Denni Mammen and Mammen Daniel

Abstract

Stemodia viscosa Roxb., an aromatic weed used as a medicine for cold and flu and as a healing rub, is analysed for its volatile oils and flavonoids. The whole plant yielded 1.5% of a light greenish yellow volatile oil consisting of β-caryophyllene (37.1%), endo-fenchol(31.8%) and p-mentha-1-(7)-8- diene (19.58%)as major components. The minor constituents were α- humulene (5.88), α- cadinene (3.19%) and Δ3- carene (1.74%). The flavones identified were scutellarein, 4’-OMe sculellarein and 7,4’- dimethoxy scutellarein. β-Caryophyllene being anti-inflammatory and scutellarein considered a potential therapeutic agent for ischemic cerebrovascular disease, the