3 Pod Drugs You Must Use In Your Routine: Pharmacognostic Features Of Crude Drugs

As we have discussed in some of our previous blog posts, crude drugs are extremely significant to the medicinal world. We previously covered flower drugs and oil drugs, now is the time to enlighten you with the information of pod drugs. Following is the outline of what is further discussed in the article regarding Pods as crude drugs.

• Scientific name
• Family name
• Local name
• English name
• Parts used
• Constituents
• Pharmacological action
• Uses and indications
• Dosage
• Side effects
• Manufactured product available in the market

POD DRUG NO. 1

Scientific name: Moringa oleifera Lam.

Family name: Moringaceae

Local name: Sohanjna, sahanjna, soanjan

English name: Drum stick, miracle plant

Parts used: Pods, root, bark, leaves

Constituents: Alkaloids (moringine, moringinine), glycosides, mucilage, resin, vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and minerals (potassium, calcium, iron, selenium, and magnesium), amino acids, and proteins.

Pharmacological action: Antirheumatic, antihypertensive, cardiotonic, antiasthmatic, antitussive, digestive, diuretic,counter-irritant

Uses and indications: It may control blood sugar levels, reduce joint pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, improve heart health, enhance immunity, increase hemoglobin levels of blood, and prevent our vital organs from oxidative damage. The seed oil is good for the skin (can be used as a moisturizer) and hair and it may your skin infections and sores.
It acts as an anti-cancer and causes the death of cancer cells, stabilizes high blood pressure, promotes a good night's sleep, and as an energy booster. The seeds possess antimicrobial action against bacteria and fungi and also possess anti-tumor properties.

Dosage: 6-10 grams

Side effects: Avoid eating the root and its extracts. These parts of the plant may contain the toxic substance spirochin which can cause paralysis and death.

Manufactured product available in the market:

Product: Moringa oleifera food supplements:

• Immune booster
• As an antioxidant
• Balances blood sugar and cholesterol
• As an anti-inflammatory
• As an aphrodisiac

POD DRUG NO. 2

Scientific name: Cassia fistula Linn.

Family name: Fabaceae

Local name: Amaltas

English name: Golden Shower Senna, Purging Cassia

Parts used: Pods, leaves, root bark

Constituents: Sugar (50%), anthraquinone glycosides, coloring matter, traces of volatile oil, flavonoids, and tannins

Pharmacological action: Cathartic, demulcent, Antiphlegmatic, Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial, Antifungal, antiparasitic, antitumor, antipyretic, antitussive, Hypoglycemic. hypercholesterolemic, hepatoprotective, larvicidal, ovicidal, and anthelmintic.

Uses and indications: Cassia fistula is very effective in treating constipation (its fruit pulp is used as a purgative), ulcers, and piles. It also kills the intestinal worms. Seeds are ecbolic, emetic, and resolvent. The pod of the tree Is powdered and mixed with honey and consumed. This is very effective in curing cough. It is traditionally used to treat skin diseases (Irritation, swelling, and eczema), fever, abdominal pain, and leprosy.

The plant is used in folk medicine for tumors of the abdomen, glands, liver, and throat cancer. It is also used to cure burns, convulsions, diarrhea, dysuria, epilepsy, In curing fungal infections of the skin, eg. athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch, etc. The bark and fruits of the tree have great antioxidant properties and hence boost the immunity system of the body and also help in the purification of the blood.

Dosage: 25-50 mg

Manufactured Product available in the market:

Product: DR WAKDE'S Aragwadha Capsules

Uses:

• Helps in alleviating skin conditions like acne, rashes, and inflammation.
• Detoxifying effects
• Relieves digestive discomfort.

POD DRUG NO. 3

Scientific name: Helicteres isora Linn.

Family name: Sterculaceae

Local name: Marorphali

English name: Screw tree

Parts used: Pods. root bark, seeds

Constituents: Tannins, starch, protein, orange-yellow coloring matter, saponins, sugars, phlobatannins, and lignin

Pharmacological action: Demulcent, astringent, acrid, refrigerant, stomachic, anti-scabies, antigalactogogue, antidiabetic, hemostatic, vermifuge.

Uses and indications: Helicteres isora is a medicinal plant effective against asthma, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, HIV, and polio. They are useful in colic, scabies, biliousness, thoracic emphysema, gastric problems, diarrhea, and dysentery.

Pods are demulcent and astringent, useful in the griping of bowels and flatulence of children and in chronic dysentery; fried pods are given to children to kill intestinal worms.

Pods are also useful in ophthalmic infections, flatulence, wounds, and hemorrhages. The powdered seeds are used to cure ulcers in the ears, dysentery, and stomachache. It has insulin-sensitizing and hypolipidemic properties and has the potential for use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Dosage: 4-7 grams

Side effects: Excessive use of pod or its preparation causes impotency.

Manufactured product available in the market:

Product: Marod Phali Powder:

• Treats dysentery and cramping.
• In asthma and cough.
• In scabies and skin infections.
• Treats colic pain in babies.