5. Thalictrum foliolosum, D.C.

The medicinal plant Thalictrum foliolosum is a member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. This page includes its habitat, botanical descption, medicinal uses (eg., Ayurveda), chemical constituents and history of use in modern and ancient India.

Index in Flora of British India (Hooker): 1. 14.

Vernacular:—Pinjari; Shuprak (root-pili-jari) (EL); Pila-jari, pengla jari, barmat (rooi-mamira) (Kumaon); Gurbiani, pash-maran, phalijori, Chitra-mul, Keraita, Mamira (Pb.); Chaitra (Kashmir); Mamiran (Bombay).

Habitat:—Temperate Himalaya; Khasia hills.

Botanical description:—A tail perennial rigid herb. Stem 4-8 ft. glabrous.

Leaves: exstipulate, pinnately-decompound; petiole sheaths auricled.

Leaflets: ⅙-¼ in. rarely 1 in., orbicular.

Panicles: much branched, bracts small.

Flowers: polygamous, white, pale green, dingy purple.

Sepals: 4-5.

Petals: 0.

Stamens: many,

Filaments: filiform; anthers beaked.

Ovule: 1, pendulous.

Achenes: usually 2-5, small, oblong, acute at both ends, sharply ribbed.

Parts used:—The root.

Medicinal uses:—It has been found useful as a tonic. “I administered it in the form of a tincture to some extent when at the European General Hospital, Bombay, and found it a good bitter tonic, comparable with gentian.” (Dymock.).

The root is largely used as an anjan, or application for ophthalmia in Afghanistan and throughout India.

In the Punjab, the root is used as a purgative and diuretic. (Baden Powell).

The bruised root having been given to large dogs in the quantity of 10 grs. to 2 ounces, no particular effects were observed,

“It has been used in the Hospital of the Medical College in several cases of ague, and as a tonic in the convalescence from acute diseases.

“5 grs. of the powder, or 2 grs. of the watery extract, given thrice daily, have in some cases prevented, and in several moderated, the accession of fever, and at the same time acted gently on the bowels. The only sensation experienced was warmth at the epigastrium, and a general comfortable feeling.

“Another species of Thalictrum (flavum) is common in France, where it is termed ‘the poor man’s rhubarb,’ as a substitute for which medicine it is generally employed. The Indian species is easily procurable from the hills, though not known in the bazars of the lower provinces.

“It deserves extensive trial, and promises to succeed well as a febrifuge of some power, and a tonic aperient of peculiar value.

“Dose of the powder.—5 to 10 grs. as a tonic and aperient, in the interval of intermittent fevers, and in convalescence from acute diseases.” (O’Shaughnessy).

“It lessens the intensity of fever, and acts gently on the bowels; thus it is a good substitute for rhubarb. As collyrium, it clears the sight. The snuff prepared from it clears the brain. It relieves toothache.” (R. N. Khory).