Indian Medicinal Plants

Durio zibethinus Linn. 227
cramps and blindness, also liver damage.
Related Himalayan species include:
D. odontoloma (Kashmir valley), D.
marginata, D. barbigera (Kashmir to
Sikkim), D. schimperiana (Mussoorie)
and D. blanfordii (Chattri, Chamba).The
ferns gave filicin 2.3, 2.1, 2.1,
4.4 and 3.5%, respectively.
Drypetes roxburghii
(Wall.) Hurusawa.
Synonym ◮ Putranjiva roxburghii
Wall.
Family ◮ Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Wild and cultivated
throughout tropical India.
Ayurvedic ◮ Putrajivaka, Sutajva,
Putrakamanjari.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Karupali, Irukolli.
Action ◮ Leaves, fruits and stones
of fruits are given in colds and
fevers, also in rheumatic affections.
Rosaries,madeofhardstonesofthe
fruit, are placed around the necks
of children to protect them from
diseases.
The seed kernel yield 0.5% of asharpsmelling
essential oil of the mustard oil
type. The oil contains isopropyl and
2-butyl isothiocyanates as the main
constituents and 2-methyl-butyl isothiocyanate
as minor component. An additional
glucoside, glucocleomin, has
been found in the seed kernels. A glucosidic
pattern similar to that in the
seeds is reported in the shoots and
roots.
The fruit pulp contains a large proportion
of mannitol and small quantities
of a saponin glucoside and alkaloid.
The alkaloid is also present in a small
quantity in the stones of the fruit.
Dosage ◮ Seed, leaf, bark—3–6 g
powder. (CCRAS.)
Duranta plumieri Jacq.
Synonym ◮
Family ◮
Duranta repens Linn.
Verbenaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated as a hedge plant.
Folk ◮
Action ◮
Durantaa.
Antifungal (topically).
The leaves contain a saponin and
fruits an alkaloid analogous to narcotine.
Macerated fruits, which even in
dilutionsof1: 100partsofwater,is
lethaltomosquitolarvae(theactionis
less marked on Culicine larvae.
Durio zibethinus Linn.
Family ◮
Bombacaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to Malaysia;
cultivated in South India for its
edible fruit, in lower elevations of
the Nilgiris and some parts of the
West Coast.
English ◮ Durian, Civet Fruit.
Folk ◮ Durio
Action ◮ Fruit—reduces lethality of
alcohol. Leaves and roots—used in
a prescriptions for fever. Leaves—
used in medicinal bath during fever.
Fruit-walls—used externally for
D