Crude drug sample data base
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People's Republic of Bangladesh,Dacca [Dhaka]
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Scientific information data base
Crude drug name | Urudu name, English name | Tukhum e-kahu, Lettuce, Salad | |||
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Arabic name / Persian name | Bazr al-khas / Khas bustani, Tukhme-kahu | ||||
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Original plant name | Lactuca sativa Linn. syn. Lactuca scariola Linn. var. sativa C. B. Clarke | ||||
Family name | Compositae | ||||
Used part | Seeds | ||||
Distribution area | A leafy herb; native to S. Europe and W. Asia but cultivated throughout India. | ||||
Description | The seeds are small, whitish, shinning and elongated in size. The seeds are earthy in colour, oval in shape, 0.5cm. in length and 1.5 to 2mm. in width at the broader end of the seed. Incision in the plant yields milky juice which is inspissated after coming in contact with air. It is called lettuce opium. Lettuce is of two kinds: Garden lettuce and wild lettuce. The leaves of garden lettuce are eaten as vegetables. Its seeds are abundantly used as drug in Unani medicine. Its taste is insipid. The wild lettuce is stronger and resembles black poppy in properties. Both types yield this milky juice. Here only the description of seeds is given. In Arabic it is called Khas. | ||||
Function and properties | Head, Chest, Excretion. Antibilious, cooling, sedative, anodyne, narcotic (anaesthetic), hypnotic, diuretic, lactagogue, reduces the heat of blood and biliousness, quenches thirst and strengthens the hairs. The seeds of lettuce reduce semen. | ||||
Specific actions | Antibilious, anti-flatulent, tonic, anodyne and hypnotic. | ||||
Frequency in use | Frequently under cultivation. | ||||
Common uses | Head: Lettuce seeds reduce biliousness and bilious heat, quench thirst and induce sleep and diuresis. The seeds reduce headache, if plastered they check the falling of hairs. Chest: Internally seed extract is useful against phlegmatic cough, asthma, bronchitis, nervousness, palpitation, insanity and melancholy. Seeds in powder form are effective against fevers, in decoction for insomnia and wakefulness due to over work. Excretion: The seeds dry the semen, administered in spermatorrhoea/spermatorrhea, useful in cases of frequent nocturnal emissions and reduce the desire of sex. Lettuce causes neither constipation nor relaxation of the bowels. Its oil is also used and applied on the head to bring sleep. It is considered as a tonic for the hairs. The oil is very useful as a massage in insomnia (Saifuddin). The poultice of lettuce leaves is an effective soothing application for painful ulcers. The herb use is regarded as more favourable for individuals with bilious and sanguine temperament. | ||||
Side effect | It is harmful for penis and reduces the desire of sex. It dries up the semen. | ||||
Medical system | Unani | ||||
Traditional concept | Temperament | It is cold and dry in the second degree. | |||
Drug effect | The seeds are hypnotic, narcotic; reduce headache. | ||||
Dosage | 3 to 5gm. (seeds). 24 to 48ml. (water of leaves). | ||||
Substitute | Khashkhash, (Papaver somniferum Linn.), opium. | ||||
Related drugs | Lactuca scariola Linn. (Wild variety of lettuce). Occurring in W. Himalayas as well as on high altitudes. Wild variety possesses sedative property in greater degree than cultivated ones. | ||||
Corrigent (corrective) | Mastagi (Pistacia lentiscus Linn.), mastich and pure honey. | ||||
Important compound preparations | Qurs Mussalas, La`ooq Ab Tarbuz Wala, Ma`jun Mughalliz Jawahar Wali and Muffareh Sheikh-ul-Rais. | ||||
References | Reference book Tips! | Indian Materia Medica, Vols. 1-2, 1976 (Repr. 1989). Nadkarni, A.K., Popular Prakashan Pvt. Ltd., Bombay Vol. 1, pp 719-721. Makhzanul-Mufradat (Khawasul Adviyah), Hakeem Kabiruddin, Daftar Al-Masih, Qarol Bagh, Delhi. pp 434-435. A Survey of Drugs, 1961 (2nd edi.). Wahid, A. K. and Siddiqui, H. H. Institute of History of Medicine and Medical Research, Delhi. pp 55-59. Dictionary of Economic Plants in India, 1996 (2nd Rep.). Singh, U; Wadhwani, A. M. and Johri B.M. Indian council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. p 116. Al-Qanun Fil-Tibb. Avicenna. (English translation of the critical Arabic text), Book 2, 1998. Hameed, H. A. (editor), Dept. of Islamic Studies, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi. pp 191-192. Al-Jamili Mufradt Al Adwiya Wal Aghziya (1197-1248 A.D.). Ibn al-Baytar. Vols. 1-3, 1985-1999. Central council for Research in Unani Medicine, Janakpuri, New Delhi. Vol. 2, pp 122-125. Hamdard Pharmcopoeia of Eastern medicine, 1969. Said, H. M. (editor), The Times Press, Sadar Karachi. pp 218, 245, 286, 295. Indusyunic Medicine, 1997. Usmanghani, K., Saeed, A. and Alam, M. T. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi. pp 269-270. Unani Adwiyah Mufradah, 1984. Ali, Saifuddin, A. (3rd edi.). Taraqi-e-Urdu Bureau, R. K. Puram, New Delhi. pp 217-218. | |||
Remarks | Avicenna (Ibn Sina) has described the functions and properties of garden lettuce as well as wild lettuce. Other writers have also described the various attributes. The drug otherwise is very easily available and have no problem of adulteration. The physician Dioscorides (1st century A.D.) wrote that the plant's effect seemed similar to that of the opium poppy. This view is still widely held that wild lettuce is stronger in therapeutic actions. It is one of the vegetable drugs used exclusively in Unani medicine. Galen and Rhazes also described the virtues of the drug. Leaves, seeds, oil and milky juice of Lactuca sativa are used medicinally. Its congealed juice is known as lettuce opium. Wild lettuce is also mentioned in the Unani literature. It has a peculiar opium odour and acts as a narcotic. Lettuce leaves (garden variety) are very rich in iron and vitamin C, hence it is recommended for bodybuilding. | ||||
Last renewal date | 2024/03/21 |