Pharmacognosy

Synonyms Methi BS Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Family Fabaceae Uses Fenugreek is used both as a food and food additive as well as in medicines. Fresh tender pods, leaves and shoots are eaten as curried vegetable. As a spice, it flavours food. Powder of dried leaves is also used for garnishing and flavouring variety of food. Fenugreek extract is used as a flavouring agent of imitation maple syrup. The seeds are used in colic flatulence, dysentery, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, chronic cough and enlargement of liver and spleen, rickets, gout and diabetes. It is also used as a carminative, tonic, and aphrodisiac. Fenugreek oil is used in the manufacture of hair tonics.

Synonyms Large fennel, Sweet fennel, Fennel fruit, Saunf (hindi), Fructus, Foeniculi BS It is the dried ripe fruits of Foeniculum vulgare Mill . Family Umbelliferae CC Volatile Oil (2 to 6.5%) fixed oil (12%) phenolic ether (50 to 60%) ketone fenchone (18-20%) anisic aldehyde anisic acid alfa-pinene dipentene phellandrene Uses Stimulant aromatic stomachic Carminative emmenagogue expectorant it is added to cough and stomach mixture It is used in mouth and dental preparations It is useful in disease of the chest, spleen and kidney.

Synonyms Oleum olivae, Sweet oil, Salad oil, Olive Oil BS Olive oil is a fixed oil obtained by expression from pericarp of the ripe fruits of Olea europoea. Family Oleaceae CC Glycerides of oleic acid, Palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, arachidic acid. Uses Olive oil has demulcent, emollient and laxative properties. It is used as a vehicle for oily parenteral preparations. It is also used in the preparation of lubricants, plasters, textiles, soaps, cosmetics and sulphonated oil.