Pharmacognosy - 5.3 Carminatives and G.L regulators
Carminatives and G.I. Regulators
By Mr. Bhosale, SKCP, Kasbe Digraj
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Introduction to Carminatives
- Carminatives are known for their role in aiding digestion. They work by relieving flatulence, easing abdominal pain and bloating, and reducing gas in the digestive tract.
- They do this by increasing peristalsis—the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract—and by reducing the surface tension of gas bubbles, which promotes their expulsion.
- Examples of carminative crude drugs include fennel, peppermint, and ginger. These plants contain volatile oils that contribute to their carminative properties. For instance, fennel contains anethole, while peppermint contains menthol. These oils can relax the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, facilitating the release of trapped gas and reducing discomfort.
Examples of Carminative Crude Drugs
Coriander
Synonyms
Cilantro, Chinese parsley, or Dhaniya(Hindi), Kothimbir or Dhane(Marathi)
Biological Sources
Coriander is derived from the dried ripe fruits of Coriandrum sativum, an annual herb in the family Apiaceae, commonly cultivated in India.
Family
Apiaceae
Chemical Constituents
- Major Chemical Constituents:
- Essential oil (comprising up to 1% of the fruit by weight), which includes linalool (Coriandrol) as the primary component (approximately 60-70% of the oil), along with camphor, geraniol, and borneol.
- Fatty oils, including petroselinic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid.
- Minor Chemical Constituents:
- Flavonoids, such as quercetin and kaempferol.
- Sterols, including sitosterol.
- Proteins and amino acids, such as gamma-linolenic acid.
Uses
- Its leaves and seeds are used in a variety of dishes for their unique flavor. It\'s also used in traditional medicine for its digestive and anti-inflammatory properties.
- In the pharmaceutical industry, coriander is used for its medicinal properties. It\'s known to have carminative, antispasmodic, and stomachic effects.
- The essential oil derived from coriander has antimicrobial properties and is used in some pharmaceutical preparations.
- It\'s also used in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia due to its mild sedative effects.
Fennel
Synonyms
Sweet Fennel, Florence Fennel, or Finocchio. Hindi: Saunf or Sonp Marathi: Badishep
Biological Sources
Fennel is derived from the dried ripe fruits of Foeniculum vulgare, widely cultivated in India.
Family
Apiaceae
Chemical Constituents
- Major Chemical Constituents:
- Essential oil (comprising 2-6% of the fruit by weight), which includes trans-anethole (50-60% of the oil), fenchone, and estragole.
- Fatty oils, including petroselinic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid.
- Minor Chemical Constituents:
- Flavonoids, such as quercetin and kaempferol.
- Phenolic compounds, including rosmarinic acid and chlorogenic acid.
- Sterols, including beta-sitosterol.
Uses
- Its seeds are used for flavoring foods and beverages. In traditional medicine, fennel is used for its carminative, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- It\'s known to have carminative, antispasmodic, and stomachic effects.
- The essential oil derived from fennel has antimicrobial properties and is used in some pharmaceutical preparations.
- Fennel is also used in the treatment of various digestive disorders due to its mild laxative effects.
Cardamom
Synonyms
Green Cardamom, True Cardamom. Hindi: Elaichi, Chhoti Elaichi Marathi: Velchi, Elaichi
Biological Sources
Cardamom is derived from the dried ripe seeds of Elettaria cardamomum, widely cultivated in the Western Ghats of India.
Family
Zingiberaceae
Chemical Constituents
- Major Chemical Constituents:
- Essential oil (comprising 2-8% of the seed by weight), which includes alpha-terpinyl acetate (28-35% of the oil), 1,8-cineole (20-25%), and linalool (5-10%).
- Fixed oil, including linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid.
- Minor Chemical Constituents:
- Phenolic compounds, including flavonoids and phenolic acids.
- Sterols, including sitosterol.
- Other minor constituents include proteins, fiber, and carbohydrates.
Uses
- Cardamom is widely used as a spice in culinary applications, especially in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines. It\'s also used in traditional medicine for its carminative, stimulant, and antispasmodic properties.
- It\'s known to have carminative, antispasmodic, and stomachic effects.
- The essential oil derived from cardamom has antimicrobial properties and is used in some pharmaceutical preparations.
- Cardamom is also used in the treatment of digestive disorders due to its stimulant and carminative effects.
Ginger
Synonyms
Garden Ginger, Common Ginger, or Cooking Ginger. Hindi: Adrak Marathi: Ale
Biological Sources
Ginger is derived from the dried rhizomes of Zingiber officinale, commonly cultivated in India.
Family
Zingiberaceae
Chemical Constituents
- Major Chemical Constituents:
- Essential oil (comprising 1-3% of the rhizome by weight), which includes zingiberene, beta-bisabolene, alpha-farnesene, and beta-sesquiphellandrene.
- Gingerols and shogaols, which are phenolic compounds responsible for the pungency of ginger.
- Minor Chemical Constituents:
- Other volatile oils, including camphene, phellandrene, zingiberene, and zingerone.
- Other phenolic compounds, including paradols and gingerdiones.
- Resinous matter and starch.
Uses
- Ginger is widely used as a spice and flavoring agent in food and beverages. It\'s also used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, carminative, and antiemetic properties.
- It\'s known to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiemetic effects.
- The essential oil derived from ginger has antimicrobial properties and is used in some pharmaceutical preparations.
- Ginger is also used in the treatment of various digestive disorders due to its carminative and antiemetic effects.
Clove
Synonyms
clove bud, clove oil, and clove leaf. Hindi: Laung Marathi: Lavang
Biological Sources
Clove is derived from the dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum (syn. Eugenia caryophyllus), widely cultivated in the Southern parts of India.
