Scientific Name:
Zanthoxylum armatumDistinguishing Characters:
Short, leaves are usually pinnate, leaflet 2-6 pairs, petiolate and rachis winged. Flowers yellow in color, fruits ovoid, pale red, seeds oval and dark.Description:
Parts used: Bark,carpels, carpels of fruits, seeds
Medicinal use: Carminative, stomachache, anti rheumatic, tonic, hepatitis.
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Scientific Name:
Curcuma zedoariaFamily:
ZingiberaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
It has spots such as bulbs and tubers. Ginger has a creamy color to light yellow. The smell of fresh white turmeric is almost like a mango kweni.Description:
Parts used: Rhizome
Medicinal use: Inhibit cancer cell growth, anti itching, antipyretics, useful as antidote, laxative
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Scientific Name:
Astilbe rivularisFamily:
SaxifragaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
They are rhizomatous flowering plant, large, fern like foliage and dense feathery plumes of flowers.Description:
Parts used: Rhizome
Medicinal uses: Used as tonic, powder of rhizome are administered during pre and post pregnancy period.
Scientific Name:
Rosmarinus officinalisFamily:
LamiDistinguishing Characters:
Woody, perrenial herb, needle like leaves, white, pink, purple, blue flowers.Description:
Parts used: Leaves, twigs, flowering apices.
Medicinal uses: For muscle pain, improve memory, to boost immune, circulatory system, promote hair growth.
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Scientific Name:
Cordyceps sinensisFamily:
ClaviciptaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
It is an unique caterpillar-fungus fusion.Description:
Parts used: whole plant
Medicinal uses: Tonic aphrodisiac, cardiactonics, expectorant, hypertension,acute and chronic hepatitis.
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Scientific Name:
Ocimum basilicumFamily:
LamiaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
They have shiny, oval leaves,stems are tough and square in profile, produce spikes of white flowers.Description:
parts used: Stem, leaves
Medicinal uses: Fix stomach spasms, loss of appetite, intestinal gas, kidney condition, head cold, warts. Also has aromatic uses.
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Scientific Name:
Cydonia oblongaFamily:
RosaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Its seed contain 20% mucilage, 15% fatty oils; it is a pome fruit with bright golden yellow when mature.Description:
Parts used: Fruit, seeds, bark
Medicinal use: Bark used as astringent, treatment of ulcers, laxative.
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Scientific Name:
Dioscorea bulbiferaFamily:
DioscoreaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
These are perennial vines. Petioled leaves, heart shaped, flowers arise from nodes in clusters, green yellow in color.Description:
Parts used: Tuber, fruit
Uses: used in hemoptysis, epitaxis, pharyngitis, goitre, sprains and injuries.
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Scientific Name:
Ziziphus budhensisFamily:
RhamnacecaeDistinguishing Characters:
The tree grows very long, it is dimorphic.
the seeds are light brown skin in colour and have grip like texture.Description:
Parts used: Seed, leaves
Uses: Buddha chitta is used to make people happy to protect people from suffering and diseases.
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Scientific Name:
Zingiber officinaleFamily:
ZingiberaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Rhizome of distinct smell and leaves of soothing odour.Description:
Parts used: rhizome
Uses: Flavoring agent
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Scientific Name:
Selinum tenuifoliumFamily:
LamiaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The delicate basal leaves are thin (hence the specific name tenuifolium - 'thin-leaved') and finely divided, giving them a fern-like appearance.Description:
parts used: Leaves and fruits
uses: Aromatic leaves and carminative
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Scientific Name:
Lindera neesianaFamily:
LauraceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The flowers are from greenish to white, greenish-yellow, or yellowish, with six tepals arranged in a star shape.
Lindera fruit have a hypocarpium at the base of the fruit, which in some cases forms cup that encloses the bottom part of the fruit.
The fruit is a small red, purple or black drupe containing a single seed, dispersed mostly by birds.
Many species reproduce vegetatively by stolons.Description:
parts used: bark and fruits
Uses: Aromatic and carminative
Scientific Name:
Hypericum patulumFamily:
HypericeaeDistinguishing Characters:
Large yellow flowersDescription:
parts used:Seeds
Uses: Seeds as aromatic agent and stimulant
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Scientific Name:
Foeniculum vulgaraeFamily:
ApiaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
It is a highly aromatic and flavorful herb with culinary and medicinal uses and, along with the similar-tasting anise, is one of the primary ingredients of absinthe.
