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Seeds
Medicinal Seeds
1. Sweet Almond Seeds
Arabic name
‫ﺑﺬﻭﺭ ﺍﻟﻠﻮﺯ ﺍﳊﻠﻮ‬
English name
Sweet almond
Latin name
Prunus communis var. dulcis
Family name
Rosaceae
Constituents
1. Fatty oil (non-dehydrating, 43 to 57%): chief fatty acids oleic acid (77%) and
linoleic acid (17 to 20%)
2. Mucilages (3 to 4%): arabinogalactans
3. Proteic substances (20 to 25%)
Action and
Uses
1. Sweet Almonds have a demulcent effect so are used topically in skin care
and liniments.
2. Production of almond oil which used in many pharmaceutical dosage
forms
3. Nutrient
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Seeds
2. Bitter Almond Seeds
Arabic name
‫ﺑﺬﻭﺭ ﺍﻟﻠﻮﺯ ﺍﳌﺮ‬
English name
Bitter almond seed
Latin name
Prunus cumminus var. amara
Family name
Rosaceae
Constituents
1. Cyanogenic glycosides, amygdalin, 0.2 to 8.5% (corresponding to 12 to 500
mg prussic acid per 100 gm)
2. Fatty oil (non-dehydrating, 38 to 60%): chief fatty acids oleic acid (77%) and
linoleic acid (17 to 20%)
3. Mucilages (3 to 3%): arabinogalactans
Action and Uses
Bitter Almonds were used in the past as a remedy for coughs, vomiting and
nausea in the form of bitter almond water.
The seeds are used chiefly as a source of Almond Oil, but also yield a volatile oil,
which is largely employed as a flavoring agent.
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Seeds
3. Black Mustard Seeds
Arabic name
‫ﺑﺬﻭﺭ ﺍﳋﺮﺩﻝ ﺍﻷﺳﻮﺩ‬
English name
Black mustard
Latin name
Brassica nigra L
Family name
Cruciferae
Constituents
1. Thioglycosides: Sinigrin.
2. Enzyme: myrosin
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3. Fixed oil & protein.
4. Mucilage {epidermis}.
Action and Uses
1. Crushed seeds in the form of plasters are used as rubifacient and counterirritant, an effect which is followed by loss of feeling and local relief of
pain.
2. Condiments and spice.
3. Emetic in large doses.
Mustard oil
•
It is official in the E.P, the volatile oil of black mustard prepared by
maceration of powdered seeds with water followed by steam distillation.
•
Used as antiseptic
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Seeds
4. White Mustard Seeds
Arabic name
‫ﺑﺬﻭﺭ ﺍﳋﺮﺩﻝ ﺍﻷﺑﻴﺾ‬
English name
White mustard seeds
Latin name
Brassica alba
Family name
Cruciferae
Constituents
1. Mucilage
2. Myrosin
3. Sinalbin glycoside : yields on hydrolysis acrinyl isothiocyanate
Action and Uses
As black mustard , additionally as laxative for the content of mucilage
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Seeds
5. Linseed
Arabic name
‫ﺑﺬﻭﺭ ﺍﻟﻜﺘﺎﻥ‬
English name
Linseed and Flax seed
Latin name
Linum usitatissumum
Family name
Linaceae
Constituents
1. Mucilage (6 %)[Epidermis].
2. Fixed oil (30 - 40 %) rich in unsaturated fatty acids (high % of omega-3
fatty acid e.g. alpha linolenic acid).
3. Cyanogenetic glycoside (Linamarin)
4. Protein (25 %).
Action and Uses
¾ Internally:
1. Bulk laxative, (mucilage swells in the intestine and increasing the bulk
causing laxation; but it should be taken with plenty of water
2. Linseed oil used in food unsaturated fatty acid is considered heart
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Seeds
protective
3. Lipid reducing (LDL & VLDL)
¾ Externally:
1. Used as a poultice for boils (crushed seeds or cake).
2. Linseed oil (drying oil) (prepared by hot expression & used in paints in the
form of metallic salt).
3. Cake (exhausted seed) left used for cattle food.
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Seeds
6. Fenugreek
Arabic name
‫ﺑﺬﻭﺭ ﺍﳊﻠﺒﺔ‬
English name
Fenugreek, Hilbah, Greek hay seed
Latin name
Trigonella foenum graecum
Family name
Leguminosae(Fabaceae)
Constituents
1. Mucilage ( 28 % ) in the endosperm
2. Proteins
3. Fixed oils
4. Saponin: Diosgenin (sapogenin in the embryo)
5. Alkaloids (pyridine nucleus): Trigonelline and choline.
6. Vitamines (nicotinic acid)
7. Minerals
8. Flavonoids
9. Volatile oil
Action and Uses
¾ Internally:
1. Mucilagenous demulscent, laxative.
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Seeds
2. Hypoglycemic & hypocholesterolemic action in normal & diabetic human.
3. Nutritive & ttt of anorexia & dyspepsia.
4. Lactagogue.
5. Spice in curry powder.
6. Hepatoprotective.
7. Anti-cancer (breast & colon).
¾ Externally
1. Poultice for local inflammation, furuncles, eczema.
2. Raw material for steroid industry (saponin).
Contra-indications:
1. Diabetic patient undergoing hypoglycemic therapy.
2. With pregnant women to due the uterine stimulant & oxytocic activity.
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Seeds
7. Nutmeg
Arabic name
‫ﺑﺬﻭﺭ ﺟﻮﺯﺓ ﺍﻟﻄﻴﺐ‬
English name
Nutmeg, Myristica
Latin name
Myristica fragrans
Family name
Myristicaceae
Constituents
1. Volatile oil (7-13%) (elemicin and myristicin)
2. Solid fat (30-40%)
3. Starch
4. Coloring matter
5. Saponin
6. Fixed oil
7. Tannins
Action and Uses
1. Stimulant [Myristicin & elemecin possess the same stimulant &
psychomimetic effect as amphetamine].
