Ammi visnaga
(Khella)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Antispasmodic with specific action as a coronary vasodilator and bronchodilator
• Calcium antagonist
• Decreases the toxicity of the cardiac glycoside digitoxin due to the coronary vasodilator and antiarrhythmic effects
• Improves blood supply to the myocardium

Clinical Indications:

• Asthma, chronic
• Hypertension
• Psoriasis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Angina
• Emphysema
• Mild obstructive pulmonary disease
• Urinary tract stones
• Vitiligo

Contraindications:

• May cause photodermatitis in sensitive individuals
• Pregnancy due to emmenagogue and uterine stimulating activity of khellin

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Digitoxin toxicity is decreased by visnadin

Chemical Constituents:

• Coumarins
• Furanochromones (psoralens):
  
  Khellin
  Visnagin
• Visdadine, an anti-anginal agent
• Visnadin
• Volatile oil

Toxicity:

• No known toxicity

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).