MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC CROPS (2+1)

Importance and chemical composition

• Isabgol or Blonde psyllium (Plantago ovata) belonging to the family Plantaginaceae, is important for its seeds and husks which have been used in indigenous medicine for many centuries.


• It derives its name from two Persian words, ‘asp’ and ‘ghol’ meaning a ‘horse –ear’ referring to its characteristic boat-shaped seeds.
  


• The husk of the seed is economic part and it contains colloidal mucilage mainly consisting of xylose, arabinose, galacturonic acid.
  


• The husk has the property of absorbing and retaining water and it works as an anti diarrhoeal drug.
  


• It is beneficial in chronic dysenteries of amoebic and bacillary origin.
  


• It is also used for treating constipation and intestinal disorders as it works as calorie free fiber food, promoting regular bowel movement.
  


• The seed has also cooling demulscent effects and is used to cure inflammations of mucous membrane of gastro intestinal and urinary tracts.