# Indian Medicinal Plants/Natural Order Verbenaceæ

N. 0. VERBENACEÆ.
943. Lantana indica, Roxb., h.f.b.i. iv., 562. Roxb. 488.
Vern. :— Ghaneri ; Pâpar-dani (Ajmer).
Habitat: — Roxburgh writes: — " A native of Mysore, from thence Dr. B. Heyne sent the seed to the Botanic garden at Calcutta, where the plants thrive luxuriantly, and blossom during the rains."
It is common throughout India and Ceylon in the warmer parts ; on the river banks of Bengal one of the commonest weeds.
A shrub, 3-8 ft. high ; branches roughly hairy, long and straggling, 4 angular, sometimes prickly, yellowish brown. Leaves 1½-2½in. long, opposite or in whorls of 3, ovate, acute or subobtuse, crenate-serrate, rugose and finely pubesent on upper suface, softly white-pubescent or subvillous beneath, narrowed or somewhat rounded at the base, petioles ¼-⅜ in. long. Flowers inodorous, sessile, arranged in axillary peduncles heads or spikes ½-¾ in, long and elongating in fruit ; peduncles 1-3¼ in., usually in opposite axils, 4-angled, thickening upwards ; bracts up to ⅜ in. long, ovate, acuminate, softly hairy on both sides. Calyx 1/16 in. long, truncate, membranous, densely hairy. Corolla with a pale purplish limb ⅓ in. across, hairy outside ; tube ¼ in. long, yellowish ; lobes 4, rounded. Filaments very short. Ovary glabrous. Drupe purple when ripe, enclosed in the thin transparent calyx (Duthie).
Uses : — Mr. Duthie (Flora of the Upper Gangetic Plain, Vol. II. p. 216) writes :— "The leaves are regarded by the natives as a cure for snake-bite."
Indraji, in his valuable book " Vanaspati Shastra" speaks ​ about some of the medicinal properties of the roots, leaves and flowers of Lantana Indica.
944. L. Camara, Linn., h.f.b.i., iv. 562.
Vern : — Ghaneri (M) ; Chadurang (Kan) (According to Talbot. I. P. Fleiderer gives the following Kanarese equivalents of the plant — Natahu, hesigetin, kasutihuvina-gida). Arippu (Mal).
Habitat : — A native of America, run wild in many parts of India. " Shade ultimately kills it, bat it has the power of scrambling up the branches of low trees and so reaching the hight. Its rapid diffusion has been much helped by birds, which are fond of the berries." (Trimen).
A gregarious straggling scandent shrub. Branches 1-sided with recurved prickles. Leaves simple, ovate acute. Flowers in small head, pretty, pink-orange or lilac, and of many shades in the same plant. Bracts linear small. Calyx small, membranous. Corolla-tube slender, limb spreading, lobes unequal. Ovrary 2-celled ; Drupe freshy. Seeds without albumen.
Uses : — In Mexico, the leaves of a species of Lantana, when boiled with barley, are given to women in childbirth. Another species of Lantana is much used to relieve indigestion.
In Vol. 16 of the Pharmaeutical Journal and transactions published in the year 1885 there appears a short article where it is stated that a new alkaloid named "Lantanine" was discovered by Dr. Negrete, in Lantana brasiliensis, a plant which was used by Dr. E. Buiza in the central hospital at Lima, as an antipyretic ; it stated that " Lantanine " like Quinine, depresses the circulation and lowers the temperature. Intermittent fevers which have not yeilded to treatment with Quinine, have given way under the use of 2 grams of lantanine.
On page 497 of Apothekar zeitung of 1909 it is stated that the leaves of Lantana Odorata are used in West Indies and South America for aromatic baths in rheumatic complaints, also as infusions for eatarrahal diseases and as gargles.
In Chemisches Central Bhatt of 1905 on page 307 it is stated that the fresh bark of the stem of Lantana Camara contains 60% water, 6.25% ash, 0.08% of a crystalline substance (Lantanine) 0.054% of a rubber-like substance, 1.705% besin, 2-21% resinic acid but no tannic acid ; the bark of the root of Lantana Camara is supposed to contain tannic acid on the other hand.
