Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

M. hamiltonii Wight (sub-Himalayan
tract and adjacent plains of Uttar
Pradesh and Bihar) has also been
equated with a Muurvaa var. It is
known as Moran-adaa in folk medicine.
Marsdenia tenacissima
Wight & Arn.
Family ◮ Asclepiadaceae.
Habitat ◮ Himalayas from Kumaon
to Assam, up to 1,500 m, Madhya
Pradesh, Bihar, Deccan Peninsula.
English ◮ White Turpeth.
Ayurvedic ◮ Muurvaa, Atirasaa,
Madhurasaa, Gokarni, Morataa,
Madhulikaa, Suvaa, Devi, Tejani,
Tiktavalli.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Perunkurinjan.
Folk ◮ Maruaa-bel.
Action ◮ Root—purgative, antispasmodic,
mild CNS depressant; used
in colic.
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
recommends the bark in lipid disorders,
also in polyuria and haemorrhagic
diseases.
Roots and seeds are rich in pregnane
glycosides of 2-deoxysugars, which
on hydrolysis gave genins and sugars.
Stem yielded tenacissosides A to E.
In folk medicine, the root is known
as White Turpeth (Safed Nishoth). Operculina
turpethum (Linn.) Silva Manso
synonym Ipomoea turpethum R. Br.
is the source of Turpeth (Nishoth) in
Indian medicine.
Martynia annua Linn. 399
Dosage ◮ Root—2–6 g powder, 10–
20 g for decoction. (API, Vol.II.)
Marsilea minuta Linn.
Family ◮ Marsileaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India as
a weed in marshy places.
Ayurvedic ◮ Sunishannaka, Parnaka,
Vastika-parnika, Swastika, Chatushpatri,
Susunishaak, Chaupaitra.
Action ◮ Sedative. Used in insomnia
and in the treatment of epilepsy and
behavioral disorders.
The most active anti-epileptic principle
is marsilin (1-triacontanol cerotate).
Dosage ◮ Whole plant—10–20 ml
juice. (CCRAS.)
Martynia annua Linn.
Synonym ◮ M. diandra Glox.
Family ◮ Martyniaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native of Mexico; found
throughout India.
English ◮ Devil’s Claw, Tiger Claw.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kaakanaasikaa,
Kaakaangi, Shirobal.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Kakatundi, Thelkodukkukai.
Folk ◮ Hathajori, Bichhuu.
Action ◮ Leaf—used in epilepsy, also
applied to tuberculous glands of
the neck. Fruit—anti-inflammatory.
Ash of the fruit, mixed with coconut
M