Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

172 Corchorus capsularis Linn.
C
matory and plasma-cholesterol lowering
activities.
The alcoholic extract of the entire
plant was found to have anticancer activity
against epidermal carcinoma of
nasopharynx in tissue culture. Alcoholic
extract and glycosides of seeds
exhibit cardiotonic activity. Digitoxose
containing glycosides are reported
to be present in Corchorus sp.
C. olitorius Linn. is known as Jew’s
Mallow (Pattaa Shaaka or Patuaa Shaaka).
Corchorosid A, reported from the
plant, improved cardiac competence
experimentally.
The leaf extracts may be used as
moisturizers in skin cosmetics. The
extracts consist of uronic acid containing
muco-polysaccharide, Ca, K and
P, among others, which act as effective
moisturizers.
Corchorus capsularis Linn.
Family ◮ Tiliaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout warmer parts
of India; extensively cultivated in
West Bengal.
English ◮ White Jute.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kaala shaaka.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Pirattai-keerai.
Folk ◮ Naadi shaaka, Narichaa.
Titapat (Bengal).
Action ◮ Leaves—stomachic,
carminative, diuretic, antidysenteric
(dried leaves). Seeds—purgative.
Seeds contain cardiac glycosides.
These include two monosides, helveti-
coside and corchoroside A and two polar
glycosides, erysimoside and olitoriside.
Leaves contain beta-sitosterolglucoside.
Corchoroside A exhibited
cardiotonic properties.
The aqueous/alcoholic extracts,
containing polysaccharides, may be
used in preparations of skin cosmetics
or hair preparations for their moisturizing
effect.
Corchorus fascicularis Lam.
Family ◮ Tiliaceae.
Habitat ◮
of India.
Throughout warmer parts
Ayurvedic ◮ Chanchuka, Chanchu.
Folk ◮ Chanchu shaaka, Baaphali.
Action ◮ Astringent, spasmolytic,
restorative, mucilaginous.
The plant contains betulinic acid and
beta-sitosterol. Seeds yield cardenolides
including trilocularin. The glycosides
of the plant were found to be devoid
of any effect of its own on smooth
muscle of guinea pig ileum, but produced
spasmolytic effect against acetylcholine,
histamine and bradykinin. Direct
action of the drug was observed
on rabbit intestines. Slight cardiac depressant
effect was found on isolated
amphibian heart preparation.
Corchorus depressus (L.) Christensen,
found in drier parts of North India,
is known as Bhauphali (Delhi).
The Plant is used as a cooling medicine
in fevers; its mucilage is prescribed
in gonorrhoea, also for increasing the
viscosity of seminal fluid. An extract