Indian Medicinal Plants

190 Cyclea arnotii Miers.
C
Action ◮ Laxative, antibilious.
Gum—hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic,
appetite depressor (weight
loss not observed), reduces glycosuria
during gum supplementation.
The administration of Guar gum
(15 g/day) with normal diet for 6 weeks
produced significant reduction in plasma,
total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol.
The gum (10 g daily) is reported
to decrease blood-glucose level in normal
and diabetic volunteers. The supplementation
of the gum in the diet of
insulin-dependent diabetics failed to
improve the long-term diabetic control,
but significantly reduced serum
cholesterol levels.
Taking Guar gum orally with meals
was found to lower post-prandial glucose
levels in patients with type 1 diabetes.
(Am J clin Nutr, 56, 1992, 1056–
1060.)
Oral administration of an ethanol
extract of powdered pods has shown
significant antiulcer, antisecretory and
cytoprotective effects on various experimentally-induced
gastric lesions in
rats.
Guarmeal contains galactomannan,
3-epikatonic acid and a saponin.
Cyclea arnotii Miers.
Synonym ◮
Thoms.
Family ◮
C. peltata Hook. F &
Menispermaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout South and
East India and in the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.
Ayurvedic ◮ Raaj-Paathaa (bigger
var. of Paathaa, Cissampelos pareira
Linn.).
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Para.
Action ◮ Roots—used in smallpox,
bone fractures, malarial fever,
jaundice, stomachache.
The root yielded tetrandrine as the
major alkaloid. Tetrandrine (0.1 g/day)
was found effective in the treatment of
chloroquine resistant malaria.
Tetrandrine possesses cytotoxic and
immunomodulatory properties and is
indicated in the treatment of chronic
inflammatory diseases. It shows antihypertensive,
cardiac depressant and
vasodilator effect. It also exhibits antiallergic
activity.
Cydonia oblonga Mill.
Synonym ◮ C. vulgaris Pers.
Family ◮ Rosaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated in Punjab,
Kashmir and the Nilgiri hills.
English ◮ Quince Fruit.
Ayurvedic ◮ Amritaphala, Paatalaa,
Simbitikaa.
Unani ◮ Bihi, Bihidaanaa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Shimaimathala.
Action ◮ Fruit pulp and seeds—
soothing and demulcent; used
in irritable bowel syndrome,
diarrhoea, dysentery, constipation,
and in irritable conditions of the
mucous membrane. Leaf, bud
and bark—astringent. Fruit—
expectorant. Mucilage—used