Bacon writing in the Philippine Journal of Science in 1909 about the oil of Lantana Camara states that it possesses a pleasant odour and that the plant flourishes with such extraordinary profusion in the Philippines that it would undoubtedly pay to cultivate it. ​Prof. D. D. Kanga, M. A., of Elphinstone College, Bombay, who has analysed this plant, reports as follows:—
The flowers were collected in the months of August and September from places in the neighbourhood of the Science Research Institute, Bangalore, dried in air and distilled with steam.
The leaves were also locally collected in the month of January 1912, powdered and extracted with warm alcohol for the determination of the constituents; the alcoholic extract was steam-distilled, when an oil came over along with a little free volatile acid. 28.26 grams of the fresh flowers lost 22.2 grams. of water on drying at 110°C. Hence moisture 78 per cent.
The yield of the oil from the air-dried flowers was 0.077, while that from the leaves was 0.2 per cent.}}
The following table gives the physical properties and some chemical constants of the oils:—
| | Oil from the dried flowers. | Oil from the fresh flowers. | Oil from the leaves. | Oil from the leaves of the South American plant, according to Messrs. Schimmel and Co's. Report, Oct. 1909. |
| Colour … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | Yellow … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | Yellow … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | Yellow … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | Pale-yellow |
| Odour … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | Powerful, persistent and pleasant, reminding of sage. | Powerful, persistent and pleasant, reminding of sage. | Powerful, persistent and pleasant, reminding of sage. | Pleasant, reminding of sage. |
| Yield … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | 0.07% by weight. | … | 0.2% by weight | Varying greatly according to age. One yield was 0.07% and another 0.245% by volume. |
| Specific gravity. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … | D 26°/15° 0.915 | … | D 24°/24° 0.92114 | D 30°/4° 0.9132 |
| Refractive Index | n 26.5°/D 1.4987. | n 26.5°/D 1.5031 | n 70°/D 1.48933 | n 30°/D 1.4913 |
Optical Rotation.
r£ 6 ' 5 ° 1-4987.
1 J Hg— green +23*9°
4 6 ' 5 ° 15031
70°, 1-48933
M r> + 1-96°
30° 1.4913 [a]Jf+ll*«
Saponifica- tion Value
10
Acetyl value
43-6
When subjected to fractional distillation under a pressure varying from 45 to 55mm., the following fractions were collected
124 ​ from the oil from the leaves, and the refractive index of each fraction determined : —
| Fractions. | B.P. | 31.5° "D |
| 1. | 145°-154° | 1.48395 |
| 2. | 154°-165° | 1.48914 |
| 3. | 165°-180° | 1.49485 |
| 4. | above 180° | 1.49703 |
The results obtained are very similar to those recorded for the oil from the leaves of the South American plant (Phillipines).
To summarise :—
Neither the leaves, the stems nor the roots of Lantana Camara were found to contain an alkaloid.
The aqueous liquid was found to contain a large quantity of tannin and sugar ; the solution in which sugar was found was glucosidic in character.
The petroleum extract of the green resin was found to contain a mixture of resin acids in very large quantities.
The neutral portion of the petroleum ether extract was found to contain very likely a mixture of palmitic and stearic acids, mixture of oleic and Emucic acids and very probably a phytosterol.
The ether extract of the resin was found to contain a crystalline substance, which is a glucoside ; the formula of this substance may very probably be C$_{27}$H$_{42}$O$_4$ .
The oil yeilded by flowers has got a pleasant and very powerful and persistent odour.
945. Lippia nodiflora, Rich., h.f.b.l, iv. 563.
Sans. : — Vashira.
Vern. : — Bhin-okra (H.) ; Mokna, búkan, jalnim, jorakh, mundi, boken butee, chamiara (Pb.) ; Ludra (P.) ; Wakan (Sind.) Tan (Dec.); Ratolia (Bomb,); Podutalei (Tam.); Bokenaku (Tel).
