Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Habitat ◮ Throughout India from the
Himalayas, southwards. Cultivated
in Asian tropics.
English ◮ Zerumbet Ginger.
Ayurvedic ◮ Mahaabhari-vachaa
(also equated with Alpinia galanga),
Sthula-granthi (also equated with
Alpinia speciosa). Source of
Martinique Ginger, used as Shunthi
in Indian medicine.
Unani ◮ Narkachoor, Zarambaad.
(Curcuma caesia is also equated
with Narkachoor.)
Folk ◮ Karrallamu (Telugu).
Action ◮ Rhizomes—used for cough,
asthma; colic; intestinal worms, and
in leprosy and skin diseases. Oil—
antiseptic.
The rhizome contains several flavonoid
glycosides and curcumin.
The oil of Zerumbet contains about
13% monoterpenes and several sesquiterpenes
of which humulene and
zerumbone are major constituents.
The major constituent of monoterpenes
is camphene. Unlike the oil of Z.
officinale, Zerumbet oil does not contain
any methyl heptanone; instead, it
contains camphor.
Zerumbone inhibits the growth of
Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus and
Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Indian samples contain only 37.5%
of zerumbone, while those from Fiji
58.7, Vietnam 72.3 and Tahiti 65.3%.
Zizania caduciflora Hand.-Mazz.
Family ◮ Gramineae; Poaceae.
Ziziphus jujuba (Lam.) Gaertn. non-Mill. 735
Habitat ◮ North-east India (as
an aquatic grass). (It forms an
important parat of the floating grass
island in Logtak Lake, Manipur.)
Cultivated in China.
English ◮ Zizania.
Action ◮ Clums, rhizomes, grains—
used in China against anaemia and
fevers, also for heart, kidney and
liver affections. The herb exhibits
diuretic activity; leaves are rich in
vitamin C (142 mg/100 g).
Ziziphus jujuba
(Lam.) Gaertn. non-Mill.
Synonym ◮ Z. mauritiana Lam.
Rhamnus jujuba L.
Family ◮ Rhamnaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India and in
the outer Himalayas up to 1,350 m.
English ◮ Indian Jujube, Common
Jujube.
Ayurvedic ◮ Badar, Kola.
Unani ◮ Ber.
Siddha ◮ Handai.
Action ◮ Fruits—wild var.: astringent,
anodyne, cooling, stomachic,
styptic. Ripe and dry cultivated
var.: mild laxative, expectorant.
Seeds—antidiarrhoeal. Kernels—
antispasmodic, sedative, antiemetic.
Leaves—astringent and diaphoretic.
Stem bark—astringent, used in
diarrhoea. Root bark—juice
purgative, externally applied to
rheumatic inflammations and gout.
Leaves and twigs—paste applied to
Z