Indian Medicinal Plants

Delonix regia Rafin. 205
action. (Gently heated peeled roots,
mixed with sugar candy, are given as
a hypotensive drug.)
The ethanolic extract of seeds exhibited
diuretic effect in dogs.
The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia
recommends Daucus carota Linn.
(wild carrot) for its diuretic activity.
Wild carrot contains flavones including
apigenin, chypsin, luteolin;
flavonols including kaempferol, quercetin
and various glycosides. The furanocoumarins,
8-methoxypsoralen and
5-methoxypsoralen are found in the
plant. The seed oil contains terpinen-
4-ol, a renal irritant. It is believed to
cause diuretic activity.
The root contains quercetin, kaempferol,
coumarin and rutin. It has
a sweet sarsaparilla-like taste; contains
92% fleshy matter and 8% woody core.
The root can be stored for longer
periods and remains unaffected by microorganisms
and insects, apparently
due to the presence of the volatile
principle which possesses bacteriostatic
and toxic properties.
The root, on steam distillation, gave
4-O-methyl-resorcylaldehyde in a concentration
of 0.8%. (The growth of E.
coli was arrested by the aldehyde in
0.041% concentration; fish died within
4 min in 0.02% solution.) The sterols
consists mainly of stagma and brassica
sterols. Alpha-amyrin and lupeol, both
free and as esters are also present in the
root.
The plant contains lupeol, betaamyrin
2-hydroxy, 4-methoxy benzaldehyde,
and ferulic acid.
D
Decalepis hamiltonii
Wight & Arn.
Family ◮ Asclepiadaceae.
Habitat ◮ Deccan Peninsula;
common in the forest areas of
Western Ghats.
Unani ◮ Desi Ushbaa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Mahali kizhangu.
Action ◮ Root—appetizer, blood
purifier, bacteriostatic. Used as
a substitute for Shveta Saarivaa
(Hemidesmus indicus). Sold as
Saarivaa in Kerala, Tamil Nadu
and Karnataka. The root powder is
given to diabetics.
Delima scandens Burkill.
Synonym ◮ Tetracera scandens
Merrill.
Family ◮ Dilleniaceae.
Habitat ◮ Forests of Bengal, Assam
and the Andamans.
Ayurvedic ◮ Paaniya Valli.
Action ◮ A decoction of the plant
is given in dysentery and coughs.
Leaves—used for the treatment of
boils. Root—astringent, used as
external application for burns.
Delonix regia Rafin.
Synonym ◮ Poinciana regai Bojer ex
Hook.
Family ◮ Caesalpiniaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to Madagascar;
grown in gardens and avenues for
ornamental purposes and for shade.