Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

chamomile remains unapproved
due to lack of clinical evidence.)
The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia
recognizes antispasmodic activity
of Anthemis nobilis.
The flower heads contain volatile
oil (including azulenes and bisabolol);
sesquiterpene lactone (nobilin); flavonoids,
cyanogenic glycoside, bitter glucoside
(anthemic acid); acetylenic salicylic
derivatives, coumarins (including
scopolin), valerianic acid; tannins.
Azulenes and bisabolol are antiinflammatory
and antispasmodic, reducing
histamine-induced reactions,
including hay fever and asthma. Flavonoids,
especially anthemidin, are also
antispasmodic. Valerianic acid and
cyanogenic glycosides are sedative.
Anthocephalus cadamba Miq.
Synonym ◮ A. indicus A. Rich.
A. chinensis (Lam.) A. Rich. ex
Walp.
Family ◮ Rubiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Assam, Bengal, southwards
to Andhra Pradesh and western
Ghats.
English ◮ Kadam.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kadamba, Priyaka,
Vrtta-pushpa, Nipa, Halipriya.
Kadambaka is equated with Adina
cordifolia.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Venkadambu, Vellai
Kadambam.
Action ◮ Stembark—febrifugal,
antidiuretic, anthelmintic, hypoglycaemic.
Fruit—cooling; anticatarrhal,
blood purifier, analgesic.
Antiaris toxicaria Lesch. 55
Flowers and root—abortifacient.
Leaves—astringent. A decoction is
used for gargling in stomatitis and
aphthae.
Along with other therapeutic applications,
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia
of India indicates the use of dried stembark
in disorders of female genital tract
and bleeding disorders.
The dried bark contains alkaloids,
steroids, reducing sugars and also tannins
(4.61%). The ether-soluble alkaloid
of the bark shows antibacterial activity.
Dosage ◮ Stembark—0.5–1.5 g
powder. (API Vol. II.)
Antiaris toxicaria Lesch.
Family ◮ Moraceae.
Habitat ◮ Western Ghats from
Konkan southwards to Trivandrum,
up to 600 m.
English ◮ Sacking tree, Upas tree.
Ayurvedic ◮ Valkala vrksha.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Aranthelli, Mara-uri,
Nettavil.
Folk ◮ Jangali Lakuch, Jasund,
Chaandakudaa.
Action ◮ Seed—febrifuge, antidysenteric
(in minute doses). Latex—
circulatory stimulant (in minute
doses.)
The latex contains a series of poisonous
cardenolides, of which alphaand/or
beta-antiarin are the main components.
The total amount of crystalline
cardiac glycosides in the latex
A