Delphinium Ajacis

Introduction Family: Ranunculaceae

Botanical Name: Delphinium ajacis

Common name: Larkspur

Urdu Name: Jadvar

Part used: Dried Root, Seed and Flowers

Chemical Class: Alkaloids

Chemical Constituents Ajacine Delphinine Delphisine Delavaine Methyllyaconitine ß-sitosterol Aconitine

Mechanism of action

• As anti-depressant Delphinine act as selective serotonine reuptake inhibitor affect the level of serotonine and are able to reduce depression and anxiety .• As anti-inflamatory Ajacine inhibit COX enzyme, relief symptoms of inflammation and pain.

As diuretic: Edema (swallowing of the tissues and body parts) can be treated when delphinine tincture from the seeds affect the nephron (tubules or glomeruli).Excessive fluid intake can be eliminated by kidney in form of urine.

As anthelmintics: Delphinine tincture used externally for killing the intestinal worm or parasites.

As anti-lices: Delphinine is active constituents and toxic in nature used to kill lices from hairs and body of the castles.

As lowering of cholesterol medicator: B-sitosterol lowers cholesterol level by limiting amount of cholesterol to enter the body because it block few receptors of cholesterol.

Uses Delphinine is used to kill the intestinal worm Delphinine is used as sedative Delphinine is to treat the sleeping problems insomia Delphinine is used as an analgesic to treat the muscle and bone It is used to get rid of lices from hair Ajacine is used as anti- inflamatory It is used as diuretic Ajacine is used as anti neuralgia ß-sitosterol is used to lower the cholestrol level by limiting amount of cholestrol

that is able to enter the body

Dosage It is for external uses only such as analgesic

For powdered seeds, the dosage is 0.133g-0.2g

In case of seeds, it may be 2-3 grains

In case of tinctures, take 1-10 drops diluted in 2ml water

Dosage depend upon the user’s age, health and several other condition.

Be sure to consult pharmacist, natural dosage not need to save due to poisonous nature

Side Effects Delphinine causes muscular spasm Causes low blood pressure. If fatal, death may occur May cause respiratory collapse and lung failure Methyllyaconitine causes blocking of neurotransmitter transmition All the part are toxic in nature, if ingested, then causes skin irritation and digestive

discomfort leading to vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain

Precautions Delphinium species all are toxic, so it directly cannot be used

Avoid delphinium use during pregnancy or breast-feeding

Do not apply to skin that is irritated, raw, or has open sores

Reference: www.Medscape.com www.mayoclinic.com Text book of pharmacognosy by sir Imran qadir Textbook of pharmacognosy and phytochemistry by barren shah

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