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Chemical constituents: The dry rhizomes contain 1.5 to 3.5% of a yellow aromatic volatile oil. It has a mellow odor resembling that of patchouli. The chief constituent of the oil is asaryl-aldehyde. There are also present a bitter glycoside named acorin and some other substances such as eugenol, ascarone, pinene and camphene. The Indian oil has much higher asarone content than the European commercial oil. Kelkar and Roe (1934) found that in addition to asarone, C12H16O3 (mp 62 to 63° C.), the oil contains a small amount of sesquiterpenes and sequiterpenic alcohols. Fractionation of the active principle from volatile oil by gas phase chromatography revealed the presence of two components isolated in a pure state, i.e., α-asarone and β-asarone (Govindarajan et al., 2004), which were trans and cis isomers, respectively, of 2,4,5-trimethoxy-1-propenyl benzene. Acorus sp. is reported to contain an alkaloid choline (Williaman and Li, 1970). Pharmacological action: The rhizome is an aromatic, stimulant, bitter, tonic, carminative, antispasmodic, emetic, expectorant, emmenagogue, aphrodisiac, laxative, and diuretic (Nandakarni, 1954). The alcoholic extract of the plant has been shown to possess sedative and analgesic properties; it causes a moderate depression in the blood pressure and respiration. The water-soluble fraction of the dealcoholized extract produced relaxation of isolated intestine and negative inotropic action on frog's heart. The insecticide activity of the solvent extracts and steam-distilled volatile principle of rhizome against common houseflies is quite marked. The insecticidal activity of the oil and the extract appears to be due to the presence of the trans-isomer of asarone (Agarwar et al, 1956). Medicinal properties and uses: Its infusion is given in diarrhea, dysentery, bronchial and chest affections, and epilepsy. The burned root mixed with some bland oil is applied over the abdomen in flatulent colic; the poultice is also usefully applied to paralyzed limbs and rheumatic swelling. In Ayurvedic syste, of medicine, the rhizomes are considered to possess anti-spasmodic, carminative and anthelmintic properties and are used for the treatment of a host of disease such as epilepsy and other mental ailments, chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, bronchial catarrh, intermittent fevers and glandular and abdominal tumours. Cinnamomum camphora Family: Lauraceae