The Data Base of Ethno-medicines in the world (ETHMEDmmm)

Crude drug sample data base

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Crude drug name	Market name	Izkhir-makki
	Urudu name	Izkhar
	Arabic name / Persian name	Idhkhir-makki / Kah-makki, Gor-gayah
	English name	Lemongrass
Original plant name		Cymbopogon jawarancusa Schult., Lemongrass
Family name		Gramineae
Used part	Classification	Plant origin
Used part	Sub classification	aerial part
Collection information		Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Karachi [Karachi], Sind, Amjad Unani Medicine (Pvt.) Ltd.
Collection date		1994/1/22
Collector		Tsuneo Namba
Identifier		Javed Ahmad
Description		Features: It has two varieties: one is the Arabian variety, which is fragrant, and the other is Ajami (marshy) which is rare. The best one is the Arabian variety, which is red and fragrant. Its reddish buds turn purple when torn to pieces and cause irritation to tongue. Indian Idhkhir is called Gandheel. The best one is Idhkhir makki.
TMPW No.		14643

The capital city, provincial capital city or the representative　　
location of its administrative area is indicated.　　

Production area information

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25.0700428

67.2847875

Collection information

Islamic Republic of Pakistan,Karachi [Karachi], Sind

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Scientific information data base

Crude drug name

Urudu name,
English name

Izkhar, Lemongrass

Arabic name / Persian name

Idhkhir-makki / Kah-makki, Gor-gayah

crude drug image

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Original plant name

Cymbopogon jawarancusa Schult.

Family name

Gramineae

Used part

Leaves (aerial part)

Distribution area

It is found in Himalayas from Kashmir to Assam, ascending upto 10,000 ft., and in the northwestern plains.

Function and properties

Ulcers and wounds, Swellings and pimples, Joints, Organs of the head, Alimentary organs, Excretory organs.

Carminative, stimulant, emmenagogue, astringent, diuretic, whole plant has appetizing, stomachic properties, resolvent and antiseptic.

Specific actions

Effective in diseases of cold phlegmatic origin.

Frequency in use

Common in northwest India.

Common uses

The above ground part is more potent in above properties. In cold phlegmatic disorders e.g. paralysis, facial paralysis, spasmodic affections, palsy, amnesia, dementia and phlegmatic fevers, lemon grass is used as concoctive and alterative. Idhkhir maturates and softens humoural matter; opens the orifices of veins and has softening effects on pain in internal organs especially that in the womb and dissolves the gases.

Ulcers and wounds: The oil of Idhkhir is helpful in itches.

Swellings and pimples: The decoction is useful in hot swellings, hardness of the internal organs (liver and spleen) and the cold swellings of viscera.

Joints: 18 gm of Idhkhir with pepper is useful in splitting of muscles and convulsions. The oil removes fatigue.

Organs of the head. The seeds are anaesthetic. The flowers cleanse the brain.

Respiratory and chest organs: It is useful for pain in lungs. The flowers are helpful in haemoptysis/hemoptysis.

Alimentary organs: The root strengthens the stomach, stimulates appetite and gives relief in nausea. The flowers provide relief in gastralgia and inflammations of the stomach and liver.

Excretory organs: Useful in hot inflammation of the uterus.

Idhkhuir, especially its Ajami variety is diuretic, lithotriptic, constipating and stops excess of menstruation. 4.5 gm of the root taken with pepper helps in dropsy. The flowers are useful in nephralgia and bleeding of the kidneys and in inflammation of anus.

Side effect

Idhkhir (Ajami variety) produces heaviness in the head, thin variety produces headache and the thick variety induces sleep. The seeds are anaesthetic. All varieties reduce the moisture content of gums. Plaster made from fresh leaves of the thick variety (above the roots) is useful in insect bites.

Medical system

Unani

Traditional concept

Temperament

It is hot and dry in the second degree.

Drug effect

It is considered beneficial in dropsy; also for removing swellings of liver and spleen.

Dosage

5 to 7 gm.

Substitute

Aqar-qarha (Anacyclus pyrethrum DC.) and Filfil Siyah (Piper nigrum Linn.).

Related drugs

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. and C. schoenanthus (L.) Spreng.

Corrigent (corrective)

Sandal Safaid (Santalum album Linn.).

Important compound preparations

Dawa al kurkum, Ma`jun Dabeedalward and Arq Ambar.

References

Reference book　

Tips！

Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, 1956. Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L. and Chopra, I.C., Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi. - New Edition (1996) National Institute Science Communication; Supplement
p 87.

Makhzanul-Mufradat (Khawasul Adviyah), Hakeem Kabiruddin, Daftar Al-Masih, Qarol Bagh, Delhi.
pp 68-69.

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 64.

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 51-52.

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. 1, pp 29-31.

Hamdard Pharmcopoeia of Eastern medicine, 1969. Said, H. M. (editor), The Times Press, Sadar Karachi.
pp 127, 198, 269.

Indusyunic Medicine, 1997. Usmanghani, K., Saeed, A. and Alam, M. T. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi.
pp 201-202.

Remarks

The oil is also of high value and is manufactured on commercial scale in India. It is stimulant, carminative, antispasmodic and diaphoretic in action and properties. It is also valuable for local application as rubefacient.

Lemon grass tea is useful against nasal catarrh and influenza.

Last renewal date

2024/02/27

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