Habitat : — Abundant in wet places throughout India.
An annual herb, roughly pubescent, creeping, minutely strigose, extending 6-30in., much branched, often rooting from the nodes. Stems prostrate, sub-quadrangular, glabrous. Leaves numerous, small ¾-1¼ in., obovate, narrowed to the sessile base, toothed at top sharply, rather thick, minutely punctate. Flowers 1/10in. long, pink or white, crowded in axillary, long stalked, oblong-ovoid, bracteate heads. Heads at first nearly globose, but becoming spicate and oblong in fruit. Peduncles l-3in. from axil of only of each pair of leaves. Bracts ovate, acute, or subacute. Heads ½ by ¼in., ovoid or cylindric. Calyx ​ minute, 2-fid, hairy. Corolla-tube cylindric, slender, mouth 2-lipped, lower lip rather longer, pinkish-purple to white (C B. Clarke). Filaments and style very short. Fruit hardly 1/12 in. diam., nearly dry.
" Flowers all the year round, very pale violet-pink " (Trimen) " Stamens unequal pair, included. Ovary 2-celled, stigma capitate separating into two 1-seeded nutlets (Collett).
Uses : — The plant is officinal, and considered cooling. The tender stalks and leaves are slightly bitter, and prescribed in the form of an infusion to children suffering from indigestion, and to women after delivery. (Ainslie). It is used in Bombay as a demulcent in cases of gonorrhoea. A poultice composed of the fresh plant is a good maturant for boils. (Dymock). Honnigberger considered it valuable in ischury, stoppage of the bowels and pain in the knee-joint. In Mexico the leaves of several species of Lippia, called ' oregano' are very much used to flavour food. It is cooked with fish, sausage and other food.
946. Verbena officinalis, Linn., h.f.b.l, iv. 565.
Vern. :— Pámukh, karaita (Pb.) ; Shamuki (Pushtu).
Habitat : — Himalaya from Kashmir to Bhotan. Bengal Plain to the Sunderbunds.
An erect, more or less pubescent, perennial herb. Stems l-3ft. high, decumbent at the base, branched 4-sided puberulous. Leaves 2-4 in. long, variously lobed, narrowed to the base , lower ones stalked, pinnatified or coarsely toothed, more or less pubescent and usually hoary on the nerves beneath ; upper sessile, usually 3-partite. Flowers ¼ in. long, sessile in dense bracteate heads which elongate as the fruit ripens into slender spikes up to 10 in. long ; bracts ovate, acute. Calyx twice as long as the bracts and half as long as the corolla-tube, minutely 5-toothed, glandular-hairy. Corolla blue or lilac, hairy ; limb spreading, about 1/6 in, diam., lobes subquadrate, throat hairy. Fruit dry, ultimately separating into 4 one-seeded nutlets pyrenes 3-ribbed 1/16-1/20in., oblong, smooth dorsally, their under faces with minute white flaking cells.
Uses : — The fresh leaves are used as febrifuge and tonic, and as rubefacient in rheumatism and diseases of the joints ; ​ the plant is officinal at Lahore, being depurative and febrifuge (Stewart). Mahomedan physicians consider it tonic and astringent, useful in paralysis and amenorrhœa, and that a plaster of the leaves promotes the healing of wounds. An ointenent is recommended for swelling of the womb, and a vinegar in skin diseases. Cochin-China, the plant is considered useful in vervous complaints and as a deobstruent in dropsy (Dymock).
The root is believed to be a remedy for scrofula and snake-bite. At one time it was worn in Europe as a charm against evil, and for good luck. In Tuscany it is said to be still employed as a poultice for liver complaints, and taken internally for the same disease and for dropsy.
