Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

230 Echinochloa frumentacea Link.
E
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra
Pradesh.
English ◮ Barnyard Millet.
Ayurvedic ◮ Ambah Shyaamaaka.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Oathupul.
Folk ◮ Samak.
Action ◮ Whole plant—used for
diseases of the spleen and for
checking haemorrhage.
The grains are rich in carbohydrates
(3.474 wt %) and trace elements (Cu,
Cd,Cr,Ni,Fe,Mn,Sn). Thetotal
protein content is 4.2 wt% and the total
lipids 4.46%. A hormone, oestrogen, is
reported from the lipid.
A polysaccharide extracted from the
endosperm and composed of glucose
was identified as a phytoglycogen.
Echinochloa frumentacea Link.
Synonym ◮
Roxb.
Panicum frumentaceum
Family ◮ Gramineae; Poaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated mainly in
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar
Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
English ◮ Japanese Barnyard Millet.
Ayurvedic ◮ Shyaamaaka.
Siddha ◮ Kudrraivali pillu (Tamil).
Folk ◮ Shamaa, Saanvaa.
Action ◮ Plant—cooling and
digestible, considered useful in
biliousness and constipation.
The millet has a well balanced amino
acid composition, but is deficient in
lysine. Glutelin is the major constituent
of protein.
Echinops echinatus Roxb.
Family ◮ Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India.
English ◮ Globe-Thistle, Camel’s
Thistle.
Ayurvedic ◮ Utkantaka, Uttundaka,
Brahmadandi.
Folk ◮ Uunta-Kateraa.
Action ◮ Alterative, diuretic, nerve
tonic (used in hoarse cough,
dyspepsia, scrofula, hysteria.)
Aerial parts of the plant contain
alkaloids, echinopsine, echinopsidine
and echinozolinone. Taraxasterol acetate,
isolated from the plant, is a potent
anti-inflammatory constituent;
the ethanolic extract of the whole
plant is more effective when administered
parenterally than orally. Apigenin
and its derivatives, echinacin and
echinaticin show antifungal activity.
Eclipta alba (Linn.) Hassk.
Synonym ◮ E. prostrata Roxb.
Family ◮ Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India, up to
2,000 m on the hills.
English ◮ Trailing Eclipta Plant.
Ayurvedic ◮ Bhringaraaja, Bhringa,
Bhringaja, Bhrngaaraka, Bhrngaara,
Maarkava, Kesharaaja, Keshranjana.
Unani ◮ Bhangraa.