Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

D
224 Doronicum pardalianches Linn.
Doronicum pardalianches Linn.
Family ◮ Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to Europe.
Unani ◮ Daarunaj Aqrabi.
Action ◮ Used in nervous depression,
melancholia and as a constituent of
cardiac tonic preparations.
The plant contains photoactive thiophenes,
in amounts reported to be
toxic. Roots and aerial parts yield
sesquiterpene alcohol, paralianchol
and its aetophenone derivatives.
Doronicum roylei DC.
Family ◮ Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat ◮ The Western Himalayas
from Kashmir to Garhwal.
Unani ◮ Daarunaj Aqrabi Hindi.
Action ◮ The root is reported to
prevent giddiness caused during
high attitude ascents.
Dracaena cinnabari Balf. f.
Family ◮ Liliaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to East Africa and
Saudi Arabia.
English ◮ Dragon’s Blood.
Ayurvedic ◮ Khoonkharaabaa,
Heeraadokhi.
Unani ◮ Dammul-Akhwain.
Action ◮ See Daemonorops draco.
The root yields a gum-resin, used
in gargle water as stimulant, astringent
and in toothpaste. Root—used
in rheumatism. Leaves—carminative.
Dracocephalum moldavica Linn.
Family ◮ Lamiaceae.
Habitat ◮ The temperate Western
Himalaya in Kashmir from 2,100–
2,400 m.
Ayurvedic ◮ Raam Tulasi.
Unani ◮ Feranjmushk.
Action ◮ Seeds—Febrifuge, carminative,
astringent, demulcent,
vulnerary. Used is cephalalgia,
neurological disorders, as a cardiac
tonic, brain tonic and deobstruent
in Unani medicine.
Citral and geranyl acetate are major
constituents of the essential oil. Others
include alpha-pinene, nerol, citronellol,
linalool, geraniol, limonene
and caproic acid. Flavonoids, including
moldavoside, have been isolated
from the plant.
Dracontium polyphyllum Linn.
Family ◮ Araceae.
Habitat ◮ Maharashtra and Karnataka;
cultivated in the South.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Kattu Karunayikkilangu.
Folk ◮ Jangali Suuran.
Action ◮ Root—antidiarrhoeal,
anti-inflammatory (prescribed for
haemorrhoids), antispasmodic