Indian Medicinal Plants

Swertia angustifolia Buch.-Ham ex D. Don. 631
Styrax benzoin Dry.
Family ◮
Styraceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to South-East Asia
and East Indies.
English ◮ True Gum Benzoin,
Sumatra Benzoin or Gum Benjamin.
Unani ◮ Lobaan.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Saambiraani.
Action ◮ Gum—antiseptic, astringent,
anti-inflammatory, expectorant
(used for cough and respiratory
tract catarrh). Used as genitourinary
antiseptic, as a mouthwash in
stomatitis, topically on wound and
ulcers,asaninhalationincolds,
coughs and bronchitis. Lipophilic
fraction stimulates phagocytosis.
The gum contains mainly cinnamic,
benzoic and sumaresinolic acid esters,
benzaldehyde and vanillin.
Styrax officinale Linn.
Family ◮
Styracaceae.
Habitat ◮ A native to Asia minor and
Syria.
English ◮ The True Storax tree.
Ayurvedic ◮ Silhaka, Silaarasa,
Turushka, Kapitaila, Yavandeshaja.
Folk ◮ Silaajit, Usturak.
Action ◮ Balsam is used for cough and
respiratory tract catarrh. Turushka
was obtained from Styrax officinale.
Due to scarcity, it was replaced
by the exudation of Liquidamber
orientalis Mill. Balsam obtained
from Altingia excelsa Noronha is
used as a substitute for Silhaka and
is known as Silaarasa (occurs in
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh).
Dosage ◮ Balsam—500 mg to 1.0 g.
(CCRAS.)
Sutherlandia frutescens R.Br.
Family ◮
Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to South Africa;
cultivated in Indian gardens.
English ◮ Bladdersenna, Cancerwort,
Cape Baloon Pea.
Action ◮ Leaves—infusion or
decoction given in stomach and
intestinal disorders and hepatic
affections. Much milder in action
than true Senna.
Swertia affinis C. B. Clarke.
Synonym ◮ S. angustifolia Buch.-
Ham ex. D. Don var. pulchella
Burkill.
Family ◮ Gentianaceae.
Habitat ◮ Sub-tropical Himalaya
from Himachal Pradesh to Bhutan,
the Khasi and Lushai Hills, Manipur
at 300–1,800 m. Bihar and
Peninsular India up to 1,800 m.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kiraatatikta (related
species).
Action ◮ Febrifuge and bitter tonic.
Swertia angustifolia
Buch.-Ham ex D. Don.
Family ◮
Gentianaceae.
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