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Thursday, 12 September 2013

Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch.

Family-  Boraginaceae.
Habitat-  Cultivated in Central and southern Europe.
English-  Alkanet, Dyers’ or Spanish Bugloss.
Unani-  Ratanjot. National Formulary of Unani Medicine equated Ratanjot with Onosma echioides Linn., found in Kashmir and Kumaon.
Siddha/Tamil-  Ratthapaalai, Surulpattai,Dineshavalli.
Action-  Astringent, antimicrobial (used for indolent ulcers, wounds,erysipelas).The root contains up to % alkannins,which are lipophilic isohexenylnaphthazarin red pigments; tannins and wax. A pyrrolizidine (hepatotoxic) alkaloid has also been isolated from the herb. The alkannins have antimicrobial and wound-healing properties and are non-toxic in mice. They have been used clinically for indolent ulcers.

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