Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Action ◮ Leaves—hypoglycaemic
(tecomine and tecostanine are
hypoglycaemic alkaloids).
Root—diuretic, vermifuge.
The flowers contain beta-carotene
and zeaxanthin. The plant gave phenolic
acids, beta-sitosterol and triterpenoids—ursolic
acid, oleanolic acid and
alpha-amarine. An indole-metabolizing
enzyme, indole-oxygenase, has
been isolated from the leaves. Antidiabetic
activity of the plant was tested on
streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Tecomella undulata
(G. Don) Seem.
Synonym ◮ Tecoma undulata G.
Don.
Bignonia undulata Sm.
Family ◮ Bignoniaceae.
Habitat ◮ North-West and Western
India, and in the outer Himalayas.
English ◮ Rohida tree.
Ayurvedic ◮ Rohitaka, Rohi,
Daadimpushpaka, Daadimchhada,
Plihaghna. (Amoora rohituka is also
known as Rohitaka.)
Action ◮ Bark—relaxant, cardiotonic,
choleretic. (Heartwood toxic due to
lapachol.) Used for the treatment
of leucorrhoea, diseases of the liver
and spleen, leucoderma, syphilis
and other skin diseases.
The bark contains tecomin (veratryl
beta-D-glucoside), alkanes, alkanols
and beta-sitosterols. The bark also
yielded chromone glycosides—undulatosides
A and B, and iridoid glucosides—tecomelloside
and tecoside.
Tectona grandis Linn. f. 649
A quinonoid—lapachol, veratric acid
and dehydrotectol are also reported
from the bark.
Water soluble portion of the alcoholic
as well as chloroform extracts of
the bark shows smooth muscle relaxant,
mild cardiotonic and chloretic activities.
Dosage ◮ Flower, bark—50–100 ml
decoction. (CCRAS.)
Tectona grandis Linn. f.
Family ◮ Verbenaceae.
Habitat ◮ A tree occurring in
Western Peninsula, Central India
and Bihar.
English ◮ Teak tree.
Ayurvedic ◮ Shaaka, Bhuumisaha,
Dwaaradaaru, Varadaaru, Kharachhada,
Saagawaan, Saagauna.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Thekku.
Action ◮ Flower—used in bronchitis,
biliousness and urinary discharges.
Flower and seed—diuretic.
Wood—expectorant, anti-inflammatory,
antibilious, anthelmintic.
Used for inflammatory swellings.
Bark—astringent. Used in bronchitis.
Root—used for anuria and retention
of urine. Nut oil—used in the
treatment of scabies and other skin diseases;
also for promoting hair growth.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
recommends the heartwood in
lipid disorders, also for treating threatened
abortion.
The wood is rich in anthraquinones,
naphthalene compounds and triterpenic
and hemi-terpenic compounds.
T