Indian Medicinal Plants

292 Gnida glauca (Fresen.) Gilg.
G
G. ula Brongn. non-Karst is found in
evergreen forests of Western and Eastern
Ghats up to 1,800 m.
Gnida glauca (Fresen.) Gilg.
Synonym ◮ G. eriocephalus Meis.
Lasiosiphon glaucus Fresen.
L. eriocephalus (Meisner) Decne.
Habitat ◮
Western Ghats.
Action ◮ Leaf—anti-inflammatory;
used for contusions and swellings.
Plant—vesicant.
The plant contains bicoumarins,
lysocephalin and lasiocrin; a coumarin
glucoside, crioside, and a bicoumarin
glycoside, eriocephaloside. The plant
also gave ingiresinol, syringin, genkwanin
and its glycoside, beta-sitosterol
and its glucoside.
Gordonia obtusa Wall.
Family ◮
Theaceae.
Habitat ◮ Konkan and Western
Ghats.
Folk ◮ Miyili, Atangi, Ola, Nagette,
Thorilla (Tamil Nadu).
Action ◮ Leaves—stomachic,
appetizer.
Leaves contain 0.04% alkaloid and
tannic acid. The bark contains ellagic
acid and coumarin.
Gossypium arboreum Linn.
Family ◮
Malvaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated all over India as
afibreplant.
English ◮
Ayurvedic ◮
Tree Cotton, Desi Cotton.
Kaarpaasi.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Sempartthi (Red
Cotton), Sivappuparutthi.
Folk ◮
Kapaasa.
Action ◮ Seed—anticatarrhal (used
in consumption), antigonorrhoeic
(used in gleet and chronic cystitis).
Root—febrifuge. Plant (especially
leaf)—uterine stimulant.
The glands contain 35–50% gossypol,
a polyphenolic toxic compound.
Seeds contain 18.5–25.4% protein,
0.57–2.38% free gossypol. Gossypol
is a male contraceptive. At an initial
dose of 20 mg/day orally for 3
months, followed by 50–60 mg weekly
maintenance dose, sperm motility is
reduced initially as it inhibits important
enzymes of metabolic pathways
thus affecting availability of enzyme
to spermatozoa. Subsequently sperm
production is blocked.
Gossypol is reported to cause a transient
weakness early in therapy, hypokalaemia
and changes in ECG
among other side effects.
Gossypol also assists menstrual flow
and effectively inhibits eggs implantation.
Gossypol and its derivatives have
been shown to have significant antimicrobial
activity as well as wound healing
effect. It is reported to kill herpes
virus.
Gossypium barbadense Linn.
Family ◮
Malvaceae.