Indian Medicinal Plants

218 Diospyros ebenum Koenig.
D
The rhizomes are used as a hair
wash for killing lice. They contain
diogenin (on dry basis) 2.5%. Also obtained
are steroidal sapogenins, sitosterol
glucoside, prazerigenin-A glucoside,
prazerigenin-A bioside and 9,10-
dihydrophenanthrenes.
Diospyros ebenum Koenig.
Synonym ◮ D. hebecarpa A. Cunn ex
Benth.
Family ◮ Ebenaceae.
Habitat ◮ Orissa and South India.
English ◮ Ebony Persimmon,
Malabar Ebony, Ceylon Ebony.
Ayurvedic ◮ Tinduka.
Unani ◮ Aaabnuus.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Acha-Thumbi.
Action ◮ Plant—astringent, attenuant,
lithontriptic.
The heartwood contains 2 betanaphthalhydes,
2 naphthoic acid derivatives;
ceryl alcohol, betulin, alphaamyrin,
ursolic acid, baurenol and
stigmasterol. The leaves contain ursolic
acid, alpha-amyrin, betulin and
lupeol.
Diospyros embryopteris Pers.
Synonym ◮ D. peregrina (Gaertn.)
Gurke
D. malabarica (Desr.) Kostel.
Family ◮
Ebenaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India in shady
wet places and near streams.
English ◮ Gaub Persimmon, Riber
Ebony.
Ayurvedic ◮ Tinduka, Tinduki, Sphuurjaka,
Kaalaskandha, Asitkaaraka.
Nilasaara.
Unani ◮ Tendu.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Tumbika, Kattatti.
Action ◮ Fruit and stem bark—
astringent. Infusion of fruits—used
as gargle in aphthae and sore throat.
Fruit juice—used as application for
wounds and ulcers. Oil of seeds—
givenindiarrhoeaanddysentery.
Ether extract of fruit—antibacterial.
Bark—astringent and styptic,
used in menorrhagia, diarrhoea,
dysentery and intermittent fevers.
A paste is applied to boils and tumours.
The ethyl acetate extract
showed antistress and anti-ulcerogenic
activity. It also prevented hepatotoxicity
and leucocytosis in experimental
animals.
The bark contains betulinic acid,
myricyl alcohol, triterpenoids and saponin.
The leaves gave beta-sitosterol,
betulin and oleanolic acid. Fruit pulp
and seeds contain lupeol, betulin, gallic
acid, betulinic acid, hexacosane, hexacosanol,
sitosterol, beta-D-glucoside
of sitosterol and a triterpene ketone.
Stem bark—antiprotozoal, antiviral,
hypoglycaemic, semen-coagulant.
Stems yielded nonadecan-7-ol-one.
Dosage ◮ Bark—50–100 ml decoction.
(CCRAS.)
Diospyros kaki Linn. f.
Family ◮
Ebenaceae.