Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

H
318 Hymenodictyon excelsum Wall.
Unani ◮ Taalmakhaanaa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Neermulli.
Action ◮ Leaves, roots and seeds—
diuretic; used for diseases of the
urinogenital tract, spermatorrhoea.
Seeds promote sexual vigour, arrest
abortion and cure diseases due
to vitiated blood. Also used for
arthritis and oedema.
The seeds contain large amounts
of tenacious mucilage and potassium
salts, which may be responsible for the
diuretic property of seeds. The seeds
also contain linoleic acid (71%), besides
diastase, lipase and protease.
EtOH (50%) extract of the plant is
spasmolytic and hypotensive.
The chloroform soluble fraction of
ethanolic extract of aerial parts exhibited
promising hepatoprotective activity
in albino rats.
The plant contains lupeol, stigmasterol
and hydrocarbons.
Dosage ◮ Seed—3–6 g powder;
ash—1–3 g. (CCRAS.)
Hymenodictyon excelsum Wall.
Synonym ◮ H. orixense (Roxb)
Mobb.
Family ◮ Rubiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Central India and Western
Peninsula.
Ayurvedic ◮ Bhramar-chhalikaa,
Ugragandhaa (a confusing synonym).
Bhringa-vrksha (provisional
synonym).
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Sagappu, Vellei
Kadambu, Peranjoli.
Folk ◮ Bhaulan, Bhramarchhali,
Bhuurkunda.
Action ◮ Bark—astringent, febrifuge,
antiperiodic (especially for tertian
ague).
The stem bark contains scopoletin
and its apioglucoside, hymexelsin
(yield0.12%). Thepresenceofglucose,
fructose, galactose and several
amino acids, alanine, arginine, cystine,
glycine, leucine; besides fatty acids,
beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol is also
reported from the bark.
Roots contain several quinones.
Hyoscyamus muticus Linn.
Family ◮ Solanaceae.
Habitat ◮ North-western Himalayas.
Cultivated on limited scale in North
Indian plains.
English ◮ Egyptian Henbane.
Ayurvedic ◮ Paarsika-yavaani
(related species), Turushkaa.
Unani ◮ Ajwaayin Khuraasaani,
Shuukraan, Tukhm-bang.
Folk ◮ Vajra-bhang.
Action ◮ Sedative.
The leaves and flowering tops contain
higher concentration of tropane
alkaloids than other species of Hyoscyamus,
used as a source of hyoscine.
Hyoscyamus niger Linn.
Family ◮ Solanaceae.