| The common name of Pansy (older form 'Pawnce,' | | | | themselves and come back the next year. Pansies |
| as in Spenser) is derived from the French pensées, | | | | are not very heat-tolerant; they are best used as a |
| the name which is still used in France. Shakespeare's | | | | cool season planting, warm temperatures inhibit |
| Ophelia says of pansies in Hamlet, "There's a pansy, | | | | blooming and hot muggy air causes rot and death. In |
| that's for thought,” because their name comes | | | | colder zones, pansies may not persist without snow |
| from French pensée, "thought." In traditional | | | | cover or protection (mulch) from the extreme cold. |
| "flower language," pansy's three colors-purple, white, | | | | Pansies should be watered thoroughly about once a |
| and yellow-stand for memories, loving thoughts, and | | | | week, depending on climate and rainfall. To maximize |
| souvenirs, all of which ease the hearts of separated | | | | blooming, plant food should be used about every |
| lovers. Pansy therefore is also called by the name | | | | other week, according to the plant food directions |
| heartsease. | | | | COLLECTION AND HARVESTING |
| Wild pansy is indigenous to or naturalized in large | | | | The herb can be collected throughout its growing |
| parts of Europe and the Middle East as far as Central | | | | season from March to August |
| Asia, also found through the United States. In the | | | | CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS |
| Lithuanian flora wild pansy habitats areas have been | | | | The pansy (Viola L.) is the only non-tropical genus |
| fast reducing; this not only limits the availability of the | | | | of the tropical Violaceae Out of the several species |
| reserves of medicinal raw materials for pharmacy and | | | | of pansy; two are medicinal: wild (V. tricolorL.) and |
| therapy needs but also causes a menace to survival | | | | field (V. arvensis Murray) pansy not much differing in |
| of species. [1,2,3] | | | | habitat and content of active substances and usage. |
| The wild species is an annual, but from it the | | | | Chemical Constituents [5,6,7,8]Salicylic acid |
| countless varieties of the perennial garden pansies, | | | | derivatives (Methyl salicylic Acid and Violutoside ) |
| with blossoms of large size and singular beauty, are | | | | Percentage occurrence 0.3% |
| supposed to have originated. | | | | Usages Salicylic acid has keratinolytic properties and is |
| Macroscopic Feature | | | | applied topically in the treatment hyperkeratotic and |
| The flowers vary a great deal in colour and size, but | | | | scaling conditions such as dandruff, ichthyosis and |
| are either purple, yellow or white, and most | | | | psoriasis. Initially a concentration of 2% is used |
| commonly there is a combination of all these colours | | | | increasing to about 6% if necessary. |
| in each blossom. The upper petals are generally most | | | | Chemical Constituents [5,6,7,8] Mucilages (made up of |
| showy in colour and purple in tint, while the lowest | | | | glucose galactose arabinose and rhamnose ) |
| and broadest petal is usually a more or less deep tint | | | | Percentage occurrence 10.0% |
| of yellow. The flowers with a long peduncle, are | | | | |
| zygomorphic , with 5 oval , lanceolate sepals, an | | | | Chemical Constituents [5,6,7,8] Tannins |
| appendage pointed outwards and 5 petals of which | | | | Percentage occurence 2.4 % |
| the lower one bears a spur. | | | | Usages Anti-inflammatory effect |
| . The stem is angular and hollow. The leaves are oval, | | | | |
| petiolate, with a cordate base or elongated and | | | | Chemical Constituents [5,6,7,8] Flavonoids |
| obtuse, with lyrate stipules, divided in the middle. The | | | | Percentage occurence 4.5%a) Usages Flavonoids like |
| andromecium consist of 5 stamens bears at the apex | | | | Rutin and Violanthin is also an antioxidant, and |
