Indian Medicinal Plants

Annona squamosa Linn. 53
leaves contain glucosides of luteolin
and apigenin.
Anisomeles malabarica
(Linn.) R. Br. ex Sims
Family ◮ Labiatae; Lamiaceae.
Habitat ◮ The western Ghats from
Maharashtra to Karnataka; Andhra
Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
English ◮ Malabar Catmint.
Ayurvedic ◮ Sprikkaa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Irattaipeyameratti.
Action ◮ Antispasmodic (used
in dyspepsia, colic), antipyretic,
diaphoretic, antiperiodic, emmenagogue,
antirheumatic. The oil is
used externally as an embrocation
in rheumatic arthritis.
The plant contains beta-sitosterol,
letulinic acid, ovatodiolide and anisomelic
acid. The essential oil from
tops and flowers yield a terpene hydrocarbon,
citral and geranic acid.
Annona reticulata Linn.
Family ◮ Annonaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to the West Indies.
Cultivated in Bengal, Assam, Khasi
Hills and southern India.
English ◮ Bullock’s Heart, Common
Custard Apple.
Ayurvedic ◮ Raamphala.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Aninuna.
Folk ◮ Luvuni.
Action ◮ Leaves—insecticide, anthelmintic,
styptic, externally used
as suppurant. Unripe and dried
fruit—antidysenteric. Bark—
powerful astringent, used as
antidysenteric and vermifuge.
Rootbark,leavesandstemsgaveisoquinoline
alkaloids. Two acetogenins,
annoreticuin and isoannoreticuin, isolated
from the leaves, were found to be
selectively cytotoxic to certain human
tumours.
The leaves and stems also gave alkaloids—dopamine,
salsolinol and coclaurine.
Annona reticulata, Annona muricata,
Annona squamosa and Annona
cherimola are known as Raamphala,
Lakshman-phala, Sitaa-phala and
Hanumaan-phala, respectively.
Annona squamosa Linn.
Family ◮ Annonaceae.
Habitat ◮ A native to South America
and the West Indies; now cultivated
throughout India.
English ◮ Custard Apple, Sugar
Apple, Sweet-sop.
Ayurvedic ◮ Gandagaatra, Sitaa
phala (also equated with Curcurbita
maxima).
Unani ◮ Sharifaa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Sitaaphalam, Atta.
Action ◮ Leaves—insecticide (seed
powder, mixed with leaf juice is
used for removing lice from scalp).
Seeds—abortifacient. Root—
purgative, used in blood dysentery.
A