Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Ayurvedic ◮ Brihatgokshura,
Kshouraka, Trikantaka, Gokantaka,
Swaadukantaka, Bhakshantaka.
Unani ◮ Khaar-e-khasak Kalaan,
Gokharu Kalaan.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Peru-neranji, Annaineringi.
Action ◮ Fruit—used for spermatorrhoea,
nocturnal emissions,
menstrual irregularities, puerperal
diseases, genitourinary disorders,
difficult micturition, chronic
cystitis, renal calculus. Root—
antibilious.
The stem and fruits contain flavonoids
pedalitin and its glucoside (pedaliin),
diometin, dinatin and its derivatives.
The fruits contain nonacosane,
tritriacontane, triacontanoic acid,
sitosterol-beta-D-glucoside, rubusic
acid, luteolin as major constituents.
Leaves and fruits yield phenolic acids
which include caffeic, protocatechuic,
p-coumaric and ferulic acids. Flowers
gave dinatin, quercetin and quercetin-
7-glucoside.
Aqueous extract of the fruit is reported
to produce in vitro inhibitory
effect on crystallization in urinary lithiasis.
The solubility of uric acid in aqueous
extract is reported to be 45% more
than in water alone.
The plant extracts exhibit diuretic
activity.
Dosage ◮ Fruit, root—3–5 g powder;
50–100ml.decoction.(CCRAS.)
Pedicularis pectinata Wall.
Family ◮ Scrophulariaceae.
Pedilanthus tithymaloides Poir. 469
Habitat ◮ The Himalayas from
Kashmir eastwards at altitudes
of 2,000–4,300 m, extending to
Sikkim.
English ◮ Lousewort.
Folk ◮ Mishran, Michren (Punjab),
Lugro-maarpro (Kashmir).
Action ◮ Leaves—astringent,
haemostatic, diuretic.
The herb is closely related to Eyebright
(Euphrasia officinalis Linn.) of
the same family, found in the Temperate
Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon.
Eyebright is astringent and bacteriostatic.
Pedilanthus tithymaloides Poir.
Family ◮ Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to West Indies;
cultivated as an ornamental.
English ◮ Slipper Plant, Bird-Cactus.
Folk ◮ Vilaayati-sher (Maharashtra),
Naagaphani, Naagadaman (Madhya
Pradesh).
Action ◮ Latex—used for warts,
leucoderma, venereal diseases.
Root—emetic (used in West Indies
as Ipecacuanha).
An extract of the air-dried and
powdered whole plant contains octacosanol,
cycloartenone, oxime and
beta-sitosterol.
The latex from the stem contains the
proteolytic enzyme, pedilanthain. It
exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in
carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema
and was more effective than the control
P