Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

678 Turnera ulmifolia Linn.
T
Folk ◮ Tulip.
Action ◮ Bulbs—mitogenic (TG
lectin-erythrocyte, and TG lectinyeast).
A cardiotoxic alkaloid has been reported
from the leaves. Antibiotic
D-glucosides (tuliposides), inhibit the
growth of Bacillus subtilis, have been
isolated from pistils, stalks and leaves.
Turnera ulmifolia Linn.
Synonym ◮ T. angustifolia Mill.
Family ◮ Turneraceae.
Habitat ◮ West Bengal and Orissa and
in the Peninsular India, particularly
on the coast.
English ◮ West Indian Holly,
Sagerose.
Folk ◮ Bhinjir (Maharashtra).
Action ◮ Herb—prescribed in
indigestion, biliousness (leaves
are used against dysentery), chest
ailments and rheumatism.
The fresh plant yields a mixture
of cyanohydrin glucosides—deidaclin
and tetraphyllin. Seeds, along with
normal fatty acids, contain a few unusual
fatty acids, including vernolic,
malvalic and octanoic acids.
An allied species Turnera diffusa
var. aphrodisiaca, a native to the Gulf of
Mexico, Southern California, (known
as Damiana) is used in India by homoeopathic
practitioners as a tonic
and sex restorative, and for treating
premature ejaculation.
Turnera diffusa Willd. has been
included among unapproved herbs
by German Commission E. The British
Herbal Pharmacopoeia recognizes its
thymoleptic activity.
Turraea villosa Benn.
Family ◮ Meliaceae.
Habitat ◮ Gujarat to Karnataka, both
on the hills and the coasts, and in
the Anamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu
up to 1,200 m.
Folk ◮ Pandre, Kapuur—bhendi
(Maharashtra).
Action ◮ Root—applied to fistula;
also administered in leprosy.
Villosterol, a pregnene steroid, has
been isolated from the plant.
T. virens Linn. (Kerala) is reported
to be employed in the treatment of fits.
Tussilago farfara Linn.
Family ◮ Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat ◮ Western Himalayas from
Kashmir to Nepal at 1,500–3,500 m.
English ◮ Coughwort, Coltsfoot,
Asses’ Foot.
Unani ◮ Fanjiyun.
Action ◮ Leaves and flowers—
anticatarrhal, antitussive, expectorant,
antispasmodic, demulcent,
anti-inflammatory. Used for dry,
unproductive, irritative cough,
smoker’s cough, whooping cough,
bronchial asthma (effect shortlived),
laryngitis.