MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIKKIM

 

 

Basic Information

 

 

Species                                   : Taraxacum sikkimensis.

Local Name                             : Tukiphool (Nep)

Synonym                                 : T. officinale

Family                                      : Asteraceae

Habitat                                    : An alpine herb love to grow in the open and grazing slope.

Distribution                            : Himalayas,Tibet, temperate and alpine region of North and South Hemisphere.

Sikkim                                     : Lachen, Lachung, Kyoungnosla, Kupup, Baba mandir, Lampokri, (East Sikkim),Nathang, Kupup, Donkyla, Dzongri, Green

                                               Lake.

Outside                                   : Chumbi (Linaishila), West Bengal (Darjeeling, Beejanbari, Kurseong, Downhill, Kalimpong), Ladakh.

Morphological information

Leaves deeply incised, 50-130 x 7-13 mm; lateral segments 3-5 pairs, narrow, strongly retrose, entire (very rarely with 1-2 denticles). Scapes 60-90mm. Involucres 6-10 mm diameter. Phyllaries olive-green, eventually drying dark brown, callose or corniculate; outer phyllaries 12-17, 4.5-6.7 x 1-2.7 mm, obscurely bordered; inner phyllaries 10-12 mm. Stigmas dark green. Achenes body reddish-brown, prominently spinulose on main ribs above; body and cone 4.2 mm pappus dirty white, 5.5-6 mm.

Flowering                : May-December

Fruiting                   : June-February

History                   :

Parts                      :

Status                    : Low risk.

Phytochemistry

A bitter crystalline principle taraxacin and a crystalline substance taraxacerin; the phytosterols taraxasterol and homotaraxasterol also present in the drug (Arch. Pharm. Berl., 1861,6; J. Chem. Soc., 1912, 2411; 1913, 399; chem.. & Drug., 1912, 822; Mh. Chem.,1926, 681; chem.. Zbl., 1927, I, 2326; U.S.D., 1189); saponin (Schweiz. Apothztg; 1926, 16).

 

Medicinal                  : Root is diuretic, tonic, aperiant, used as remedy for chronic disorders of kidney and liver.


Reference

1. Progress Report of the Project "Studies on Medicinal Plants of Sikkim" (1998-2001). State Council of Science and Technology for Sikkim.