Indian Medicinal Plants

412 Meyna laxiflora Robyns.
M
acid. Stamens constitute the drug Naagakeshar
of Indian medicine, used as
an astringent, haemostatic, particularly
in uterine bleeding and renal diseases.
Ethanolic extract of the plant
showed diuretic and hypotensive activity.
Dosage ◮ Dried stamens—1–3 g
powder. (API, Vol. II.)
Meyna laxiflora Robyns.
Synonym ◮ Vangueria spinosa
Hook. f.
Family ◮ Rubiaceae.
Habitat ◮ West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa,
in hedges and waste places.
Ayurvedic ◮ Pinditaka. Madana
or Mainphala is a misleading
synonym. It is equated with Randia
dumetorum Poir.
Folk ◮
Muyana, Moyana, Muduna.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Manakkarai.
(Madana or Mainphala is known as
Marukkallankay.)
Action ◮ Fruit—cholagogue, a decoction
used in biliary complaints
and hepatic congestion. Dried
fruits—narcotic; used for boils.
Michelia champaca Linn.
Family ◮
Magnoliaceae.
Habitat ◮ Eastern Himalayas, lower
hills of Assam, hills of South India
up to 1,000 m., cultivated in various
parts of India.
English ◮ Champak, Golden
Champa.
Ayurvedic ◮ Champaka, Svarna
Champaka, Hemapushpa, Chaampeya.
Siddha/Tamil ◮
Sampagi.
Action ◮ Flowers—bitter, carminative,
antispasmodic, demulcent,
antiemetic, diuretic (used for dysuria),
antipyretic. Fruits—used
for dyspepsia and renal diseases.
Bark—stimulant, diuretic and
febrifuge. Dried root and root
bark—purgative and emmenagogue.
Externally—flower oil is
used as an application in cephalalgia,
gout and rheumatism; fruits
andseedsforhealingcracksin
feet.
The ethanolic extract of the stem
bark showed hypoglycaemic activity
in rats. The benzene extract of the
anthers showed 67% post-coital antiimplantation
activity in rats (1000 mg/
kg per day).
Stem bark and roots yielded an alkaloid
liriodenine. Root bark yielded
sesquiterpene lactones (including
parthenolide and micheliolide). Leaves
gave a polyisoprenoid, beta-sitosterol
and liriodenine. Mono-and sesquiterpenes
occur in essential oils isolated
from the flowers, leaf and fruit ring.
The bark and root cortex of the
Chinese plant gave magnosprengerine
(0.41%) and salicifoline (0.39%). These
active principles showed lasting muscle
relaxant and hypotensive activity.
The bark of Michelia montana Blume
(Eastern Himalayas and hills of Assam)