Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

548 Rhododendron cinnabarinum Hook. f.
R
Petroleum ether and chloroform extracts
of leaves, stems and flowers lower
blood pressure in cats and inhibit intestinal
movements in rabbits.
Rhododendron cinnabarinum
Hook. f.
Family ◮ Ericaceae.
Habitat ◮ Eastern Himalayas,
extending into the Balipura tract
and Aka hills of Assam at altitudes
of 2,100–4,000 m.
Folk ◮ Balu, Sanu, Chimal (Nepal).
Action ◮ Plant—vasodepressor.
The plant contains a toxic principle,
andromedotoxin. The leaves
are reported to contain friedelin, epifriedelinol,
alpha-amyrin, campanulin,
ursolic acid, triterpenes and quercetin.
Theflowersarereportedtobepoisonous.
R. falconeri Hook. f., known as Korlinga
in Nepal, Kegu and Kalma in
Bhutan, is found in the Himalayas
from Nepal to Bhutan, Aka Hills, Naga
Hills and Manipur at altitudes of 2,100–
4,300 m.
The leaves and stem contain andromedotoxin;
leaves also contain ursolic
acid, alpha-amyrin, friedelin,
campanulin and quercetin. The flowers
contain 3-rhamnoside and 3-galactoside
of quercetin. The bark gave taraxerol,
betulinic acid and quercetin.
Petroleum ether extract of the leaves
and stems lowers blood pressure in cats
and inhibits intestinal movements in
rabbits.
Rhus chinensis Mill.
Synonym ◮ R. javanica Linn.
R. semialata Murr.
Brucea javanica (L.) Merill.
Family ◮ Anacardiaceae.
Habitat ◮ The temperate Himalayas
from Kashmir to Bhutan at 1,300–
2,400 m.
Folk ◮ Tatri, Arkhar (Punjab).
Action ◮ Galls—astringent and
expectorant. Used in ointments
and suppositories employed in
the treatment of haemorrhoids,
swellings and wounds. Fruits—
spasmolytic. Used for colic,
diarrhoea and dysentery.
Dry galls contain 50 to 80% tannin
(in the form of Gallo tannic acid);
small amounts of fat, resin and gum.
The stem-bark contains 10.5% tannin.
The fruit contains tannin, gallic acid
and potassium acid salts, together with
small amounts of aluminium, calcium,
magnesium and iron acid salts of malic,
tartaric and citric acids.
The heartwood contained the flavonoids,
pongapin, tetramethoxyfisetin
and demethoxykanugin, and a dibenzoylmethane,
ovalitenone.
Rhus hookeri Sahni & Bahadur, synonym
R. insignis Hk. f. is found in SikkimHimalayafromNepaltoBhutan
at 1,600–2,000 m and in Khasi Hills at
1,500 m. Juice of the plant is a powerful
vesicant. The fruit contain a fat similar
to that found in the fruit of R. javanica.
Rhus coriaria Linn.
Family ◮ Anacardiaceae.