Biochemistry & Pharmacology: Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2167-0501
ISSN: 2167-0501
Bindu Rani
Accepted Abstracts: Biochem & Pharmacol
Blood root is a perinial herbaceous flowering plant native to Eastern North America. It is the only species in the genus Sanguinaria, included in the family Papervaceae and most closely related to eomecon of Eastern Asia. Sanguinaria conadensis is a variable species growing from 20-50 cm (7.9-20 in length), normally with one large, sheath-like basal multi loped leaf up to 12 cm in breadth. Flowers are produced from march to may, with 8-12 delicate white petals & yellow reproductive parts, seeds develop in elongated green pods 40 to 60 mm in length & ripen before the foliage seeds dormant in summer. Sanguinaria conadensis is cultivated as an ornamental plant. The double flowering forms are prized by gardeners for their large showy white flowers, which are produced very early in the gardening season. The cultivar S.canadensis multiplex ''plena'' has ginned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of garden merit. It is used as a remedy for coughs, spasms, ring worm, nail worm infections and as a gastric stimulant. It may also have some side effects like vertigo, nausia, vomiting and head ache. Long term use or high doses of blood root could be unsafe as at high doses it can cause low blood pressure, shock, glaucoma and even coma.