Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

N
440 Nilgirianthus ciliatus (Nees) Bremek.
Dosage ◮ Seed—1–3 g powder (API,
Vol. I); 3–5 g powder (CCRAS).
Nilgirianthus ciliatus
(Nees) Bremek.
Synonym ◮ Strobilanthes ciliatus
Nees.
Family ◮ Acanthaceae.
Habitat ◮ Western Ghats from South
Kanara to Travancore, in evergreen
forests.
Ayurvedic ◮ Sahachara (pale-roseflowered
var. used in Kerala).
(Sahachara is equated with Barleria
prionitis in other regions.)
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Kurinji, Sinnangurinji.
Action ◮ Used against neurological
disorders, sciatica, glandular
swellings and oedema.
Nothosaerva brachiata Wight.
Family ◮ Amaranthaceae.
Habitat ◮ Distributed in tropical
Africa and Asia; found throughout
the plains of India.
Folk ◮ Dhaulaa-findauri (Rajasthan).
Action ◮ Used as a substitute for
Paashaanabheda (Aerva lanata Juss.
ex Schult., Amaranthaceae) forits
diuretic and lithotriptic properties.
Notonia grandiflora DC.
Family ◮ Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat ◮ Konkan,Western Ghats,
Deccan and hills of South India.
English ◮ Common Fleshy Rag-weed.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Mosakathu-thalai.
Folk ◮ Waandar-Roti, Gaidar
(Maharashtra).
Action ◮ Plant—feebly aperient.
Used externally for pimples.
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn.
Family ◮ Oleaceae; Nyctanthaceae.
Habitat ◮ Outer Himalaya, Assam,
West Bengal; cultivated in many
parts of India.
English ◮ Tree of Sorrow, Night
Jasmine, Coral Jasmine.
Ayurvedic ◮ Paarijaata, Shephaali,
Shephaalikaa, Mandaara.
Unani ◮ Harasingaar.
Siddha ◮ Pavazha mattigai.
Action ◮ Leaves—bitter tonic, cholagogue,
febrifuge, anti-inflammatory,
antispasmodic, hypotensive, respiratory
stimulant. Used for fevers,
rheumatism, obstinate sciatica.
The leaves and seeds contain iridoid
glycosides; other constituents reported
from the leaves are mannitol,
beta-amyrin, beta-sitosterol, hentriacontane,
benzoic acid, astragalin, nicotiflorin,
oleanolic acid, nyctanthic acid,
friedelin and lupeol. The seeds contain
a polysaccharide glucomannan.
All parts of the plant are used for
allergic disorders. Alcoholic extract of
the plant was found to inhibit passive