Florence fennel or finocchio is a selection with a swollen, bulb-like stem base that is used as a vegetable.Description:
Parts used: Leaves, tender shoots, fruits
Uses: Used as a flavoring agent in foods, curries and salads
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Scientific Name:
Artemesia dracunculusFamily:
AsteraceaeDistinguishing Characters:
French tarragon is the variety used for cooking in the kitchen and is not grown from seed, as the flowers are sterile; instead it is propagated by root division.Description:
parts used: frozen, dry or fresh leaves
uses: flavor similar to anise and used for bringing soothing smell to culinary purposes.
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Scientific Name:
Anethum graveolensFamily:
ApiaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The seeds are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) thick, and straight to slightly curved with a longitudinally ridged surface.Description:
parts used: dry and fresh leaves, seeds and stems
uses: flavor similar to fennel used in culinary purpose for brining distinct aroma
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Scientific Name:
Coriandrum sativumFamily:
ApiaceaeaDistinguishing Characters:
Most people perceive the taste of coriander leaves as a tart, lemon/lime taste, but a smaller group, of about 4–14% of people tested, think the leaves taste like bath soap, as linked to a gene which detects aldehyde chemicals also present in soapDescription:
parts used: ground seeds and fresh leaves
uses: aroma in culinary purposes, waxy and somewhat orange complex
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Scientific Name:
Cariophylus aromaticusFamily:
LauraceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The flower buds initially have a pale hue, gradually turn green, then transition to a bright red when ready for harvest. Description:
parts used: immature flower
uses: intense aroma and flavor in foods
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Scientific Name:
Allium cepaFamily:
AmaryllidaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Sulpur containing compounds make the bulb pungent upon cutting.
Pink or white bulbed leaf stalk smell is some what soothing.Description:
parts used: bulbs and shoots
Uses: sharp flavor in culinary purposes
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Scientific Name:
Crocus sativusFamily:
IridiaceaeaDistinguishing Characters:
The vivid crimson stigmas and styles, called threads, are collected and dried to be used mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food.Description:
parts used: stigmata
uses: aroma strong and sweet flavor, colouring yellow
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Scientific Name:
Pimpinella anisumFamily:
ApiaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Its flavor has similarities with some other spices, such as star anise, fennel, and liquorice.Description:
parts used: fruits and fresh leaves
Uses: for aromatic and sweet flavor
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Scientific Name:
Allium sativumFamily:
AmaryllidaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Cloves of distinct odour and the leafy stalk also of distinct smell.Description:
Parts used: fresh or dry bulb and dehydrated shoots
Uses: For sharp flavor and intense aroma
Used for treating gastritis.
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Scientific Name:
Solanum xanthocarpumFamily:
SolanaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
sharp and prickly branches that are densely covered with rather minute star shaped hair.
Yellow colored spiny prickles, sparsely hairy egg shaped leaves.
Purple colored flower and round fruits.
Description:
Parts used:Whole plant, fruit and seeds
medicinal use: diuretic, inflammatory, appetiser, stomachic
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Scientific Name:
Cinnamomum zeylanciumFamily:
LauraceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The plant leaves bear unique venation, a parallel one.
The bark tastes somewhat sweet.Description:
parts used: bark and oil
medicinal uses: bronchitis, asthma, cardiac, disorder, fever
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Scientific Name:
Azadirachta indicaFamily:
MeliaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The leaves when tasted produces thrilling amusement and with a thrilling smell as well.Description:
parts used: Rhizome and leaves
medicinal use: sedative, analgesic, epilepsy and hypersensitivity
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Scientific Name:
Terminalia bellericaFamily:
CombretaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Terminalia bellirica, known as bahera or beleric or bastard myrobalan.
This tree, in Sanskrit Vibhita and Vibhitaka (fearless), is avoided by the Hindus of Northern India, who will not sit in its shade, as it is supposed to be inhabited by demons.Description:
parts used: seeds, bark
medicinal uses: Cough, insomnia, dropsy, vomiting, ulcer and used as Trifala
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Scientific Name:
Terminalia chebulaFamily:
CombretaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Terminalia chebula, commonly known as black- or chebulic myrobalan.
The dull white to yellow flowers are monoecious, and have a strong, unpleasant odour.
The fruits are smooth ellipsoid to ovoid drupes, yellow to orange-brown in colour, with a single angled stone.Description:
parts used: Seeds
medicinal (other) uses: (Trifala) wound ulcer, leprosy, inflammation and cough.
