Lept Health Dictionary

A zoonosis. It is an acute, febrile, septicaemic disease caused by the Leptospira interrogans which has more than 200 serovars. The disease is characterised by a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations including fever, chills, headache, conjunctivitis and muscular pains. The disease may be subclinical in mild cases but jaundice and renal failure are observed in severe cases. Includes Weil’s Disease. Can result in an aseptic meningitis.... leptospirosis

A group, or genus, of spiral micro-organisms, normally found in rodents and other small mammals in which they cause no harm. When transmitted to humans by these animals, either directly or indirectly as through cows, they give rise to various forms of illness (see LEPTOSPIROSIS).... leptospira

A protein that has a role in the regulation of fat storage by the body.... leptin

(Pers.) F. Muell. ex Benth.

Family: Umbelliferae.

Habitat: Native to America; cultivated in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka.

Ayurvedic: Ajmodaa, Dipyaka.

Unani: Ajmod, Karafs-e-Hindi.

Siddha: Omam.

Action: See Apium graveolens.

The essential oil contains Meethers of thymol, carvacrol and thymoquinol; used as a carminative. The oil shows strong antifungal activity against Candida albicans, and moderate activity against Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria.

Dosage: Dried fruit—3-6 g powder. (API Vol. II.)... apium leptophyllum

DC.

Synonym: G. tiliaefolia Lam.

Family: Rhamnaceae.

Habitat: Sub-Himalayan region from Kangra eastwards and in parts of Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

Folk: Batvaasi (Nepal), Batvaasi (Bengal), Bitkil-chaand (Bihar).

Action: Leaves—used in poultices for sores. Bark—used for washing hair for destroying vermin.

The bark and root contain saponin. The leaves of a related species, Goua- nia microcarpa DC., found in Peninsular India from Konkan southwards, gave a triterpenic acid, along with tetratriacontanoic acid.... gouania leptostachya

Hook. f. & Thoms.

Family: Papaveraceae.

Habitat: Mediterranean region and temperate Asia. (Allied species: H. pendulum Linn. and H. procumbens Linn., found in Peshavar, Multan, Waziristan and Baluchistan). Occurs in Sikkim.

Folk: Zirgulaki, Waziri.

Action: Used in stomachache. Juice of the plant has the same effect as opium. Leaves diaphoretic. Plant— narcotic.

The whole plant contains protopine (0.19) as the major alkaloid.... hypecoum leptocarpum

W. & A.

Family: Asclepiadaceae.

Habitat: Sub-Himalayan tracts of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh and Deccan Peninsula up to an altitude of 900 m.

Ayurvedic: Jivanti; Jivaniya, Jiva- pushpa, Hemavati, Jivana. Shaaka- shreshtha, Payaswini, Maangalya, Madhusravaa. (Guduuchi, Medaa, Kaakoli and Vrkshaadani are also known as Jivanti.) (Haimavati is equated with Orris Root and Hemapushpa with Sarca asoca flower.)

Siddha/Tamil: Keerippaalai.

Folk: Dodishaak (Gujarat).

Action: Plant—stimulant and restorative. Improves eyesight. Found useful in the treatment of habitual abortion. Leaves and roots used in skin diseases.

The herb contains «-triacontane, cetyl alcohol, beta-sitosterol, beta- amyrin acetate, lupanol 3-O-digluco- side and lepitidin glycoside.

Stigmasterol and lipoid fraction of the plant exhibited estrogen mimetic effects.

Alcoholic extract of roots and leaves show antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Intravenous administration of aqueous extract of stems has a pronounced and hypotensive action in anaesthetized dogs.

Dosage: Root—3-6 g powder. (CCRAS.)... leptadenia reticulata

Wight.

Synonym: L. pyrotechnica (Forsk.) Decne.

Family: Asclepiadaeae.

Habitat: Punjab, Western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and northern parts of Mumbai along the sea coast.

Folk: Kheemp (Rajasthan), Kheep (Gujarat). Prasaarani is a doubtful synonym.

Action: Antiseptic. Plant used for the treatment of burns and wounds.

The plant contains a triterpenoid, leptadenol; also 2.32 g/100 g tannin.... leptadenia spartium

n. a red blood cell (*erythrocyte) that is wafer-thin, generally large in diameter, and displays a thin rim of haemoglobin at the periphery with a large area of central pallor. Leptocytes are seen in certain types of anaemia.... leptocyte

pl. n. the inner two *meninges: the arachnoid and pia mater.... leptomeninges

n. inflammation of the inner membranes (the *pia mater and *arachnoid) of the brain and spinal cord. See also meningitis.... leptomeningitis

n. weakness of the voice.... leptophonia

n. the first stage in the first prophase of *meiosis, in which the chromosomes become visible as single long threads.... leptotene