Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Habitat ◮ Native to Japan, occasionallymetwithinSikkimatanaltitude
of 1,800 m, in Khasi Hills up to
1,500 m.
Ayurvedic ◮ Haimavati (white var. of
Vachaa).
Action ◮ Antispasmodic (used in
abdominal colic). See A. calamus.
Actaea spicata Linn.
Synonym ◮ A. acuminata Wall. ex
Royle
Family ◮ Ranunculaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to Europe; grows in
temperate Himalayas from Hazara
to Bhutan.
English ◮ Baneberry Grapewort.
Folk ◮ Visha-phale (Kannada).
Action ◮ Root—antirheumatic,
anti-inflammatory, nerve sedative,
emetic, purgative; used in the
treatment of rheumatic fever,
lumbago, scrofula, nervous disorders,
chorea.
The plant is reported to contain
trans-aconitic acid, which shows a
strong cytostatic action. Its Me ether
is active against Ehrlich’s ascites tumours.
In folk medicine, roots are used in
cases of ovarian neuralgia, uterine tenderness
and sub-involution. They are
adulterant of the roots of Helleborus
niger. Berries are poisonous; used topically
for skin diseases. The toxic constituent
is protoanemonin (lactone). It
is irritant to mucous membrane.
Actinodaphne hookeri Meissn. 17
Actiniopteris dichotoma Kuhn.
Synonym ◮ A. australis (L. f.) Link.
A. radiata (Sw.) Link.
A. dichotoma Kuhn.
Family ◮ Adiantaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India, especially
common in Kumaon Hills
and the Nilgiris, below an altitude
of 1,200 m.
English ◮ Peacock’s tail.
Ayurvedic ◮ Mayurshikhaa, Madhuchhadaa,
Sahastrahi, Vahrishikhaa.
Action ◮ Styptic, antibacterial,
antipyretic.
The stems and leaves contain rutin,
a styptic active principle. Anthelmintic
activity, attributed to the fern, was not
observed in experiments on mice.
Dosage ◮ Root—3–5 g powder.
(CCRAS.)
Actinodaphne hookeri Meissn.
Synonym ◮ A. angustifolia Nees.
Family ◮ Lauraceae.
Habitat ◮ The western Ghats, Orissa
and Sikkim up to 1,500 m.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Thali, Paratathali.
Folk ◮ Pisaa (Maharashtra).
Action ◮ Infusion of leaves—urinary
tract disinfectant, antidiabetic,
spasmolytic.
The leaves contain a very small
amount of an amorphous alkaloid.
They also contain beta-sitosterol, hentriacontanone,
hentriacontanol and
A