Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

and in rubefacients for rheumatism
and muscle stiffness. Resin—
expectorant, antiseptic, antipruritic.
The essential oil from oleoresin contains
chiefly alpha-and beta-pinene;
carene and longifoline.
Pinus pinaster Ait (Cluster Pine,
Maritime Pine) has been successfullygrowninKulu,ManaliandRahini.
German Commission E recognized the
efficacy of the needle-oil in catarrhal
diseases of the upper and lower respiratory
tract (internally, as well as
externally).
Dosage ◮ Heartwood, root—1–3 g
powder. (API, Vol. III.)
Pinus succinifera
(Goppert) Cornw.
Family ◮ Pinaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native of northern
scandinavia.
English ◮ Baltic Amber, Succinite.
Unani ◮ Ambar, Kahruubaa,
Action ◮ Cardiac tonic, styptic.
Vateria indica is used in Unani
medicine as a substitute for P.
succinifera gum-resin (Fossil-resin).
Piper attenuatum
Buch.-Ham. ex Miq.
Synonym ◮ P. bantamense Blume.
Family ◮ Piperaceae.
Habitat ◮ Eastern tropical Himalayas,
Assam, Khasi Hills and the Nilgiris.
Piper betle Linn. 489
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Kattumilaaku.
Action ◮ Root—diuretic. Plant—
rubefacient; used for muscular
pains and headache.
Several aristolactams have been reported
from the aerial parts of the
plant. Crotepoxide exhibited significant
antitumour activity.
Roots contain alkamides including
piperine, piperlonguminine and
guineensine.
Piper betle Linn.
Family ◮ Piperaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated in warmer
and damper parts of India; Assam,
West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala.
English ◮ Betel pepper.
Ayurvedic ◮ Taambula, Naagvallari,
Naagini, Taambulvalli, Saptashiraa,
Bhujangalataa.
Unani ◮ Paan, Tambool.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Vetrilai Nagavalli,
Kammaaruvetritai.
Action ◮ Leaf—stimulant, carminative,
astringent, antiseptic. Essential
oil from leaves—antispasmodic,
antiseptic. Used in respiratory
catarrhs. Fruit—bechic.
The leaves afforded beta- and gamma-sitosterol,
hentriacontane, pentatriacontane,
n-triacontanol, stearic
acid and chavicol. The essential oil
from leaves contained carvacrol, eugenol,
chavicol, allyl catechol, cineole,
estragol, caryophyllene, cardinene, pcymene
and eugenol methyl ether.
P