Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

M
422 Moringa concanensis Nimmo ex Gibs.
Moringa concanensis
Nimmo ex Gibs.
Family ◮ Moringaceae.
Habitat ◮
India.
Rajasthan and Peninsular
Ayurvedic ◮ Shigru (Red var.).
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Kaatumurungai.
Action ◮ See M. pterygosperma.
Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn.
Synonym ◮ M. oleifera Lam.
Family ◮ Moringaceae.
English ◮ Drumstick, Horse-Radish.
Ayurvedic ◮ Shigru (white var.),
Madhu Shigru, Sigra, Shobhaanjana,
Haritashaaka. Raktaka,
Murangi, Mochaka, Akshiva,
Tikshnagandhaa.
Unani ◮ Sahajan.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Murungai.
Action ◮ All parts of the tree
are reported to be used as cardiac
and circulatory stimulant.
Pods—antipyretic, anthelmintic;
fried pods are used by diabetics.
Flowers—cholagogue, stimulant,
diuretic. Root juice—cardiac
tonic, antiepileptic. Used for
nervous debility, asthma, enlarged
liver and spleen, deep-seated inflammation
and as diuretic in
calculus affection. Decoction
is used as a gargle in hoarseness
and sore throat. Root and
fruit—antiparalytic. Leaf—juice
is used in hiccough (emetic in
high doses); cooked leaves are
given in influenza and catarrhal
affections. Root-bark—antiviral,
anti-inflammatory, analgesic.
Bark—antifungal, antibacterial.
Stem-bark and flower—hypoglycaemic.
Seeds—an infusion,
anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic
and diuretic; given in venereal
diseases.
Along with other therapeutic applications,
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia
of India indicated the use of the dried
root bark in goitre, glycosuria and lipid
disorders (also dried seeds), and leaf,
seed, root bark and stem bark in internal
abscess, piles and fistula-in-ano.
The plant contains antibacterial
principles, spirochin and pterygospermin
which are effective against both
Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative
bacteria.
The leaves contain nitrile glycosides,
niazirin and niazirinin and mustard oil
glycosides. The mustard oil glycosides
showed hypotensive, bradycardiac effects
and spasmolytic activity, justifying
the use of leaves for gastrointestinal
motility disorders.
The roots possess antibacterial, anticholeric
and antiviral properties due to
the presence of pterygospermin, Spiro
chin and benzylisothiocyanate. The
root extract exhibited significant antiinflammatory
activity in carrageenaninduced
paw-oedema in rats.
The leaves exhibited hypoglycaemic
activity, although the plasma insulin
level did not alter much.
The root and bark showed antifertility
activity through biphasic action
on the duration of the estrous cycle of
female rats.