- Family
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Rosaceae.
- Habitat
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Western Himalayas at altitudes of 2,100–4,800 m.
- English
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Silverweed.
- Action
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Astringent, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, haemostatic. Used for diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, arthritis, cramps, kidney stones, bleeding piles; as a mouth wash in pyrrhoea, gingivitis and sore throat.
- Key application
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In mild dismenorrhoeal disorders; as a support for treatment of milder, nonspecific, acute diarrhoea and in light inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa. (German Commission E.)
The plant gave anthocyanins—cyanidin and delphinidin. Aerial parts gave tannins (2–10%). The plant also gave choline, betaine, histidine, an essential oil and vitamin E.
The maximum amounts of tannins occur in the root stock (up to 17.5% on dry basis). The ethanolic and aqueous extract of the herb (1 : 5) contain 0.3 to 0.8% of tannin. The tannin fraction exhibited anti-mutagenic effect.
Potentilla fruticosa HK. (temperate Himalaya) is also used like Silverweed.
The flowers and...