947. Callicarpa arborea, Roxb., h.f.b.i., iv. 567; Roxb. 131.
Vern. :— Ghivala (Cutch) ; Búndún (Kol.) ; Dom koto-koi (Santal) ; Bogodi, gogdi (Karwar) ; Boropatri (Uriya) ; Sakrela (Mal.) ; Gœhlo (Nepal) ; Sunga (Lepcha) ; Khoja (Ass.) ; Makanchi (Garo) ; Ghiwala, dera, shiwali (Kumaun) ; Bormala (Beng.).
Habitat : — N. India, in the lower hills, from Kumaon to Assam, common in the Sikkim Terai ; Rajmahal, E. Peninsulafrom the Khasia Terai and Manipur to Singapore.
A moderate-sized tree, attaining 40 ft. Branches petioles, underside of leaves and inflorescence densely grey tomentose, with short soft stellate hairs Bark brownish, rough ; wood light, brownish white, moderately hard, even-grained. Leaves ovate or elongate-elliptic, acuminate, glabrous above ; blade 6-12 in. Petiole 1-2½ in. long ; secondary nerves 8-12 in. Flowers lilac or pale- purple with an unpleasant smell (Brandis). Cymes large, spreading. Peduncle 1-2 in. long. Calyx 1/20in., puberulous. Corolla 1/6in., long, Berry 1/10in. join, diam., purple, ultimately black.
Uses : — The bark is aromatic and bitter, and is applied in decoction in cutaneous diseases. It is considered tonic and carminative (Watt, ii 26).
948. C. lanata, Linn., h.f.b.i., iv. 567; Roxb. 131.
Syn. : — C. Wallichiana, Walp. ​ Vern. : — Bastra (H.) ; Massandari (B.) ; Aisar (Bom.); Koat-Komul (Tam.) ; Tondik-teregam (Mal.)
N. B.— The plant known as Aisar at Matlieran is Callicarpa Cana, Linn., (K.R.K.)
Habitat : — Western and Southern India and the Circars.
A small or moderate-sized bushy tree, 30-40ft. Branchlets stout, cylindric, closely covered with a thick felt (easily detached) of stellate hair, young parts very densely stellate-tomentose. Leaves large 6-9in., ovate, rounded or obtuse at the base, slightly acuminate, acute, entire, glabrous when mature, rugose and bright green above, densely covered with a close felt of white or yellowish stellate hair beneath. Petiole ¾-2in., stout, very tomentose. Flowers pale pinkish, lilac, sessile, in clusters of 3. Cymes shortly pedunculate, divaricately branched, densely stellate-tomentose. Bracts linear. Calyx membranous, stellate-tomentose. Corolla glabrous, tube ⅛in., lobes oblong, obtuse, recurved. Anthers cream-coloured. Drupe under ¼in., globose, black, shining.
Uses : — Both leaves and bark are faintly aromatic and bitterish, and afford much mucilage when boiled. The leaves boiled in milk are used as a wash for aphthae of the mouth, and that the bark and root boiled in water yield a decoction which is used to lessen febrile heat and remove hepatic obstruction and hepatie eruptions (Rheede). Ainslie says that " this plant is reckoned by the Javanese amongst their emollients. The bark possesses a peculiar sub-aromatic and slightly bitterish taste and may probably be found to have other medicinal virtues. The Malays consider the plant as a diuretic." According to Drury, the root is employed in Upper India in cutaneous affections, In Ceylon the leaves and bark are used both internally and externally. The bark is said also to be chewed (Trimen).
949. C. macrophylla, Vahl., h.f.b.l, iv. 568.
Syn. : — C incana, Roxb. 131.
Vern. : — Pattharman, súmáli, denthar, daya (Himalayan names) ; Mathara, mattranja (Beng.) ; Bá-pattra, bauna (Pb.).
Habitat :— Throughout N. and E. India, ascending to 6,000ft, ​ in the W. Himalaya ; from Kashmir to Assam ; abundant in Bengal plains, (?) Deccan Peninsula.