| a membranous connective appendage with 2 spurs | | | | therefore plays a role in inhibiting some cancers. |
| The triocular ovary shows a a short style and | | | | reduce inflammation and oxidation, accelerating the |
| globular stigmata. The fruits are navicular capsules, | | | | healing of derma and |
| three lobed yellowish brown, 5mm to 10mm long. The | | | | Chemical Constituents [5,6,7,8] Carotenoids |
| pale yellow, pyriform seeds are about 1mm long, | | | | (violaxanthin zeaxanthin |
| bearing a caruncle. [4] | | | | Percentage occurence 3.41% |
| | | | Usages These molecules reduce inflammation and |
| Synonyms | | | | oxidation, accelerating the healing of dermatitis. |
| Wild Pansy. Love-Lies-Bleeding. Love-in-Idleness. | | | | Chemical Constituents Coumarin |
| Live-in-Idleness. Loving Idol. Love Idol. Cull Me. Cuddle | | | | Usages It can occur either free or combined with the |
| Me. Call-me-to-you. Jackjump-up-and-kiss-me. | | | | sugar glucose (coumarin glycoside) in pansy. Coumarin |
| Meet-me-in-the-Entry. Kiss-her-in-the-Buttery. | | | | has blood-thinning, anti-fungicidal and anti-tumor |
| Three-Faces-under-a-Hood. Kit-run-in-the-Fields. | | | | activities. Coumarin should not be taken while using |
| Pink-o'-the-Eye. Kit-run-about. Godfathers and | | | | anticoagulants. Coumarin increases the blood flow in |
| Godmothers. Stepmother. Herb Trinitatis. Herb | | | | the veins and decreases capillary permeability. |
| Constancy. Pink-eyed-John. Bouncing Bet. Flower | | | | Coumarin can be toxic when used at high doses for a |
| o'luce. Bird's | | | | long period |
| ensée. | | | | |
| | | | |
| History: | | | | Chemical Constituents Violine |
| Wild pansy (Viola tricolor L.) has a history in folk | | | | |
| medicine of helping respiratoryproblems such as | | | | Usages |
| bronchitis, asthma, and cold symptoms. The drugs | | | | Wild Pansy contains an acrid and poisonous principle |
| and extracts are prepared from raw material of | | | | unique molecule, violine, resembles emetine in its |
| pansy; it is a component of some prepared | | | | action, is a pale-yellow or white powder of bitter and |
| expectorant, dermatological medicines and tonics, | | | | acrid taste, more soluble in water than emetine, |
| alteratives, and anti-phlebitis remedies. John Gerard's | | | | insoluble in ether, quite soluble in alcohol, and forming |
| Herball (1597) quotes medical opinion that pansy tea | | | | an insoluble compound with tannin solution. It also |
| is effective for infantile convulsions, goes on to | | | | exists in other plants of this family, particularly in the |
| commend it for "chest and lung inflammations," and | | | | rhizomes of the perennial, and especially the stemless |
| also speaks of its effectiveness externally for scabs, | | | | species of violet |
| itching, and ulcers. This external use caused pansy to | | | | In internal use, this molecule is responsible for its |
| be listed for a time in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, and | | | | laxative and depurative effects in the treatment of |
| has continued in herbal medicine. [1] | | | | dermatitis. At high dosages, violine has an emetic |
| | | | effect. |
| Art And Culture | | | | Useful Parts of Viola tricolor |
| The pansy remains a favorite image in the arts, | | | | 1. Flowers It has cooling,emollient and cathartic |
| culture, and crafts, from needlepoint to ceramics. | | | | Bronchitis and Rheumatism, mucolytic, sweltering, |
| Shakespeare and other famous personalities of 19th | | | | blood-cleansing effect |
| and 20th century was quite impressed with its | | | | 2. Roots It has emeto-cathartic Purgative property |
| beauty .There were some instances from which we | | | | 3. Seeds Used as a Laxatives, Uric acid gravel Emetic, |
| can assume the cultural importance of the plant | | | | Purgative, mucolytic, sweltering, blood-cleansing |
| In 1827, Pierre-Joseph Redouté painted Bouquet of | | | | effect |
