Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

478 Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees.
P
English ◮ Kidney Bean, French Bean,
Haricot Bean.
Unani ◮ Raajmah (seed), Lobia,
Frashbean.
Action ◮ Bean—diuretic, hypotensive,
resolvent, regulates blood
sugar. Used for water retention; albuminuria,
especially of pregnancy;
premenstrual tension.
Key application ◮ Seed-free pods—in
supportive treatment for inability to
urinate. (German Commission E.)
The seeds of French Bean contain
triterpenoid glucosides and soyasaponin
V.
Raajmah consumption by diabetic
patients is reported to produce highly
significant reduction in their blood
glucose level and glycaemic index, as
compared to wheat and rice consumption.
Raw bean contains lectins which are
destroyed when cooked. Its hypoglycaemic
activity is most likely due to its
chromium, trigonelline and fiber content.
(Sharon M. Herr.)
Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus
Nees.
Family ◮ Acanthaceae.
Habitat ◮ The sub-tropical Himalayas,
Upper Gangetic Plain,
Bihar, North Bengal and Assam.
Folk ◮ Dieng-soh kajut (Meghalaya),
Chuhai (Bihar), Titaaphul (Assam).
Action ◮ Whole plant—used like
Adhatoda vasica in whooping
cough and menorrhagia. Fruits
and leaves—burnt and prescribed
for fevers. The leaves are reported
to contain diterpene lactone,
phlogantholide A and its glucoside.
A related species, P. jenkinsii C. B.
Clarke, found in Assam, is also known
as Titaaphul. A decoction of leaves is
given for diseases of spleen and liver
and for fevers.
Phoenix dactylifera Linn.
Family ◮ Palmae; Arecaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated in Punjab and
Rajasthan.
English ◮ Date Palm.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kharjuura, Kharjuuraka,
Kharjuurikaa. Pindakharjuurikaa.
Chhuhaaraa (dry date). Pindakharjuura
is the fruit of Phoenix acaulis
Roxb.
Unani ◮ Khurmaa, Khajuur,
Chhuharaa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Perichchankay, Ita.
Action ◮ Fruit pulp—antitussive,
expectorant, demulcent, laxative,
diuretic, restorative. Sap—cooling,
laxative. Gum—used in diarrhoea
and genitourinary diseases.
The fruit contains ascorbic acid (vitamin
C), carotene (as vitamin A),
nicotinic acid, riboflavin, thiamine,
sugars (60–80%). Besides sucrose and
invertsugars,rhamnose,xylose,arabinose,
ribose, galactose and galacturonic
acid have been identified in
the fruit. Invert sugar predominates
in the soft dates; sucrose in dry varieties.
The dried date, used in Ayurvedic