Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Xanthium strumariumLinn.
Synonym ◮ X. indicum Koenig. ex
Roxb.
Family ◮ Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat ◮ Tropical India.
English ◮ Cocklebur, Burweed.
Ayurvedic ◮ Shankheshwara, Arishta,
Aartagala.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Maruloomatham,
Marlumutta.
Folk ◮ Bana-okraa.
Action ◮ Plant—used for leucoderma,
ulcers, abscesses, strumous and
malignant diseases.
Root—antitumour. Leaves and
shoots—applied externally on venereal
sores, herpes and scrofula.
Leaves contain seaquiterpene lactones—xanthinin,
xanthumin, xanthanol
and iso-xanthanol. Leaves also
contain isohexacosane, chlorobutanol,
stearyl alcohol, beta-sitosterol
and palmitic acid. A highly toxic compound,
carboxyatractyloside, has been
isolated from the plant.
Beta-sitosterol glucoside is anti-inflammatory,
xanthumin is a central
nervous system depressant. Alcoholic
solution of xanthinin shows strong
antibacterial activity against Gramnegative
bacteria and fungi. A cytotoxic
compound, xanthatin (a seco-
4,5-guaianolide) has been detected in
the resin.
X
The root gave n-heptacosanol, stigmasterol,
3,4,-dihydro oxycinnamic
acid, beta-sitosterol and its D-glucoside,
and campesterol.
Xanthium spinosum Linn. (introduced
from Europe into West Bengal
and Assam), known as Spiny Clotbur,
is used as a diuretic, antiperiodic (also
in intermittent fevers), sudorific,
antidiarrhoeal and styptic.
The whole plant gave several xanthanolides.
The sesquiterpene lactones,
xanthinin, solstitialin and stizolicin,
isolated from the plant, demonstrated
limited antitumour action in
vitro. Xanthatin has also been isolated.
Ximenia americana Linn.
Synonym ◮ X. spinosa Salisb.
Family ◮ Olacaceae.
Habitat ◮ Both the Peninsulas and
the Andaman Islands.
English ◮ Tallow-Wood, False
Sandal-Wood.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Chiru-illantai,
Kadaranji, Siruyilandai.
Action ◮ Fruits—known as Wild
Plum or Wild Olive, are used as
a substitute for lemon. Fruits and
seeds—laxative. Root and leaves—
decoctiongiveninjaundice,
diarrhoea and during fevers.
Root—used for venereal diseases.
Bark—astringent, applied to sores.
Wood—used as a substitute for
sandalwood.