| Pansies. | | | | 4. Leaves Used as Emetic , keratinolytic |
| In 1926, Georgia O'Keeffe created a famous painting | | | | |
| of a black pansy called simply, Pansy. She followed | | | | |
| with White Pansy in 1927. | | | | Therapeutic Uses |
| D. H. Lawrence wrote a book of poetry entitled | | | | - Pansy has been used for centuries as an effective |
| Pansies: Poems by D. H. Lawrence. | | | | expectorant that has been helpful in easing chest |
| In ancient days the plant was much used for its | | | | problems, such as bronchitis, asthma, whooping |
| potency in love charms, hence perhaps its name of | | | | cough, lung inflammation and dry coughs. It is said |
| Heartsease It is this flower that plays such an | | | | to help loosen and expel phlegm. The mucilage in |
| important part as a love-charm in William | | | | Pansy acts as a demulcent that soothes mucous |
| Shakespeare's play Midsummer Night's Dream. (Act II, | | | | membranes and eases painful coughs, and the salicylic |
| Scene I see also: Oberon at II, i) | | | | acid content helps to ease the pain of lung |
| The folkloric language of flowers is more traditional | | | | inflammations. . |
| than scientific, with conventional interpretations, | | | | - It is believed that the blood cleansing properties |
| similar to the clichés about animals such as the | | | | of the pansy makes it especially useful for scrofula |
| "clever fox" or "wise owl". Ophelia's oft-quoted line, | | | | and skin eruptions in children. When taken internally, |
| "There's pansies, that's for thoughts", in Hamlet (Act | | | | it is said to rid the body of toxic products that cause |
| IV, Scene V) | | | | skin problems, including acne. Due to this property it is |
| The Pansy is a symbol of the Delta Delta Delta | | | | used as topically in lotions and poultices, it is said to |
| women's fraternity, and represents the alumni | | | | treat wounds, scabies, boils, itching, rashes, impetigo, |
| members. | | | | acne, swellings and weeping eczema. |
| The celebrated Quesnay, founder of the 'Economists,' | | | | - Pansy promotes the flow of urine and expels toxins |
| physician to Louis XV, was called by the king his | | | | and waste through the increased urine; and as a |
| 'thinker,' and given, as an armorial bearing, three | | | | diaphoretic, it promotes sweating, which not only |
| pansy flowers. | | | | cools the body and reduces fever, but it will also |
| In many old Herbals the plant is called Herba Trinitatis, | | | | further rid the body of toxins through the skin. |
| being dedicated by old writers to the Trinity, because | | | | Therefore it works as a diuretic |
| it has in each flower three colours [1] | | | | - Pansy is said to strengthen the blood vessels and |
| | | | stabilize capillary membrane fragility and act as a |
| Vernacular name : Heartsease; pensée sauvage | | | | gentle circulatory stimulant. These qualities are said |
| (French); Feldstiefmütterchen (German); viola del | | | | to help combat arteriosclerosis by improving blood |
| pensiero (Italian). | | | | flow and also help in cases of varicose ulcers. |
| Habitat | | | | - Pansy is used as a mild sedative and calmative, and |
| Pansy is native to Europe, North Africa, and | | | | has been used to soothe nervous complaints, |
| temperate regions of Asia, and has become | | | | including hysteria, and it is also considered an anodyne |
| naturalized in the Americas. Pansy thrives in many | | | | or substance that relieves pain or promotes general |
| habitats, from grassy mountainous areas to coastal | | | | comfort |
| sites, and is cultivated as a garden plant, is abundantly | | | | - Recent studies shows that the cytotoxic cycloids |
| met with almost throughout Britain. It is a very | | | | Cycloviacin obtained from Pansy has a anti tumor |
| widely distributed plant, found not only throughout | | | | activity |