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Scientific Name:
Catharanthus roseusFamily:
ApocynaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Periwinkle is a color in the blue and violet family. Its name is derived from the lesser periwinkle or myrtle herb (Vinca minor) which bears flowers of the same color.
The color periwinkle is also called lavender blue.
The color periwinkle may be considered a pale tint of blue or a "pastel blue".Description:
parts used: Whole plant
medicinal use: Leukemia, hypotensive, antipasmodic and antidote.
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Scientific Name:
Aloe veraFamily:
LiliaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on their upper and lower stem surfaces.
The margin of the leaf is serrated and has small white teeth. Description:
parts used: Leaves
Medicinal use: Laxative, wound healing, skinburns and skincare, Ulcer
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Scientific Name:
Mentha piperitaFamily:
MyrsinaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Peppermint (Mentha × piperita, also known as Mentha balsamea Wild.) is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint.
The leaves are dark green with reddish veins, and they have an acute apex and coarsely toothed margins. The leaves and stems are usually slightly fuzzy.Description:
parts used:leaves, flowers and oil extract
medicinal use: digestive, pain killer
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Scientific Name:
Embelia ribesFamily:
MyrsinaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Embelia ribes, commonly known as false black pepper.
Description:
Parts used: Root, fruit and leaves
Medicinal Use: Skin disease, Snake bite and helminthiasis
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Scientific Name:
Ocimum sanctumFamily:
LamiaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Soothing smell from the leaves.
Purplish flowers are also distinct.Description:
parts used: Leaves and seeds
Medicinal use: cough, cold, bronchitis and expectorand
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Scientific Name:
Cassia augustifoliaFamily:
LiliaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Historically, Senna was used in the form of senna pods, or as herbal tea made from the leaves, as a laxative.
It also serves as a fungicide.Description:
parts used: dry tubers
medicinal use: Rheumatism, general debility, tonic and aphrodisiac
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Scientific Name:
Asparagus racemosusFamily:
LiliaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Kurilo has small pine-needle-like phylloclades (photosynthetic branches) that are uniform and shiny green.
Description:
Parts used: tuber, root
medicinal use: enhance lactation, general weakness, fatigue and cough
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Scientific Name:
Rauwolfia serpentineFamily:
ApocynaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Rauvolfia serpentina The plant contains 200 alkaloids of the indole alkaloid family.
The major alkaloids are ajmaline, ajmalicine, ajmalimine, deserpidine, indobine, indobinine, reserpine, reserpiline, rescinnamine, rescinnamidine, serpentine, serpentinine and yohimbine.Description:
parts used: root
medicinal use: hypertension and insomnia
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Scientific Name:
Santalum albumFamily:
SantaliaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The ISO Standard for the accepted characteristics of this essential oil from the extract of heartwood is ISO 3518:2002.Description:
parts used: heartwood oil
medicinal use: Skin disorder, burning senastion, jaundice and cough
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Scientific Name:
Coleus barbatusFamily:
LamiaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
It produces forskolin
Forskolin; an extract useful for pharmaceutical preparations and research in cell biology.Description:
parts used: root
medicinal use: kidney stone and calculus
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Scientific Name:
Solanum nigrumFamily:
SolanaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Sometimes S. nigrum is confused for the more toxic deadly nightshade
A comparison of the fruit shows that the black nightshade berries grow in bunches, the deadly nightshade berries grow individually.Description:
parts used: fruit/ whole plant
medicinal use: dropsy, general debility, diuretic and anti dysenteric
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Scientific Name:
Piper longumFamily:
PiperaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The fruit of the pepper consists of many minuscule fruits – each about the size of a poppy seed – embedded in the surface of a flower spike that closely resembles a hazel tree catkin.
Like Piper nigrum, the fruits contain the alkaloid piperine, which contributes to their pungency.Description:
parts used: fruit, root
medicinal use: appetiser, enlarged spleen, bronchitis, cold and antidote
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Scientific Name:
Andrographis paniculataFamily:
ScanthaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The slender stem is dark green, squared in cross-section with longitudinal furrows and wings along the angles.
The lance-shaped leaves have hairless blades measuring up to 8 cm (3.1 in) long by 2.5 cm (0.98 in).