2. In large doses, it is toxic due to myristicin.
3. Carminative & flavoring agent.
4. Externally, in chronic rheumatism.
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Seeds
Products of Nutmeg:
1- Nutmeg butter (Expressed oil of nutmeg):
• It consists of = fixed oil of nutmeg + myrsiticin + small amount of volatile oils
• Uses: Externally, used as counterirritant in the form of liniments & ointments.
• Toxicity: Large doses produce convulsions.
2- Mace
Origin: The dried arillus or arillode of Myristica fragrans,
Family Myristicaceae.
Description: Composed of dull-red to golden yellow lobed pieces.
Active Constituents:
- 4-15% volatile oil.
- Amylodextrin which stain red with iodine.
-No starch.
Uses:
- Aromatic.
- Carminative.
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Seeds
8. Soybean
Arabic name
‫ﺑﺬﻭﺭ ﺍﻟﺼﻮﻳﺎ‬
English name
Soybean, Soya seed
Latin name
Glycine soja
Family name
Leguminoseae
Constituents
1. Carbohydrates (30%)
2. Proteins (50%)
3. Fixed oil (20%) Esters of linolic acid, Oleic acid, Linoleic acid in addition to
saturated acids :Palmitic acid and stearic acid
4. Urease
Action and Uses
1. Source of Soya oils
2. Raised levels of cholesterol (less severe forms of hypercholesterolemia)
3. Nutrient for diabetic patients
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Seeds
9. Nux Vomica seeds
Arabic name
‫ﺑﺬﻭﺭ ﺍﳉﻮﺯ ﺍﳌﻘﺊ‬
English name
Nux Vomica seeds
Latin name
Strychnos Nux-vomica
Family name
Loganiaceae
Constituents
1. Alkaloids: Strychnine and Brucine, also traces of strychnicine
2. A glucoside Loganin,
3. About 3 % fatty matter
4. Caffeotannic acid and
5. A trace of copper
Action and Uses
The properties of Nux Vomica are substantially those of the alkaloid
Strychnine:
The seeds are employed as
1. a gastric tonic in dyspepsia.
ƒ
increasing appetite
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Seeds
ƒ
In chronic constipation due to atony of the bowel it is often
combined with cascara and other laxatives with good effects
ƒ
As a bitter, increasing the flow of gastric juice
2. As a tonic to the circulatory system in cardiac failure (it improves the
pulse and raises blood pressure)
Strychnine is a poison: Lethal dose 2 mg/kg
Symptoms:
1. The movements of respiration are deepened and quickened and the heart
slowed through excitation of the vagal centre.
2. The senses of smell, touch, hearing and vision are rendered more acute,
3. The most direct symptom caused by strychnine is convulsions due to a
simultaneous stimulation of the motor or sensory ganglia of the spinal cord
Brucine closely resembles strychnine in its action, but is slightly less poisonous
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Seeds
10. Castor Seeds
Arabic name
‫ﺑﺬﻭﺭ ﺍﳋﺮﻭﻉ‬
English name
Castor Seeds
Latin name
Ricinus Communis
Family name
Euphorbiaceae
Constituents
Castor oil seeds
1. Fatty oil (42 to 55%)
2. Proteic substances (20 to 25%)
3. Lectins (0.1 to 0.7%): including ricin D (RCA-60, severely toxic), RCA120 (less toxic)
4. Pyrridine alkaloids: ricinine (up to 0.3%)
5. Triglycerides: chief fatty acids ricinoleic acid (12-hydroxyoleic acid, 85 to
90%)
6. Tocopherols (vitamin E)
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Seeds
Action and Uses
Castor Oil is fatty oil obtained from the seeds of Ricinus communis
ƒ
The laxative principle of castor oil is the ricinolic acid (Ricinolic acid is antiabsorptive and secretogogic)
ƒ
Castor Oil is used internally in folk medicine for acute constipation
N.B.: Seeds are not used internally because of high toxicity (ricin is highly toxic).
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Seeds
11. Strophanthus Seeds
Arabic name
‫ﺑﺬﻭﺭ ﺍﻟﺴﺘﺮﻭﻓﺎﻧﺘﻮﺱ‬
English name
Strophanthus seeds
Latin name
Strophanthus kombe
Strophanthus gratus and
Strophanthus hispidus
Family name
Apocyanaceae
Constituents
Cardioactive steroid glycosides:
Action and Uses
ƒ
Strophanthoside-K
ƒ
Strophanthin-K
ƒ
Ouabain (Strophanthin-G)
ƒ
Cymarin glycosides
It resemble digitalis in its effect, cardiotonic, diuretic, raise the blood pressure and it
is not cumulative drug.