Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

656 Tetracera indica Merrill.
T
Hydrolysis of gum gave oligo-saccharides,
disaccharides and monosaccharides.
Leaves and fruits gave betasitosterol.
Laurel is native to Mediterranean region
and is equated with Laurus nobilis
Linn. (Lauraceae.) The leaves and essential
oil are stomachic, cholagogue,
stimulant and diaphoretic. The oil has
been used against dandruff, also as an
external application for rheumatism.
Tetracera indica Merrill.
Synonym ◮ T. assa DC.
Family ◮ Dilleniaceae.
Habitat ◮ Assam.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Anaittichal. (A
related species T. laevis Vahl, is
found in the forests of Kerala.)
Action ◮ Leaves—an infusion
of shoots is given in pulmonary
haemorrhages and is used as a gargle
in aphthae.
The leaves yielded beta-sitosterol,
lupeol, betulin and betulinic acid.
T. laevis (Vennelvalli, Piripul) also
possesses similar properties. A decoction
of leaves, mixed with rice-gruel, is
given for the treatment of aphthae.
Tetragonia expansa Murr.
Synonym ◮ T. tetragonioides (Pall.)
O. Kuntze.
Family ◮ Tetragoniaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated in the hills of
North Bengal, Shillong and other
hill stations, and in the Deccan, in
Mysore.
English ◮ New Zealand Spinach.
Folk ◮ Chikesoppu (Karnataka).
Action ◮ Used as a substitute for
Spinacia oleracea, asarichsource
of calcium, phosphorus, iron and
vitamins A, B and C. Given in
pulmonary and intestinal affections.
The shoots of the plant contain
saponin, but the seeds do not. The
saponin has low toxicity which disappears
on boiling the leaves. A sample
of the plant contained 1.2% oxalic
acid, combined as calcium oxalate
which is higher than found in common
spinach. Losses of phosphorus
andirononcookingarealsoreported
to be high.
The roots, leaves and immature
fruits gave positive reaction for the
presence of alkaloids. Cerebroside has
been synthesized.
Tetrastigma serrulatum Planch.
Synonym ◮ Vitis capreolata D. Don.
Family ◮ Vitaceae.
Habitat ◮ From Garhwal to Bhutan,
up to an altitude of 2,600 m.
Folk ◮ Charchari (Nepal).
Action ◮ Alcoholic extract of
aerial parats, when injected
intramuscularly in rats, showed
anticancer activity.
The plant was found toxic to adult
albino mice.