- Family
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Aristolochiaceae.
- Habitat
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Indigenous to the northern parts of southern Europe, Central and East-Central Europe; cultivated in the United States. A related sp., Asarum himalaicum, synonym A. canadense, is reported from the eastern Himalayas.
- English
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Asarbacca, Hazelwort, Wild Nard.
- Unani
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Asaaroon, Subul-e-Barri, Naardeen-Barri.
- Folk
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Tagar Ganthodaa.
- Action
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Brain and nervine tonic, diuretic, deobstructant and anti-inflammatory; used in bronchial spasm and in preparations of cephalic snuffs.
The volatile oil (0.7–4%) consists of asarone up to 50%, asaraldehyde 2–3%, methyleugenol 15–20%, with bornyl acetate, terpenes and sesquiterpenes. Asarone and its beta-isomer is found to be carcinogenic in animals. The rhizome, in addition, contains caffeic acid derivatives and flavonoids.
A related sp., Asarum canadense L., indigenous to North America and China, contains a volatile oil (3.5–4.5%) with methyl eugenol (an important constituent of A. europaeum), and also aristolochic acid....