Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

M
396 Mandragora autumnalis Spreng.
Malva coromandeliana Linn. (also
malvastrum) is anti-inflammatory,
pectoral, antidysenteric and diaphoretic.
Mandragora autumnalis Spreng.
Synonym ◮ M. microcarpa Bertol.
M. officinarum Linn.
Family ◮ Solanaceae.
Habitat ◮ Mediterranean region.
English ◮ Mandrake.
Ayurvedic ◮ Wrongly equated with
Lakshmanaa, a fertility promoting
herb. (In Indian medicine, Panax
quinquefolium Linn. and Panax
schinseng Nees have been equated
with Lakshmanaa.)
Action ◮ Anaesthetic, narcotic,
poisonous. Alkaloid pattern similar
to Atropa belladona. Asample
of roots from Morocco contained
atropine (0.2% at flowering stage).
In India, Panax sp. are perceived as
fertility and vitality promoting herbs,
which have been attributed to Lakshmanaa.
Mandrake exhibits anticholinergic
effects.
English Mandrake and American
Mandrake are equated with Bryonia
alba and Podophyllum hexandrum respectively.
Mangifera indica Linn.
Family ◮ Anacardiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Uttar Pradesh., Punjab,
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,
West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
English ◮ Mango.
Ayurvedic ◮ Aamra, Amb, Rasaal, Sahakaar,
Pikavallabha, Madhudoot,
Atisaurabha, Maakanda.
Unani ◮ Aam, Ambaj.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Manga, Mau,
Mamaram (bark), Mangottai
Paruppu (seed).
Action ◮ Unripe fruit—astringent,
antiscorbutic. Ripe fruit—invigorating
and refrigerant in heat apoplexy.
Leaves—anti-inflammatory, antibacterial,
chloretic, diuretic. Used
in diabetes, externally in burns
and scalds. Kernel—astringent,
anti-inflammatory, antibacterial,
antifungal, anthelmintic, antispasmodic,
antiscorbutic; given in
diarrhoea, diabetes and menstrual
disorders. Stem bark—astringent;
used for haemorrhages, diarrhoea,
rheumatism.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
recommends the dried seed in diarrhoea
and dysentery; and the dried
stem bark in genitourinary disorders.
Ripe mango contains sugars (9.5–
18.6%), citric acid (0.12–0.34%), ascorbic
acid (10.8–225.0 mg/100 g), carotenoids
as beta-carotene (2,000–
17,000 mcg/100 g). The fruit gave phenolic
compounds (m-digallic acid, gallotannin,
phloroglucinol, protocatechuic
acid); flavonoids (1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxy
benzene, kaempferol and myricetin).
The seed kernel contains alpha-and
beta-amyrins, gallotannin, glucogallin
and several sterols.
The leaves contain a pentacyclic triterpene
alcohol, indicol, besides tarax-