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Henna
Bark, leaves,
flowers, seeds.
DESCRIPTION :
A glabrous much
branched shrub or quite a small tree with greyish brown bark. Leaves are
opposite, subsessile, elliptic or broadly lanceolate, entire, acute or
obtuse,2-3 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. Flowers are numerous, small, white
or rose coloured, fragrant.
PHYTOACTIVE :
The leaves contain
soluble matter, lawsone, 2-hydroxy-1:4-naphthoquinone resin and tannin,
gallic acid, glucose, mannitol,fat, resin and mucilage are also
present.The colouring matter is the quinone.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE :
Alcoholic extract of
the leaves showed mild anti- bacterial activity against Staph aureus and
E. coli'. Antibacterial and antifungal activities have been confirmed
.The antihaemorrhagic properties are attributed to lawsone. The
naphthoquinone has emmenogogue and oxytocie actions(2).
Leaves are used as
emmenogogue and as an antifungal drug:Unani physicians prescribe it for
external use in headache. It is used for jaundice. As a cooling agent it
is used for burning of skin.
CONTRAINDICATION :
The local use on
palms and soles is widespread in India. Allergic reaction is rare. No
mutagenic activity was observed in Ames' test".
FORMULATION AND
DOSAGE :
Mahaneela gritha : 5
- 10 ml. b.i.d.
Madayanti churna : 1
- 3 gms. b.i.d.
Juice : 5 - 10 ml.
b.i.d.
Leaf powder :
locally as paste.
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