Indian Medicinal Plants

518 Prosopis spicigera Linn.
P
Habitat ◮ Argentine, Arid, Mexican,
Peruvian and Australian species
have been introduced into India.
English ◮ Mesquite.
Folk ◮ Khejaraa, Vilaayati Kikar,
Kaabuli Kikar.
Action ◮ Gum—inferior to Gum
arabic. The dry wood contains
0.9, bark 3.0–8.4, and roots 6–7%
tannin.
The leaves contain piperidine alkaloids,
juliprosinene, juliflorinine and
N-methyljuliforidine. Other alkaloids
present in the leaves are juliprosine,
isojuliprosine, juliflorine, julifloricine
and julifloridine.
A mixture of alkaloids containing
mainly juliprosine and isojuliprosine
showed significant antifungal activity
against dermatophytes (comparable to
griseofulvin).
The alkaloid fraction also showed
broad spectrum bactericidal action
against both Gram-positive and Gramnegative
bacteria (comparable to antibiotics
like penicillin, streptomycin,
ampicillin, sulphamethoxazole and tetracycline).
Significant activity of juliflorine
against fungi and bacteria, and that
of julifloricine against bacteria has also
been reported.
The fruit gave a flavone glycoside,
patulitrin which exhibited cytotoxic
activity.
Prosopis spicigera Linn.
Synonym ◮
Family ◮
P. cineraria Druce.
Mimosaceae.
Habitat ◮ Dry and acrid regions of
India.
Ayurvedic ◮ Shami, Tungaa,
Keshahantri, Shankuphalaa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Kalisam.
Action ◮ Pod—astringent, pectoral,
demulcent. Bark—antiinflammatory,
antirheumatic.
Flower—administered to prevent
miscarriage.
The stem bark contains vitamin K,
n-octacosyl acetate, the long chain
aliphatic acid. Presence of glucose,
rhamnose, sucrose and starch is also
reported.
A cytotoxic principle, patulibin, has
been isolated from flowers.
Dosage ◮ Leaf, fruit—3–5 g powder,
50–100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)
Prosopis stephaniana Kunth.
Family ◮ Mimosaceae.
Habitat ◮ Parts of Punjab and
Gujarat.
Ayurvedic ◮ Samudra-shami, Shami
(var.).
Folk ◮ Khejaraa (var.)
Action ◮ Pods and roots—astringent,
styptic, antidysenteric.
Prunus amygdalus Batsch var.
amara (bitter); var. sativa (sweet).
Family ◮
Rosaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated in Kashmir
at elevation of 760–2,400 m, also