The small flowers are borne in spreading racemes.Description:
parts used: whole plant
medicinal use: fever, weaknes, release of gas
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Scientific Name:
Gloriosa superbaFamily:
LiliaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
This plant is poisonous, toxic enough to cause human and animal fatalities if ingested.
It has been used to commit murder, to achieve suicide, and to kill animals.
Every part of the plant is poisonous, especially the tuberous rhizomes. Description:
parts used: Seed, tuber
medicinal use: skin disease, labour pain, abortion and general debility
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Scientific Name:
Tinospora cordifoliaFamily:
MenispermaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
characterised by their distinct heart shaped leaves:
Leaves simple, alternate, exstipulate, long petioles up to 15 cm long, roundish, pulvinate, both at the base and apex with the basal one longer and twisted partially and half way around.
Lamina broadly ovate or ovate cordate, 10–20 cm long or 8– 15 cm broad, 7 nerved and deeply cordate at base, membranous, pubescent above, whitish tomentose with a prominent reticulum beneath.Description:
parts used: Stem
Medicinal use: Gout, piles, general debility, fever and jaundice
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Scientific Name:
Commiphora wightiFamily:
BurseraceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Commiphora wightii is sought for its gummy resin, which is harvested from the plant's bark through the process of tapping.Description:
parts used: gum, resin
medicinal use: rheumatic disease, arthritis, paralysis and a laxative
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Scientific Name:
Gymnema sylvestreFamily:
AsclepediaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The leaves and extracts contain gymnemic acids.
The major bioactive constituents that interact with taste receptors on the tongue to temporarily suppress the taste of sweetness.Description:
parts used: Leaves
medicinal uses: diabetes, hydrocoel and asthma
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Scientific Name:
Bacopa spsFamily:
ScrophulariaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
flowers are in the shades of white, pink, lavender, blue and even coral red.
Cultivar 'Giant Snowflake' is known for giant white flowers.Description:
Parts used: whole plant
medicinal use: nervous, memory enhancer and mental disorder treatment
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Scientific Name:
Swertia chirayitaFamily:
GentianaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Swertia is a genus in the gentian family containing plants sometimes referred to as the felworts.
Some species bear very showy purple and blue flowersDescription:
parts used: Whole plant
medicinal use:skin disease, burning sensation and fever
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Scientific Name:
Phyllanthous amarusFamily:
EuphorbiaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
Phytochemical studies have shown the presence of many valuable compounds such as lignans, flavonoids, hydrolysable tannins (ellagitannins), polyphenols, triterpenes, sterols and alkaloids. Description:
Parts used: Whole plant
Medicinal use: Anaemic, jaundice and dropsy
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Scientific Name:
Aegle marmelosFamily:
RutaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
It is globose or slightly pear-shaped with a thick, hard rind and does not split upon ripening.
The woody shell is smooth and green, gray until it is fully ripe when it turns yellow.
Inside are 8 to 15 or 20 sections filled with aromatic orange pulp, each section with 6 (8) to 10 (15) flattened-oblong seeds each about 1 cm long, bearing woolly hairs and each enclosed in a sac of adhesive, transparent mucilage that solidifies on drying.Description:
parts used: fruit and bark
medicinal uses: diarrhoea, dysentery and constipation
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Scientific Name:
Withania somniferaFamily:
SolanaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The flowers are small, green and bell-shaped. The ripe fruit is orange-red.
The name, ashwagandha, is a combination of the word ashva, meaning horse, and gandha, meaning smell.
Reflecting that the root has a strong horse-like odor.Description:
parts used: roots and leaves
medicinal use: restorative tonic, stress, nerves disorder and aphrodisiac
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Scientific Name:
Saraca asocaFamily:
CaesalpiniaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The ashoka is prized for its beautiful foliage and fragrant flowers.
It is a handsome, small, erect evergreen tree, with deep green leaves growing in dense clusters.
Biologically, some of the flower's characteristics are very dry and abundant.
This means that the flower is coated with a chemical on the outsideDescription:
parts used: bark, flower
medicinal use: menstrual pain, uterine disorder and diabetes
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Scientific Name:
Emblica officinalisFamily:
EuphorbiaceaeDistinguishing Characters:
The fruit is nearly spherical, light greenish yellow, quite smooth and hard on appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows.
The taste of Emblica is sour, bitter and astringent, and it is quite fibrousDescription:
Parts Used: Fruit
Medicinal use: Vitamin - C, Cough , Diabetes, cold, Laxative, hyper acidity.
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