An erect shrub, 4-8 ft. high, with straggling branches. Branches, leafstalks and inflorescence densely clothed. Bark thin, grey brown. Wood white soft (Gambles'^, with tawny wool-like to mentum. Leaves shortly stalked, 6-10in. long, by 2-3in. broad, lanceolate crenate or sharply toothed, long-pointed ; at times ovate or ovate-lanceolate. Upper surface wrinkled, stellately- pubescent ; lower, tomentose ; lateral nerves 12-15 pairs. Petiole ⅓-½in. Flowers hardly 1/5in. long, pink, crowded in axillary stalked cymes. Calyx bell-shaped, minutely 4-toothed, 1/20in. Corolla tubular regular 4-lobed, tube short. Stamens far protruding, equal, 4. Anthers small exserted. Ovary 2 or 4-celled ; style long, stigma minutely capitate. Fruit a spongy succulent globose drupe, white with 4 one-celled pyrenes, when ripe fully (Collett and Kanjilal.)
Uses : — In Hazara the leaves heated are applied to rheumatic joints. (Stewart.) " The leaves," says Trimen, "have a peculiar scent, mixed fetid and lemon-like, and are used for flavouring native soups and curries. An aromatic oil is also obtained from the root and used as a remedy in disorders of the stomach."
950. Tectona grandis, Linn., f. h.f.b.i., iv, 570; Roxb. 202.
Sans. :— Sâka.
Vern : — Sagun (Hind.) ; Segun (Beng.) ; Singuru (Uriya) ; Tekku, tek (Tam.); Teku (Tel.); Jati (Mal.) ; Saj, sal (Arab, and Pers.) ; Ságwán or Ság (Bomb.) ; Tegina-mara, Sâguvâni, Sagoni-Mara (Kan.).
Habitat: — W. Deccan Peninsula, from Central India to Orissa.
A large deciduous tree, 80-120 fit. high ; branchlets 4-angular, stellately tomentose. Leaves about 12 in. long (or much larger in seedling specimens), elliptic or obovate, acute or acuminate, entire, usually cuneate at the base ; upper surface rough, but glabrous, the lower densely clothed with grey or yellowish tomentum, main lateral nerves 8-10 pairs. Flowers ​ many, on short pedicels and arranged in large terminal much-branched tomentose cymose panicles 1-3 ft. long ; bracts at the forks lanceolate, those beneath the calyx narrower. Calyx (in flower) ⅛ in. long, broadly campanulate, stellately tomentose ; lobes 1/20 in. long, snbequal, spreading ; the whole calyx ultimately enlarging to 1 in. or more and forming a membranous bladder-like covering to the firuit. Corolla white, glabrous, limb ¼ in across ; lobes subequal, seading. Fruit subglobose, ½ in. in diam., somewhat 4-lobed ; pericarp soft, densely clothed with felted stellate hairs.
Uses : — A plaster of the powdered wood is recommended in hot headaches and for the dispersion of inflammatory swellings ; when taken internally it is said to be beneficial in dyspepsia, with burning of stomach. It also acts as a vermifuge. The ashes of the wood are applied to swollen eyelids and are said to strengthen the sight. The bark is an astringent, and the oil of the nuts promotes the growth of hair and removes itchiness of the skin. The flowers, according to Endlicher, are diuretic, and Gibson states that the seeds possess similar properties (Dymock).
The wood rubbed down with water into a paste allays the pain and inflammation caused by handling the Burmese black varnish Thitsi (Melanorrhoea usitatissima). It also deserves to be tried as a local application to inflammations arising from the action of the Marking Nut (Ph. Ind.). The oil is extracted from the wood in Burma, and is used medicinally as a substitute for linseed oil and as varnish (Mukerji.) The tar is used in the Konkan as an application to prevent maggots breeding in sores on draught cattle (Dymock).
At a meeting of the Nilgri Natural History Society in 1887, Mr. Larson showed a specimen of a whitish mineral substance found in a teak tree growing in the Government Plantation at jVilambnr. This peculiar secretion is not altogether unknown to officers in the Forest Department, and its composition has on more than one occasion been investigated by chemists.