| Britain, but in such diverse places as Arctic Europe, | | | | |
| North Africa, Siberia and N.W. India. Though found on | | | | Conclusion |
| hedge banks and waste ground, it seems in an | | | | Pansy is used mostly in three areas, the skin, lungs |
| especial degree a weed of cultivation, found most | | | | and urinary system. Pansy may be used in eczema |
| freely in cornfields and garden ground. It blossoms | | | | and other skin problems where there is exudate |
| almost throughout the entire floral season, expanding | | | | (often called weeping) eczema. As an |
| its attractive little flowers in the early days of | | | | anti-inflammatory expectorant pansy is used for |
| summer and keeping up a succession of blossom until | | | | whooping cough and acute bronchitis where it will |
| late in autumn. [2,3] | | | | soothe and help the body heal itself. For urinary |
| Cultivation | | | | problems pansy will aid in the healing of cystitis and |
| Pansy breeding has produced a wide range of flower | | | | can be used to treat the symptoms of frequent and |
| colors including yellow, gold, orange, purple, violet, red, | | | | painful urination. |
| white, and even black (dark purple) many with large | | | | |
| showy face markings. A large number of bicolored | | | | REFERENCES |
| flowers have also been produced. These are | | | | |
| generally very cold drought resistant plant surviving | | | | |
| freezing even during their blooming period. Plants | | | | 1. Gaylor, Annie Laurie Rediscovering A Forgotten |
| grow well in sunny or partially sunny positions in well | | | | Symbol Of Freethought - A Pansy For Your |
| draining soils. Pansies are developed from viola | | | | Thoughts". Freethought Today June/July 1997. |
| species that are normally biennials with a two-year | | | | 2. Scharfetter R. Biographien von Pflanzensippen. |
| life cycle. The first year plant produce greenery and | | | | Wien. 1953. |
| then bear flowers and seeds their second year of | | | | 3. Spegg H. Planta medica. 1959; 7: 8-23 |
| growth and afterwards die like annuals. Most biennials | | | | 4.British Pharmacopoeia 2008 Vol 2; The stationary |
| are purchased as packs of young plants from the | | | | office on behalf of the Medicines and Healthcare |
| nurseries and planted directly into the garden soil. | | | | products Regulatory Agency ; 1649-50 |
| Under favorable conditions, pansies and viola can | | | | 5. Silvija R, Ona R, Nijolë S; 1The cumulation of Wild |
| often be grown as perennial plants, but are generally | | | | pansy (Viola tricolor L.) accessions:the possibility of |
| treated as annuals or biennial plants because after a | | | | species preservation and usage in medicine ; |
| few years of growth the stems become long and | | | | MEDICINA (2003) 39 tomas, ;414-416 |
| scraggly. Plants grow up to nine inches (23 cm) tall, | | | | 6. Bisset NG, Wichtl M.;. Herbal drugs and |
| and the flowers are two to three inches (about 6 | | | | phytopharmaceuticals. CRS Press, L.-N.Y.-W. |
| cm) in diameter, though there are some smaller and | | | | Medpharm GmbHScientific publishers Stuttgart; 2001. ; |
| larger flowering cultivars available too. Pansies are | | | | 527-9. |
| winter hardy and they can even survive between | | | | 7. Serbinova E. ;Oxidative damage and repair. ;1991; |
| -37°C to -12°C (zones 4-8.) They can survive light | | | | 77-80. |
| freezes and short periods of snow cover, in areas | | | | 8. Savickienë N, Dagilytë A, Lukoðius A, |
| with prolonged snow cover they survive best with a | | | | Þitkevièius V. ;Importance of biologically active |
| covering of a dry winter mulch. In warmer climates, | | | | components and plants for the prevention of |
| i.e. -7°Cto+4°C (zones 9-11), pansies can bloom | | | | diabetes mellitus ; Medicina (Kaunas) 2002;38:970-5. |
| over the winter, and are often planted in the fall. In | | | | 9. T. H. Koopman,J. |
| these climates, pansies have been known to reseed | | | | |