Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Siddha/Tamil ◮ Periya elumuchhai.
Action ◮ Fruit—antiscorbutic, carminative,
stomachic, antihistaminic,
antibacterial. Used during coughs,
colds, influenza and onset of fever
(juice of roasted lemon), hiccoughs,
biliousness. Fruit juice—used externally
for ringworm (mixed with
salt), erysipelas, also in the treatment
of leprosy and white spots.
Leaves and stems—antibacterial.
All parts of the plants of citrus
sp. contain coumarins and psoralins.
The fruits contain flavonoids and limonoids.
The flavonoids comprise
three main groups—flavanones, flavones
and 3-hydroxyflavylium (anthocyanins);
flavanones being predominantly
followed by flavones and anthocyanins.
Bitter flavonoids do not occur
in lemon and lime.
Lemon juice is a richer source of
antiscorbutic vitamin (contains 40–
50mg/100gofvitaminC)thanlime,
and a fair source of carotene and vitamin
B1. Volatile oil (about 2.5% of the
peel) consists of about 75% limonene,
alpha-and beta-pinenes, alpha-terpinene
and citral. The fruit juice also
contains coumarins and bioflavonoids.
The acid content of the fruit, once digested,
provides an alkaline effect within
the body and is found useful in conditions
where acidity is a contributory
factor (as in case of rheumatic conditions).
The bioflavonoids strengthen
the inner lining of blood vessels, especially
veins and capillaries, and help
counter varicose veins, arteriosclerosis,
circulatory disorders and infections of
liver, stomach and intestines.
Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merrill. 155
Major flavonoid glycosides, isolated
from citrus peels and juices, include
hesperidin (with properties of vitamin
P). Rutin and other flavanones, isolated
from citrus fruits, form the principal
components of vitamin P. Flavanone
glycosides contained in lemon and lime
juices are eriocitrin 47 and 94; hesperidin
84 and 196 mg/l, respectively.
The composition of cold pressed
lime oil is quite similar to lemon oil,
but citral content of lime oil is higher.
Monoterpene alcohols and their esters,
aldehydes—geraniol, geranial and
neral, contribute to the characteristic
aroma of lemon and lime.
Dosage ◮ Fruit—6–12 g (Juice—5–
10 ml). (API Vol. IV.)
Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merrill.
Synonym ◮ C. decumana Watt.
C. grandis (L.) Osbeck.
Family ◮ Rutaceae.
Habitat ◮ North-eastern region up
to 1,500 m in Assam and Tripura.
English ◮ Pummelo, Shaddock.
Ayurvedic ◮ Madhukarkatikaa.
Unani ◮ Chakotra.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Pambalimasu.
Folk ◮ Mahaa-nibu, Sadaaphal.
Action ◮ Fruit—cardiotonic. Leaves,
flowers and rind—used as a sedative
in nervous affections. Leaves—
used in convulsive cough, chorea,
epilepsy, also in the treatment of
haemorrhagic diseases. A lotion of
boiled leaves used hot in painful
swellings. The essential oil from
C