Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

M
394 Malpighia glabra Linn.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kampillaka, Kampilla,
Karkash, Raktaanga, Rechan,
Chandra.
Unani ◮ Kamilla, Kambilaa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Kapli, Kalupatti.
Action ◮ Gland and hair of fruit—
purgative, anthelmintic, styptic.
Used for the treatment of tapeworm
infestation; in scabies, ringworm,
herpes. Fruit—hypoglycaemic,
spasmolytic, antibacterial.
Capsule hair and glands gave phloroglucinol
derivatives; rottlerin, isorottlerin,
iso-allorottlerin (the “red compound”)
and methylene-bis-methylphloroacetophenone
(the “yellow compound”).
The red powder, obtained
from capsules, containing largely resinous
matter, had lithotropic effect in
rats, comparable to drugs used commonly
against urinary calculi. Two
more compounds designated as kamalins
1 and 2 have been isolated.
The stem bark contains kamaladiol-
3-acetate and friedelin.
Dosage ◮ Glands and hairs of the
fruit—0.5–1.0 g powder. (API,
Vol.I.)
Malpighia glabra Linn.
Family ◮ Malpighiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to tropical America;
cultivated in gardens as hedge.
English ◮ Barbados Cherry, Acerola.
Action ◮ Fruits—used in dysentery,
diarrhoea and liver disorders.
Fruits are rich in ascorbic acid
(1,000–4,000 mg/100 g of edible
pulp). The bark contains about 26%
tannin. Fruits of Brazilian plant
gave alpha-carotene, beta-carotene
and beta-cryptoxanthine.
Malpighia punicifolia Linn.
Family ◮ Malpighiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated in Tamil Nadu
and Karnataka.
English ◮ West Indian Cherry.
Folk ◮ Vallari (Telugu), Simeyaranelli
(Kannada).
Action ◮ See Malpighia glabra.
Fruits contain ascorbic acid in high
concentration (green fruits contain
up to 3,000 mg/100 g). 3-methyl-3buten-1-ol
has been identified as major
volatile constituent of the fruit.
Malus pumila Mill.
Synonym ◮ M. domestica Borkh.
M. sylvestris Hort. non-Mill.
Pyrus malus Linn. in part.
Family ◮ Rosaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to Europe and West
Asia; now cultivated in Himachal
Pradesh., Kashmir, Kulu, Kumaon,
Assam and in the Nilgiris.
English ◮ Cultivated Apple.
Ayurvedic ◮ Sinchitikaa.
Folk ◮ Seb, Sev.
Action ◮ Bark—anthelmintic,
refrigerant, hypnotic, given in
intermittent, remittent and bilious
fevers. Leaves—inhibit the growth