Family
Myrtaceae
Chemical Constituents
- Major Chemical Constituents:
- Essential oil (comprising 15-20% of the bud by weight), which includes eugenol (70-85% of the oil), eugenyl acetate, and beta-caryophyllene.
- Tannins, including gallic acid and ellagic acid.
- Minor Chemical Constituents:
- Flavonoids, such as kaempferol and rhamnetin.
- Sterols, including sitosterol.
- Other minor constituents include gums, resins, and carbohydrates.
Uses
- Clove is widely used as a spice in culinary applications around the world. Its oil is used in flavoring foods and beverages. In traditional medicine, clove is used for its antiseptic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- It\'s known to have antiseptic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects.
- The essential oil derived from clove has antimicrobial properties and is used in some pharmaceutical preparations.
- Clove is also used in the treatment of various digestive disorders due to its carminative and antispasmodic effects.
Black pepper
Synonyms
Pepper, Peppercorn, or Black Peppercorn. Hindi: Kali Mirch Marathi: Mire or Kali Miri
Biological Sources
Black Pepper is derived from the dried unripe berries of Piper nigrum, widely cultivated in the Southern parts of India.
Family
Piperaceae
Chemical Constituents
- Major Chemical Constituents:
- Essential oil (comprising 1-2.5% of the berry by weight), which includes beta-caryophyllene, limonene, sabinene, alpha-pinene, and beta-pinene.
- Piperine, which is an alkaloid responsible for the pungency of black pepper.
- Minor Chemical Constituents:
- Other alkaloids, including piperidine and piperettine.
- Volatile oils, including terpenes and sesquiterpenes.
- Other minor constituents include resins, starch, and fiber.
Uses
- Black Pepper is widely used as a spice and flavoring agent in culinary applications around the world. It\'s also used in traditional medicine for its carminative, diuretic, and stimulant properties.
- It\'s known to have carminative, diuretic, and stimulant effects.
- The essential oil derived from black pepper has antimicrobial properties and is used in some pharmaceutical preparations.
- Black Pepper is also used in the treatment of various digestive disorders due to its carminative and stimulant effects.
Asafoetida
Synonyms
Devil\'s Dung, Stinking Gum, or Food of the Gods. Hindi & Marathi : Hing
Biological Sources
Asafoetida is derived from the dried latex (gum oleoresin) exuded from the rhizome or tap root of Ferula assa-foetida, found in the deserts of Iran and mountains of Afghanistan but is also cultivated in India.
Family
Apiaceae
Chemical Constituents
- Major Chemical Constituents:
- Resin (40-60% of the gum), which includes asaresinotannols, ferulic acid, and umbelliferone.
- Essential oil (10-17% of the gum), which includes various sulfur compounds such as (E)-sec-butyl propenyl disulfide and (Z)-sec-butyl propenyl disulfide.
- Minor Chemical Constituents:
- Gum (approx. 25% of the gum), which is composed mainly of polysaccharides.
- Other minor constituents include vanillin, proteins, and a small amount of moisture.
Uses
- It\'s also used in traditional medicine for its antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, and anthelmintic properties.
- It\'s known to have antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, and anthelmintic effects.
- The essential oil derived from asafoetida has antimicrobial properties and is used in some pharmaceutical preparations.
- Asafoetida is also used in the treatment of various digestive disorders due to its carminative and antispasmodic effects.
Nutmeg
Synonyms
Mace, True Nutmeg, or Fragrant Nutmeg. Hindi & Marathi : Jaiphal
Biological Sources
Nutmeg is derived from the dried kernel of the seeds of Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree in the family Myristicaceae, native to the Indonesia, but also cultivated in India.
Family
Myristicaceae
Chemical Constituents
- Major Chemical Constituents:
- Essential oil (comprising 5-15% of the seed by weight), which includes sabinene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, myristicin, and limonene.
- Fixed oil, also known as nutmeg butter, which includes trimyristin.
- Minor Chemical Constituents:
- Other volatile oils, including terpenes and sesquiterpenes.
- Other minor constituents include proteins, starch, and fiber.
Uses
- Nutmeg is widely used as a spice and flavoring agent in culinary applications around the world. It\'s also used in traditional medicine for its carminative, stimulant, and aphrodisiac properties.
- It\'s known to have carminative, stimulant, and aphrodisiac effects.
- The essential oil derived from nutmeg has antimicrobial properties and is used in some pharmaceutical preparations.
- Nutmeg is also used in the treatment of various digestive disorders due to its carminative and stimulant effects.
Cinnamon
Synonyms
True Cinnamon, Ceylon Cinnamon, or Sweet Cinnamon. Hindi & Marathi : Dalchini
Biological Sources
Cinnamon is derived from the dried inner bark of Cinnamomum verum (also known as Cinnamomum zeylanicum), native to Sri Lanka but also cultivated in the Southern parts of India.
Family
Lauraceae
Chemical Constituents
- Major Chemical Constituents:
- Essential oil (comprising 0.5-1% of the bark by weight), which includes cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and linalool.
- Tannins, including catechins and procyanidins.
- Minor Chemical Constituents:
- Other volatile oils, including cinnamyl acetate, cinnamyl alcohol, and beta-caryophyllene.
- Other minor constituents include sugars, resins, and mucilage.
Uses
- Cinnamon is widely used as a spice and flavoring agent in culinary applications around the world. It\'s also used in traditional medicine for its carminative, astringent, and stimulant properties.
- It\'s known to have carminative, astringent, and stimulant effects.
- The essential oil derived from cinnamon has antimicrobial properties and is used in some pharmaceutical preparations.
- Cinnamon is also used in the treatment of various digestive disorders due to its carminative and stimulant effects.