Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

494 Pisonia grandis R. Br.
P
Action ◮ Bark and leaves—counterirritant
for swellings and rheumatic
pains. Fresh leaves—used as a wash
for scabies.
Pisonia grandis R. Br.
Synonym ◮ P. morindaefolia R. Br. ex
Wt.
Family ◮ Nyctaginaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated in gardens in
Chennai and other places near the
sea on both east and west coasts.
English ◮ Lettuce tree.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Chandi keerai,
Leechai kottai keerai, Nachu Kottai
keerai.
Action ◮ Fresh leaf—diuretic, used
in inflammations (of elephantoid
nature in legs and other parts).
Root—purgative.
The plant gave octacosanol, betasitosterol,
alpha-spinasterol, beta-sitosterol-beta-D-glucopyranoside,dulcitol
and quercetin.
Pistacia integerrima
Stewart ex Brandis.
Synonym ◮ P. chinensis Bunge
subspecies Integerrima (Stewart)
Rech. f.
Family ◮ Anacardiaceae.
Habitat ◮ The Himalayas from Indus
to Kumaon.
Ayurvedic ◮ Karkatashringi,
Shringi, Karkatashringikaa,
Karkata, Karkataakhya, Kulirashringaaya,
Kuliravishaanikaa,
Vakraa, Vishaani. Ajashringi (also
equated with Gymnema sylvestre).
Unani ◮ Kaakraasingi, Kakar.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Karkatagasingi.
Action ◮ Gall—astringent, expectorant,
antiasthmatic, antidysenteric,
styptic.
Key application ◮ In cough, bronchitis
and dyspnoea. (The Ayurvedic
Pharmacopoeia of India.)
The tetracyclic triterpenes, pistacigerrimones
A, B and C have been isolated
from the galls produced on the
leaves.
Alpha-pinene 21.8, beta-pinene 16.2,
alpha-phellandrene 15.5 and delta-carene
11% are major constituents of
the essential oil extracted from galls.
The oil is reported to exhibit CNSdepressant,
antispasmodic, carminative
and antibacterial, antiprotozoal,
antiamoebic, anthelmintic activities.
Dosage ◮ Gall—3–6 g powder. (API,
Vol. I.)
Pistacia lentiscus Linn.
Family ◮ Anacardiaceae.
Habitat ◮ Mediterranean countries.
The resin is imported into India.
English ◮ Mastic tree.
Unani ◮ Mastagi, Roomi Mastagi,
Mastaki.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Ponnuikan kungiliyam.