ABIES Figure 1 Abies smithiana (Pinaceae) [WOT] C.P. Khare (Fd.), Indian Herbal Remedies © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004 Pinaceae Abies spectabilis (D. Don) Spach. Abies webbiana Lindl. Pinus webbiana Wall. Habitat Himalayas from Kashmir to Assam at altitudes of 1600-4500 m. Classical & common names Ayurvedic: Taalisa, Taalisapatra, Dhaatriparni, Shukodara. A related variety: Granthikaapatra, Patraaddhya, Tulasichhada. (Ayurveda Saukhyam.) Unani: Taalispattar, Zarnab (Arabic), Taalisfar (Arabic) Siddha: Tealispatri. English: Himalayan Silver Fi. Parts used Leaves (needles), bark, oil. Dose Powder 2-5 g. Classical use ‘The powdered leaves (needles) were used by Char- aka internally for cough, anaemia, digestive disor- ders, colic pain. The powdered leaves were given along with the juice of Adhatoda vasica or honey in cough, bronchial asthma, hoarseness of voice and intrinsic haemorrhage. (Vrindamaadhava, Haarita Samhitaa.) ‘The powdered leaves 1 part, Piper nigrum (Maricha) 2 parts, dried Zingiber officinale (Shun- thi) 3 parts, Piper longum (Pippali) 4 parts, Bam- boo-manna (Vansalochana) 5 parts, Greater car- damom (Sthula-elaa) 1/2 part, Cinnamomum, zeylanicum (Tvak) 1/2 part and purified sugar 52 parts—this compound forms the reputed ‘Taal-isaadya Churna of Shaarangadhara Samhitaa, which is still being prescribed for cough and bron- chitis, asthma and fever (due to throat or chest infection). ‘Taalisapatra is also an ingredient in Vyoshaadi Vati (Shaarangadhara Samhita), indicated in cough, cold, bronchitis and indigestion. In Siddha medicine, Taalisaadi Choornam (Agaththiyar Eraththina Churukkam) is pre- scribed for gastritis, colic, distention of stomach, indigestion and cough. The compound consists of 24 herbs (while in Ayurvedic compound there are only 8 herbs). Thippli. Rasaayanam (Agaththiyar Paripoor- nam) of Siddha medicine, is prescribed in cough, bronchitis, asthma, also contains Taalisapatri. In folk medicine, the juice of fresh leaves is given to infants suffering from chest infections and fever; also during dentation, In West Bengal, the juice of fresh leaves is given as.a tonic after parturition. The resin, mixed with oil of roses, is applied externally in neuralgia. ‘Active principles and pharmacology The leaves contain a bioflavonoid, abiestin, and two glycosides, methylbetuloside and betulosides n-triacontanol and beta-sitosterol. They also con- tain an essential oil (0.5 %). The major constitu- ents of the oil are: alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, camphane, limonene, bornyl acetate and carvone. Bioflavonoid contents maintain normal condi- tions in the wall of small blood vessels and act as a stabilizing and calming factor in the peripheral circulation. Synergistic action exhibits anti- inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic and diu- retic properties. Thus, the leaves are effectively used a5 a carminative, astringent, antipyretic in asthma and bronchitis; also in catarrh of bladder. ‘Traditionally claimed antifertility activity of the leaves has not yet been scientifically estab- lished. According to the CCRAS, both benzene and alcoholic extract of leaf powder produced 51% anti-implantation activity experimentally. The extracts had no effect on post-implantation period, oestrus cycle and teratogenicity (Jamnagar unit, 1996). Use in Western herbal ‘The genus Pinus comprises about 5 species in the ‘West. Used as @ traditional remedy in coughs and colds, as expectorant and demulcent and also as a valuable remedy in bladder, kidney and rheu- matic affections. The pine oil, distilled from needles of pine spp. is included in a number of decongestant and expectorant mixtures and lozenges for cough and cold, available over the counter. The oil is topically antiseptic and rubefacient, and is used ina variety of external rubs for muscu- lar stiffness and rheumatism. Pine oil is added to steam inhalations for colds and catarrh, The important addition is a derivative from the pine bark, known as pycnogenol, which is being marketed in the US since 1992 as an antioxidant. ‘An average of 2 to 4 capsules (or 60 to 120 mg in divided doses) a day is being recommended for a number of ailments: sinusitis, bronchitis, elevated