Botany names

Description - A large herb, stem stout, hollow, 3-5 meter high, occasionally branched in the upper part. Leaves very large, up to 45 cm long in lower part of stem, smaller upwards, margins not entire; the main nerve of the leaves whitish. Flowers large white, in very large terminal bunches. Fruit 8 mm, roundish. Seeds many, small, yellowish, and brown.

Chemical Constituents- Plant contains alkaloids, the principal being Lobelanidines, lobeline.

Use - It is used in bronchitis and asthma; the drug causes sweating, nausea and consequently vomiting, thereby causing general relaxation. The drug is sometimes dangerous in the sense that if it is not vomited out, it is toxic to the system, and even death may occur. Lobeline, the alkaloid contained in this drug, stimulates respiration and is used for reviving respiration in cases of failures of respiration caused by excessive narcotics, anesthesia, gases, etc. Aerial parts of Lobelia nicotianefolia exude a white juice; this juice causes blisters on skin. The dried plants seem to cause irritation of mucous membrane (such as in nose and throat) even from some distance. Coolies engaged for plant collection work avoid approaching areas inhabited by this plant.