Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

toxic. Crotin, a toxic albuminous substance,
is not extracted in the oil. The
plant caused haematuria and swelling
of lymph glands in animals.
Dosage ◮ Seed—6–12 mg powder.
(API Vol. IV.)
Cryptolepis buchanani
Roem. & Schult.
Family ◮ Asclepiadaceae; Periplocaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India.
English ◮ Indian Sarsaparilla (black
var.).
Ayurvedic ◮ Krishna Saarivaa,
Jambupatraa Saarivaa, Karantaa,
Shyamalataa, Shyaama, Gopi,
Gopavadhu, Kaalghatika.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Maattan-kodi,
Paal-Kodi, Kattupala.
Folk ◮ Karantaa, Anantamuula
(Varanasi).
Action ◮ Blood-purifier, alterative.
Used for rickets in children.
In combination with Euphorbia
microphylla, the herb is used as
a galactagogue. A decoction of the
stem is used as a supporting drug
in paralysis; of the root bark in
rheumatism.
The major constituent of the root extract
is germanicol docosanoate. The
roots contains cryptanoside C. The
leaves gave cryptanoside A and B and
a cardenolide, cryptosin.
Dosage ◮ Root—5–10 g (API
Vol. IV.); infusion—50–100 ml.
(CCRAS.)
Cucumis prophetarum Linn. 181
Ctenolepis cerasiformis Naud.
Family ◮ Cucurbitaceae.
Habitat ◮ Wild on wastelands in
Gujarat.
Ayurvedic ◮ Shankhini.
(Also equated with Corivolvulus
arvenis L.)
Folk ◮ Aankha-phuutaa-mani
(Gujarat).
Action ◮ Emetic, drastic purgative.
Used for internal tumours and
abscesses. (C.R.A.V.)
Cucumis melo
Linn. var. utilissimus Duth. & Fuller.
Synonym ◮ C. utilissimus Roxb.
Family ◮ Cucurbitaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated in Punjab and
Uttar Pradesh.
English ◮ Snake Cucumber.
Ayurvedic ◮ Ervaaru, Ervaaruka,
Urvaaru, Bahukanda, Karkati.
Unani ◮ Kakari.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Kakkarikkay,
Vellarikkai.
Action ◮ Seeds—cooling, diuretic;
used in painful micturition and
suppression of urine.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of
India recommends the seed in dysuria
and lithiasis.
Dosage ◮ Seed—3–6 g. (API Vol. II.)
Cucumis prophetarum Linn.
Synonym ◮ C. myriocarpus Naud.
C