Plant Resources used as alkaloids –
Adathoda
Common name – Adulsa, Vasaka
Botanical source – Adhatoda vasica Nees
Family – Acanthaceae
Part Used – Fresh and dried leaves
Type: Alkaloid- Vasicine, vasicinone
No. | Botanical Name | Family | Part Used | Main alkaloid |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Atropa belladonna | Solanaceae | Leaves and roots | Atropine Hyocyamine |
2 | Coffea arabica | Rubiaceae | Dried berries | Caffeine |
3 | Nicotiana tabacum | Solanaceae | Leaves | Nicotine |
4 | Piper nigrum | Piperaceae | Seeds | Piperine |
5 | Withania somnifera | Solanaceae | Roots | Withanolides |
6 | Papver somniferum | Papveraceae | Unripe capsule | Morphine |
7 | Rauwolfia serpentina | Apocynaceae | Roots | Reserpine Ajmalicine |
8 | Catharanthus roseus | Apocynaceae | Leaves | Vincristine Vinblastine |
9 | Adathoda vasica | Acanthaceae | Leaves | Vasicine |
10 | Boerhaavia diffusa | Nyctaginaceae | Leaves | Punarnavine |
Uses –
1. It is an expectorant and bronchodilator, used in cough and acute bronchitis.
2. Leaf poultice is applied over fresh wounds, rheumatic joints, and inflammatory swellings.
3. Leaf extract is used in dysentery and diarrhea.
4. The leaves are diuretic and antispasmodic.
Catharanthus
Common name – Sadabahar, Sadaphuli, or Periwinkle
Botanical source – Catharanthus roseus
Family – Apocynaceae
Part Used – Leaves and Root
Type – Alkaloid, Leaves-Vincristine, and Vinblastine;
Roots – Reserpine, Ajmalicine, Serpentine.
Uses –
1. More than 100 alkaloids have been isolated from the leaves and roots of this plant. The most important is the antileukemic alkaloids vincristine and vinblastine present in the leaves.
2. Vincristine is used for the treatment of acute leukemia in children during chemotherapy.
3. The leaf extract is also useful against Staphylococcal and Streptococcal bacterial infections.
4. Roots are useful for the treatment of hypertension as they help in reducing blood pressure.
5. The roots also have sedative (sleep-inducing) properties.