Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Boiled leaves are eaten for urinary
tract infections, and unfiltered juice for
scrofula and syphilis.
Extract of the fresh plant significantly
inhibits gastric ulceration by cold restraint
stress in rats.
In research, using rats, the herb
exhibited protective effect against alcohol-induced
and aspirin-induced ulcers.
(JExpBiol,2001, Feb, 39(2), 137–
42.)
Dosage ◮ Whole plant—3–6 g (API
Vol. IV.)
Centipeda orbicularis Lour.
Synonym ◮ C. minima (Linn.) A.Br.
&Asch.
Family ◮ Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat ◮ In damp places throughout
the plains and low hills in India.
English ◮ Sneezewort.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kshavaka, Chhikkini,
Chhikkikaa.
Folk ◮ Nak-chhikani.
Action ◮ Used for the treatment of
rhinitis, sinusitis, nasopharyngeal
tumors and obstructions, asthma
and cold; also used in hemicrania.
The plant extract showed a good antitussive
and expectorant activity on
mice. The flavonoids, sesquiterpenes
andamideexhibitedsignificantantiallergy
activity in passive cutaneous anaphylaxis
(PCA) test.
Dosage ◮ Seed—1–3 g powder.
(CCRAS.)
Centratherum anthelminticum Kuntze. 137
Centratherum anthelminticum
Kuntze.
Synonym ◮ Vernonia anthelmintica
Willd.
Family ◮ Asteraceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India up to
2,000 m in the Himalayas and Khasi
Hills.
English ◮ Purple Flea-bane, Achenes.
Ayurvedic ◮ Aranya-Jiraka, Vanajiraka,
Kaalijiri, Karjiri. Somaraaji (also
equated with Psoralea corylifolia
Linn., Papilionaceae).
Unani ◮ Kamoon barri.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Kaattu seerakam.
Action ◮ Anthelmintic (against
earthworms and tapeworms),
stomachic, diuretic; used in skin
diseases.
Delta-7-avenasterol is the main active
principle of seeds. Seed oil contains
vernasterol. Seeds bitter principle
is a demanolide lactone. Centratherin
and germacranolide from the leaves
and stem have been isolated. Leaves
contain abscisic acid. EtOH extract of
achenes exhibited good results in giardiasis.
Various plant parts are used in
syphilis. Clinical studies on vircarcika
eczema validated the use of the drug in
skin diseases.
The drug exhibited smooth musclerelaxant
and hypotensive activity in animals.
Dosage ◮ Seed—1–3 g powder.
(CCRAS.)
C