The late R. Romanis (Jn. Chem. Soc, 3-11-87) found that alcohol extracts a soft resin from teak wood, but no oil or varnish. On distilling the resin he obtaind a crystalline substance which he also found to be present in considerable quantity in the tar resulting from the destructive distillation of teak. The analyses which he has made of the crystals point to the empirical formula C$_9$H$_{10}$O ; on oxidation with nitric acid they yield what appears to be a quinone of the formula C$_{13}$H$_{16}$O$_2$. ​
951. Premna integrifolia, Linn., h.f.b.l, iv. 574.
Syn. : — P. spinosa, Roxb.
Sans. : — Ganikáriká, Agnímanthâ (produces fire by friction) ; Matha (churner) ; Ketú (fallingstar) ; Araní (stinginess) ; Vaijayantíka (flag- bearer).
Vern :— Agetha, arní (Hind.) ; Ganiarí, bhut-birarví (Beng) ; Gineri (Nepal) ; Ganniari (Oudh) ; Bakarcha (Garhwal) ; Erumaimullai ; Munnay (Tam.) ; Ghebu-nelli, pinua-nelli (Tel.) ; Châmâri (Mar.); Appel (Mal.) Narvel( Bom.); Arni (Guz ) ; Aguyábát (Uriya).
N.B. — Premna scandens, Roxb,, is Chámhári. It is called chavári-vel at Matheran, vel or "yel" popularly for vel, i.e., a creeper, whereas Pr. integrifolia, Linn, is a shurb or a small tree (K.R.K.).
Habitat: — India, near the sea, from Bombay to Malacca; Sylhet.
A small evergreen tree or shrub with thorny stems and branches. Bark thin pale yellow lenticillate. Wood light creamy brown, moderately hard, even-grained, pleasantly scented. Young parts glabrate or very slightly pubescent. Leaves 2-3in., broadly-oval, acute or rounded at base, acute or subacute, entirely or faintly crenate-serrate in upper part, always quite glabrous. Flowers on short pubescent pedicels, pale yellowish green. Cymes corymbosely paniculate, dense, pubescent, terminal. Calyx shallow 2-lipped, one lip entire, the other 2 lobed (so that the calyx appears 3-lobed), segments obtuse. Corolla-lobes rounded, lower ones somewhat longest ; stamens slightly exerted. Drupe 1/6in. globose.
Uses : — Sanskrit writers describe the root as bitter, stomachic and useful in fever, anasarca, urticaria, &c. A soup made of the leaves is occasionally used as a stomachic and carminative. The root forms an ingredient of dasamula, a preparation often prescribed by the native physicians in obstinate fevers (Hindu Mat. Med.). Rheede notices a decoction of the leaves for flatulence.
The root is given in decoction as a cordial and tonic. The leaves rubbed along with pepper are administered in colds and fevers. The whole plant is used in the form of decoction in rheumatism and neuralgia (Atkinson). ​ Chemical composition.— The root-bark of this plant afforded a yellowish-brown powder giving an orange-brown tincture with alcohol. The tincture when evaporated left a reddish coloured tasteless resin and some extractive matter. The resin was soluble in ether and in alkaline liquors; from the latter solution it was precipitated in greyish-brown nocks by acids. Warmed with soda, the resin evolved an odour of lemon similar to that of Kamala resin; heated with sulphuric acid a transient purple colour was developed and a fragrant odour evolved. It showed no disposition to crystallize. The watery solution of the alcoholic extract had a sweetish taste in small quantities and was nauseous in larger quantities. It contained a bitterish amorphous alkaloid, a substance reducing Fehling's solution, and an astringent body, striking a green colour with ferric chloride, but giving no precipitates with gelatine. The alkaloid gave no distinct colour reactions with the strong mineral acids.
952, P. tomentosa, Willd., h.f.b.i, iv. 576.
Vern. : — Naguru-Chettu (Tel.) ; Pedanganeree, Kollay-Cotlay wellag (Tam.).
Habitat: — Deccan peninsula and Ceylon, frequent ; from the Circars and Central Provinces southward.
