Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

560 Rubia tinctorum Linn.
R
important ones include purpurin (trihydroxy
anthraquinone), munjistin
(xanthopurpurin-2-carboxylic acid);
besides xanthopurpurin, peudopurpurin
(purpurin-3-carboxylic acid),
free alizarin as well as its glucoside.
Whole plant yielded pentacylic triterpenic
acids—rubicoumaric and rubifolic
acids.
Antitumour cyclic hexapeptides
have been isolated from the root (while
lucidin is thought to be carcinogenic).
The root extracts of R. sikkimensis
Kurz, known as Naaga-Madder (Nepal
eastwards to Assam, Nagaland and Manipur);
are very similar to those of R.
cordifolia.
Dosage ◮ Stem—2–4 g. (API, Vol.
III.)
Rubia tinctorum Linn.
Family ◮ Rubiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to Southern Europe
and parts of Asia; also found in
Kashmir.
English ◮ Alizari, European Madder.
Action ◮ Root—used for menstrual
and urinary disorders and liver
diseases.
The root contains anthraquinone
and their glycosides, including alizarin,
purpurin, purpuroxanthin, pseudopurpurin,
rubiadin, ruberythric acid
and lucidin primeveroside. There are
indications that lucidin is carcinogenic.
All parts of the plant contained an iridoid,
asperuloside.
Rubus ellipticus Sm.
Family ◮ Rosaceae.
Habitat ◮ Punjab to Assam, extending
southwards into the Western Ghats
and Deccan.
English ◮ Gach Strawberry.
Folk ◮ Hinsaalu, Anchhu. Gouri-phal
(Kashmir), Tolu, Aselu (Nepal).
Action ◮ Root and young stem—
administered in colic pain.
Extract of the leaves showed anticonvulsant
activity against electricalinduced
convulsions, potentiated hypnotic
effect of pentobarbitone sodium
and had positive inotropic and
chronotropic effects. (Compendium of
Indian Medicinal Plants, Vol. 5.)
Rubus fruticosus Linn. (European
BlackBerry, European Bramble, known
as Vilaayati Anchhu) is cultivated in the
valley of Kashmir and in Assam and
Tamil Nadu up to 2,000 m. A decoction
of the root is used for dysentery
and whooping cough. The plant gave
a triterpenic acid, rubitic acid, characterized
as 7 alpha-hydroxyursolic
acid.
Key application ◮ Rubus fruticosus
leaf—in nonspecific, acute diarrhoea,
mild inflammation of the
mucosa of oral cavity and throat.
(German Commission E.)
Rubus rugosus Sm. synonym R.
moluccanus auct non Linn., (known
as Kalsol in Kumaon) is found in Central
and Eastern tropical and temperate
Himalaya from Nepal to Sikkim and
in Assam. The plant contains triterpenes,
also afforded rubusic acid and