Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

622 Spilanthes oleracea Murr.
S
Ethanolic extracts of the herb were
found to affect the blood pressure of
dogs and cats, and also the isolated
ileum of guinea pigs. Spilanthol, obtained
from the ether as well as pentane
extracts, shows a strong sialogogic
action, acts as a local anaesthetic and
a powerful insecticide.
Spilanthes oleracea Murr.
Family ◮ Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat ◮ Introduced from Brazil;
often cultivated in Indian gardens.
English ◮ Brazilian Cress, Para Cress.
Ayurvedic ◮ Mahaaraashtri, Marethi,
Desi Akarkaraa. Aakaarakarabha
of Ayurvedic medicine and
Aaqarqarha of Unani medicine is
equated with Anacyclus pyrethrum
DC. (root is used); S. acmella and S.
oleracea flowering heads are used as
Desi Akarkaraa and should not be
confused with the original drug.
Action ◮ Flowers—used against
scurvy, gum troubles, toothache
and against bladder pains and gout.
The flower heads yield 1.25% of spilanthol
from the pentane extract.
The fresh plant yields an essential
oil consisting mainly of spilanthol and
a hydrocarbon, spilanthene. The plant
also contains cerotic acid, crystalline
phytosterols, tannic acid, resin, potassium
malate and large amounts of
choline and potassium nitrate.
Spinacia oleracea Linn.
Synonym ◮ S. tetrandra Roxb.
Family ◮ Chenopodiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to South-west Asia;
cultivated throughout India.
English ◮ Garden Spinach.
Ayurvedic ◮ Paalankikaa, Paalankya,
Paalakyaa.
Unani ◮ Paalak.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Vasaiyila-keerai.
Action ◮ Seeds—cooling and laxative;
given during jaundice. Spinach, as
apotherb,isrichinnitrogenous
substances, hydrocarbons and iron
sesqui-oxide.
Aerial parts afforded rutin, hyperoside,
astragalin and caffeic, chlorogenic,
neochlorogenic and protocatechuic
acids. Seeds contain glycoprotein-bound
hexosamine. Roots contain
spirasaponins.
Spondias pinnata (Linn. f.) Kurz.
Synonym ◮ S. mangifera Willd.
Family ◮ Anacardiaceae.
Habitat ◮ A small, aromatic tree
occurring wild or grown throughout
the country for edible fruits.
English ◮ Hog-Plum, Wild Mango.
Great Hog-Plum is equated with S.
cytherea Sonn, synonym S. dulcis
Soland. ex Forst. f.
Ayurvedic ◮ Aamraataka, Aamraata,
Aamadaa, Madhuparni, Kundalini,
Kapitana, Markataamra.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Mambulichi, Kattuma.
Folk ◮ Jangali Aam.