Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Family ◮ Flacourtiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Western Ghats.
English ◮ Soorty Oil tree.
Ayurvedic ◮ Tuvaraka, Katu-
Kapittha, Kushtavairi, Garudaphala,
Chaalmograa.
Unani ◮ Chaalmograa, Tukhm-e-
Biranj Mograa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Maravattai, Niradimuttu.
Action ◮ Seed oil—antileprotic,
anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic.
The seed oil gave chemical constituents
similar to Hydnocarpus kuzii,
and contain the flavonolignan, hydnowightin,
hydnocarpin and neohydnocarpin.
Hydnocarpin showed good antiinflammatory
and anti-neoplastic activity
in mice, in vivo. Cytotoxicity
against the growth of murine and human
tissue cultured cells was also observed.
The stem bark and leaves contain
triterpenes, acelylbetulinic, betulinic,
ursolic and acetylursolic acids.
Dosage ◮ Seed—3–5 g powder; oil—
5–10 drops. (CCRAS.)
Hydrocotyle javanica Thunb.
Family ◮ Umbelliferae; Apiaceae.
Habitat ◮ The Himalayas, Khasi Hills
and Western Ghats.
Ayurvedic ◮ Manduukaparni (related
species).
Folk ◮ Brahma-manduuki (Sikkim).
Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum.) Heine. 317
Action ◮ Used as a substitute
for Centella asiatica, as a blood
purifier (in cutaneous diseases);
for indigestion, dysentery and
nervousness.
The plant is used for treating leucoderma.
Hydrocotyle rotundifolia Roxb.
(throughout India, up to 2,350 m) is
also equated with Manduukaparni.
Hydrolea zeylanica Vahl.
Family ◮ Hydrophyllaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India, in moist
and swampy places.
Ayurvedic ◮ Wrongly equated with
Laangali. (Laangali is equated with
Gloriosa superba Linn.) Known as
Ish-languulia (West Bengal).
Action ◮ Leaves and paste—
used for callous ulcers. Plant—
antiprotozoal.
Hygrophila auriculata
(K. Schum.) Heine.
Synonym ◮ H. schulli (Ham.) MR &
SM Almeida.
H. spinosa T. anders.
Asteracantha longifolia (L.) Nees.
Family ◮ Acanthaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India along
the banks of fresh or stagnant water
ditches and swampy grounds, mixed
with marshy grasses and sedges.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kokilaaksha, Kokilaakshi,
Ikshuraka, Ikshura, Kshuraka,
Bikshu, Kaakekshu.
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