Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Rungia repens Nees.
Family ◮ Acanthaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India as
a weed in moist places.
Ayurvedic ◮ Parpata (substitute).
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Kodaga-saleh.
Folk ◮ Kharmor.
Action ◮ Herb—vermifuge, diuretic;
dried and pulverized herb is used
for cough and fever. Fresh, bruised
leaves, mixed with castor oil, are
applied to scalp to cure tinea capitis
(a scaly fungoid infection).
The flavonoid pigments in ivorywhite
and pale yellow flowers (the
plant also bears blue and pink flowers)
showed the presence of luteolin
and chrysoerial (3 ′ -O-methyl luteolin)
and their glucosides. Deep yellow
flowers contain isosalipurposide; the
bluish pink flowers showed presence
of delphinidin-3,5-diglucoside.
Ruscus aculeatus Linn.
Family ◮ Liliaceae; Ruscaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to western Europe,
MediterraneanregionandIran;
widelygrownasornamentinIndia.
English ◮ Butcher’s Broom, Jew’s
Myrtle.
Action ◮ Rhizomes—deobstruent,
anti-inflammatory, haemostatic.
Key application ◮ As supportive
therapy for discomforts of chronic
venous insufficiency and for complaints
of hemorrhoids.(German
Commission E, ESCOP.)
Ruta chalepensis Linn. 565
Aqueous-alcoholic extract of the
rhizomes contains steroid saponins (up
to 6% of the extract). The spirostanol
glycosides, degluconeoruscin and deglucoruscin
from the extract are absorbed
in human plasma after oral
administration. Besides, the rhizomes
contain two furastanol glycosides, degluconeoruscoide
and deglucoruscoside.
The extract is used for the treatment
of venous insufficiency and enters
into dermatological and cosmetic
compositions for the treatment of dark
skin under the eye and into anti-ageing
and anti-sun-tanning preparations.
Ruta chalepensis Linn.
Family ◮ Rutaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to Southern
Europe and North Africa; cultivated
in Indian gardens. (Most of
the reports of the Garden Rue,
cultivated in India, refer to this
species and not to Ruta graveolens.)
Unani ◮ Jangali Sudaab.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Aruvadam-chedi,
Arvada.
Action ◮ Plant—antispasmodic,
sudorific. Stimulates the nervous
system; commonly used in decoction
in convulsions and fever. Also
used as a fumigant in infant catarrh.
Theplantgaveanessentialoilwhich
contains chiefly methyl heptyl ketone
(while Ruta graveolens contains 80–
90% methyl nonyl ketone and methyl
heptyl ketone in small amounts). Rutin
is the most important active principle
R