Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

V
708 Viscum articulatum Burm.
Habitat ◮ Temperate Himalayas from
Kashmir to Nepal between 1,200
and 2,700 m (a semiparasitic plant).
English ◮ European Mistletoe.
Ayurvedic ◮ Bandaaka, Suvarnabandaaka.
Vrikshaadani (substitute).
Unani ◮ Kishmish Kaabuli.
Action ◮ Vasodilator, cardiac depressant,
tranquiliser, stimulates
the vagus nerve which slows the
pulse, anti-inflammatory, diuretic,
immune enhancer, antineoplastic.
Used for hypertension and
tachycardia, as a nervine tonic.
The extract of leafy twigs is antiinflammatory
exerting an action upon
capillary permeability and oedema. It
stimulates granulation and the neoformation
of connective tissue.
Key application ◮ For treating
degenerative inflammation of
the joints by stimulating cutivisceral
reflexes following local
inflammation brought about by
intradermal injections; as palliative
therapy for malignant tumour
through non-specific stimulation.
(German Commission E.)
Mistletoe contains glycoproteins;
flavonoids, usually quercetin-derived
(dependent on host tree to some extent);
polypeptides; phenylcarboxylic
acids; polysaccharides (including viscid
acid); alkaloids; lignans.
Cardiotonic activity is due to the lignans.
The polysaccharides stimulate
the immune response. Antineoplastic
activity is claimed to be responsible
for prolongation of survival time in
cancer patients. Polypeptides (viscotoxins)
inhibit tumours and stimulate
immune resistance.
(For uses of lectin from Mistletoe in
cancer, see Eur J cancer, 2001,Jan,37(1),
23–31; Eur J Cancer 2001, 37 (15), 1910–
1920.) (For application in hepatitis, see
Fitoterapia, 70, 2001.)
Viscum articulatum Burm.
Family ◮ Viscaceae, Loranthaceae.
Habitat ◮ Most parts of India;
a superparasite in Western India
on Loranthus sp. which itself is
parasitic on Eugenia sp.
Ayurvedic ◮ Bandaak (related
species); Jivantikaa, Kaamavriksha,
Nilavalli. (The Wealth of India.)
Folk ◮ Panapuuduu (Maharashtra),
Bodobaando (Gujarat).
Action ◮ Plant—febrifuge, aphrodisiac.
Paste is applied to bone
fractures.
The plant gave oleanolic acid, ceryl
oleanolate and meso-inositol.
Viscum monoicum Roxb. ex DC.
Family ◮ Viscaceae; Laoranthaceae.
Habitat ◮ Sikkim, a parasite of
Strychnos nux-vomica tree.
Ayurvedic ◮
mohanikaa.
Katukavalli, Pashu-
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Pulluri, Pullurivi.
Folk ◮ Kuchleikaa-malang, Kuchlekaa-baandaa.