Aegle Marmelos

Botanical Name : Aegle Marmelos

English Name : Wood apple, Indian Quince

Hindi Name : Bel, Bael

Sanskrit Name : Bilva, Shivafal Bael, a Sacred tree of India, is mentioned in very old Literature. This tree is native to India, but is also found in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Bael is a tree from Rutaceae plant family. This is a small thorny tree. The leaves are 3 foliate. The leaflets are lancelet. The flowers bloom in April to May. Color of the flower is greenish white. The fruits are globosely with woody rind yellowish in color. The pulp of the fruit is sweet and orange in color.

Usage:
The pulp of the fruit is used for making Jam and pickles. The pulp is very good for curing digestive disorders. It is also a good tonic for general vitality. The leaves are used for religious purpose in India. Tender fruits and pulp of ripe and matured fruits, are converted into Jam etc. The fruits besides being medicine are good herbal supplement. Roots are also used as medicinal herb.

Chemical compounds obtained:
Marmalosin, coumarin, embelliferone are obtained from this plant.

Asparagus racemosus (shatavari)

Latin: Asparagus racemosus Willd.

Family: Liliaceae

Vernacular names: Sanskrit - Shatavari; Hindi - Satavari; English - Asparagus; Gujarat - Ekalkanto; Bengali - Satmuli

Asparagus racemosus : leaves, roots

Ayurvedic Energetics: Rasa: sweet, bitterVeerya: sheeta Vipaka: sweetGunas: light, unctous

Doshas: VP- ; K+

Pharmacological Action: galactogogic, antispasmodic, antidiarrhetic, demulcent, refrigerant, diuretic, aphrodisiac, tonic, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antitumor.

Clinical Research: There are saponins in the roots of A. racemosus collected throughout India. There are several reports of galactogogic activity. One study showed that A. racemosus increased the weight of mammary tissue and milk yield in estrogen-primed rats. Other studies report antioxytoxic and anti-ADH activity in these saponin fractions isolated from the roots. Another study measuring growth promotion indicated an anabolic action of the plant. No studies to date are available which evaluate the effect of Shatavari on serum prolactin levels but several groups are currently preparing such investigations. Aqueous extracts of the roots were reported to have lipase and amylase activities.

Traditional Uses: diarrhea, dysentery, inflammatory bowel conditions, blood purification, biliousness, edema, dyspepsia, rheumatic joint pains, gonorrhea, galactogogue, nervousness, fever.

Indications: to increase milk production, nervousness, gastritis, diarrhea, female aphrodisiac, general nutritive tonic, spastic colon, fever

Formulations and Dosage:infusion: 3-6 oz. bid decoction: 2-4 oz bid milk decoction: 2-4 oz. bid (with ghee pippali, and honey), powder: 3-5 g. bid (with honey).