descriptionsIts principal constituents are the several alkaloids present of which the major constituent is a quinazoline alkaloid vasicine. The leaves are rich in vitamin C and carotene and yield an essential oil. The shrub is the source of the drug well known in indigenous systems of medicine for its beneficial effects particularly in bronchitis. The leaves flowers fruits and roots are extensively used for treating cold cough whooping-cough chronic bronchitis and asthma. It acts as a sedative-expectorant antispasmodic and anthelmintic. The leaf-juice is stated to cure diarrhea dysentery and glandular tumors and is given as an emmenagogue. The powder is reported to be used as a poultice on rheumatic joints as a counter-irritant on inflammatory swellings on fresh wounds urticaria and in neuralgia.
The leaves roots and flowers and active principles of the plant possess a number of pharmacological properties and are used in cough chronic bronchitis rheumatism asthma and bronchial asthma. It is a bronchial antiseptic bronchodilator and expectorant.
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