Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Q
532 Quercus infectoria Oliv.
Action ◮ Acrons—diuretic, astringent.
Used in indigestion and
diarrhoea (after removing tannin
and associated substances by the
process of germination under
earth). Also used in gonorrhoea.
The bark contains 6–23% of tannin.
The stem bark contains friedelin, a triterpenoid,
beta-sitosterol and a mixture
of leucoanthocyanidins (including
leucopelargonidin). Leaves contain
flavonoids— quercetin, quercetin-
3-galacto-arabinoside.
The kernels gave fatty acids, including
palmitic, lignoceric and oleic.
Quercus infectoria Oliv.
Family ◮ Fagaceae.
Habitat ◮ Indigenous to Greece,
Syria and Iran. Yields oak galls.
English ◮ Oak galls, Aleppo galls,
Mecca galls.
Ayurvedic ◮ Maajuphalaka,
Maayaaphala, Maayakku.
Unani ◮ Maazu. Maaphal.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Maasikkaai.
Action ◮ Astringent. Bark and
fruits—used for eczema and
impetigo. Galls—used for diseases
of gums and oral cavity (diluted
with toothpowder or paste; also as
a gargle in nasal catarrh and sore
throat. Anointment(1in4parts
of vaseline) is applied externally in
haemorrhoids. Also included in
breast and vaginal firming creams.
A decoction of galls is used as an
enema in prolapus of rectum.
Key application ◮ Quercus robur L.
bark—externally, in inflammatory
skin diseases; internally in nonspecific,
acute diarrhoea, and local
treatment of mild inflammation
of the oral cavity and pharyngeal
region, as well as of genital and anal
area. (German Commission E.)
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
recommends the gall in leucorrhoea,
dry and itching vagina; topically
for dental inflammations.
The fruits gave amentoflavone hexamethyl
ether, isocryptomerin and
beta-sitosterol.
The alcoholic extract of fruits
showed 36% liver protection against
carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity
at a dose of 800 mg/kg.
The galls contain 50–70% gallo tannic
acid, gallic acid 2–4%, ellagic acid,
nyctanthic acid, rubric acid, besides
sugars, starch, an essential oil and anthocyanins.
Galls were also found to
contain beta-sitosterol, amentoflavone,
hexamethyl ether and isocryptomerin.
Quercus robur (English or European
oak) is reported to be cultivated in Nilgiris.
The bark contains 15–20% tannins
consisting of phlobatannin, ellagitannins
and gallic acid.
The bark is contraindicated in cardiac
insufficiency and hypertonia; externally
on broken skin. (Sharon M.
Herr.)
Dosage ◮ Gall—1–3 g powder. (API,
Vol. IV.)
Quillaja saponaria Molina.
Family ◮ Rosaceae.