cholesterol, fatigue, fever, free radical activity, var- {ose veins, to name a few—wherever antioxidants are indicated. (Pycnogenol is a registered trade- ‘mark in the United States for a bioflavonoid, proanthocyanidin, extracted from the bark of the French maritime pine tree.) ‘As a folk medicine in the West, the ashes of burnt pine boughs are sprinkled over the skin of ‘young children afflicted with measles, mumps and chickenpox. It is claimed that the itching soon ceased and the rash cleared up ofits own accord. Caution Taxus baccata Linn. (Taxaceae) should not be accepted as a substitute for Abies webbiana, as advised in The Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I. Its constituents are a mixture alkaloids known as taxine and also diterpenes (incl. taxol i some varieties), lignans, tannin and resin, Not in use in herbal medicine and is currently under research as an anticancer drug of modern medi- cine. Extreme toxicity makes it unsafe as a herbal medicine. Zarnab (Arabic), Budul, Bhrangi, Chilaa, Chi- liraadh are doubtful synonyms of Taalispatra, Zarnab has been equated with Salix aegyptiaca Sprengel. National Formulary of Unani Medicine has equated Telispattar with Zarnab and Zarnab with Flacourtia cataphracta Roxb,, also with Cin- namomum tamala Nees. Taalisfar (Arabic), knownas Taalispatra in Punjab and Nepal, has not yet been equated scientifically with Abies spp. Another classical name Sthauneyaka of Sushruta Samhitaa has now been identified as Cleroden- drum infortunatum Linn, by INSA scientists. Birmi, Thuno, Thani, Thuner have been equated ‘with Taxus baccata, Abies webbiana is not to be confused with Cin- ‘namomum tamala; known as Taalishpattri (Tamil) and Taalispatri (Telugu) or with Flacourtia cata- phracta/Flacourtia jangomas, known as Taalisa and Taalispatri In Punjab, Rhododendron anthopogon D. Don. or Rhododendron campanulatum D. Don. is used as Taalispatra and is locally known as Taalisfar. But the leaves possess absolutely different proper- ties. They are administered as erthine to produce sneezing. In classical texts, Swarnataali was mentioned as 4 substitute for Taalisa, But Swarnataali could not yet be identified. Related species Abies alba Mill, syn. Abies pectinata DC. is also used in catarrh, cough and asthma. The yellowish needles showed high concentration of flavanols, whereas browning needles contain very low amounts of flavanols, The needles contain an essential oil (0.55 %- 0.82%). The main components of the oil are limonene and phellandrene, The needles of a sam- ple from Netherlands contained glycoside bound volatile compounds, ‘Two lectins (glycoproteins) AAAL and AAA2 have been isolated from the bark. They showed agglutinating activity on human blood group A, B and 0. The fatty acid in the bark are palmitic, lino- leic, linolenic, oleic, and 14-methylhexadecanoic acid. The mixture of diterpenic acids contained mainly abietic, dehydroabietic, neoabietic, livopi- ‘maric, palustric, isopimaric, sandaracopimaric and pimaric acid, The resin yields 19 mono- and 24 sesquiterpe- noids. In the West, the essential oil is obtained from the fresh needles and twig tops of branches of Abies alba, Abies sachalinensis, Abies sibirica or Picea abies (syn. Picea excelsa). Abies alba contains bornyl acetate 2-10 %, Picea abies 5-25 %; limonene 25-55%, and 10- ABRUS 5 30%; camphene 9-20% and 10-25%; alpha- pinene 6-35 % and 10-25 % respectively. German Commission E monograph recog- nized the Scotch Pine's efficacy in the following areas: » Common cold » Cough/bronchitis, » Fevers and cold » Inflammation of the pharynx » Muscular and nerve pains. The oil, as well as fresh fir shoots, are used in medicine, The needles and young buds of Pinus sylvestris, (Scotch Pine), Pinus pinaster, Pinus pinea and Pinus nigea are used in cases of bronchitis, sinusi- tis and upper respiratory catarth; mostly, 1-2 ml of tincture 3 times a day is prescribed. According to researchers, various species of Pines possess common medicinal properties (M. Grieve). Papilionaceae ABRUS Abrus precatorius Linn, Figure 1 Abrus precaiorius [CCRAS] Habitat Found throughout India, ascending to an altitude ‘of about 1050 m in the outer Himalayas. Red seed variety is similar to the white seed one anatomi- cally and phytochemically.