in the Andaman Islands.

English: Fan Flower, Malay Rice Paper Plant.

Siddha/Tamil: Vella-muttangam.

Folk: Bhadraka, Bhadraaksha.

Action: Leaves—digestive, carminative; applied externally on tumours and swollen legs. Fruit—juice, internally for inducing menstruation. Roots—used for dysentery.

A decoction of the leaves and the bark is reported to combat tachycardia, one of the principal symptoms of beriberi. The drug reduces the frequency of heartbeat, slows down pulse rate and at the same time stimulates the heart to normal contraction (does not possess cumulative action of digitalis). The drug acts as a diuretic by increasing the tension in the renal arteries without causing irritation of the kidney parenchyma; and is used for dropsy.

The aerial parts gave loganin, sylve- stroside III, its dimethyl acetal, cant- leyoside and its dimethyl acetal.... scaevola frutescens

Capsicum

See: CAYENNE.

CAPSULES. A convenient vehicle for administration of powders, seeds, oils, balsams, Castor oil, Garlic, Rose Hip, etc, having the advantage to mask nasty tasting or smelly medicines. Ideal for regulating dosage for children. Swallowed, they soon reach the stomach where their contents are slowly released. Gelatin capsules are of animal origin but cellulose non-animal materials are available. Their use extends also to gynaecological and rectal problems, inserted into the vagina or anus.

Standard sizes range from size 5 to 000. Size 00 is most popular in European pharmacy. See: POWDERS.

To fill empty capsules, take apart the two sections, ‘dab’ open end into powder on a flat surface; fill to capacity and affix unfilled half-shell. Manufacturers use a special filling machine for this purpose.

Patients should remain standing for at least 90 seconds after taking capsules, and followed up with sips of water. Swallowing failure is possible when capsules are taken in the recumbent position when they may adhere to the oesophageal membrane delaying disintegration time.

Equipment suppliers: capsules and capsule-making machines – Dav-Caps, PO Box 11, Monmouth, Gwent NP5 3NX. Also: The Herbal Apothecary, 120 High Street, Syston, Leicester 1E7 8GC. ... capsicum


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