A tree, often 50ft. ; branchlets densely stellate-woolly. Leaves 6 by 3½in., base rounded or subcordate, coriaceous, minutely glandular scabrous above, nerves 7 pair ; petiole lin. Corymbs ¾in. diam., often sessile, upper branches (or nearly all) alternate ; bracts⅓ in., linear. Calyx 1/11in., stellately woolly Corolla ⅛-1/6 in. ,2 lipped, hairy in the throat, greenish-yellow. Drupe ⅓in. diam., deciduously hairy, ovoid, 3-1- seeded.
An aromatic oil is obtained from the root, and used as a remedy in disorders of the stomach (Trimen).
953.P. latifolia, Roxb.
Var. — Mucronata Roxb., h.f.b.i. iv., 578 ; Roxb. 485.
Vern. : — Bakar, bakarcha, basóta agniúm (Hind.); Agniú (Kumaun) ; Ban, khar, gián (Pb.).
Habitat : — N. India, from Kumaon to Bhotan and the Khasia Hills., also common in Bengal Plains.
Uses :— Dr. P. S. Mootooswamy states that the leaves are diuretic, and are given internally and applied externally in dropsy. An infusion of 10 drachms of the leaves and 2 drachms of coriander in ten ounces of boiling water has been used by him with advantage in acute dropsy. ​ Dr. Mootooswamy lias seen the natives using the leaves soaked in goat's urine or in onion juice for dropsy ; sometimes chebulic myrobalans are added if the bowels are costive.
A small or medium-sized deciduous tree ; branchlets and young leaves pubescent or velvety. Leaves membranous, drying black, 3-6'in. long broadly ovate, sharply acuminate, usually quite entire, base cuneate ; upper surface glabrous when mature, the lower hairy especially on the midrib, petioles ½-¾in. long. Corymbs broad, usually terminating short leafy branchlets, rusty pubescent. Calyx 5-toothed, clothed with spreading hairs. Corolla greenish-white, 1/6in. long, pubscent within. Drupe globose, verrucose.
Use :— The milk of the bark is applied to boils, and the juice is given to cattle in colic (Atkinson). The juice is applied medicinally in the Punjab (Stewart).
954. P. esculenta, Roxb., h.f.b.i. iv., 580 ; Roxb. 485.
Habitat : —Assam and Chittagong. A cultivated plant.
A short-stemmed entirely glabrous shrub ; branching, 6-8ft. Leaves 6J by 3in., obovate or elliptic-acuminate, sharply serrate, base entire, cuneate suddenly narrowed, sometimes very shortly cordate, mature glabrate, nerves 5 pair ; petiole ¼in., slender obscurely puberulous. Corymbs compact, nearly glabrous, 2½in. diam., short-peduncled, globose many-fid ; bracts 1/16in., linear. Calyx 1/16in., cup-shaped, obscurely puberulous ; minutely 5-toothed somewhat enlarged, more distinctly toothed in fruit. Corolla ⅛in., yellowish white, 2-tipped, throat hairy. Drupe 1/6in , globose or somewhat obovoid, usually 3-4 seeded.
Use : — The natives of Chittagong employ the leaves medicinally (Roxb.).
955. P. herbacea, Roxb. h.f.b.i., iv. 581 ; Roxb. 485.
Habitat: — Subtropical Himalaya, from Kumaon to Bhotan. S. Deccan Peninsula.
Sans. : — Bhumijambu, bhumi-jamberka. ​ Vern. : — Bhuijám (B.) ; Kada met (Santal.) ; Nála.niredu (Tel.). Gantu Bhârangi (Madras).
A small inconspicuous undershrub, produced unusually from woody rootstocks after the jungle fires. Stem hardly any. Leaves simple sessile, 4 by 2-3in., cuneate or obovate, serrate pubescent, mature pubescent on the nerves which are in 5 pair. Corymbs 1½in. diam., pubescent, somewhat dense; peduncles O-1½in. Flowers greenish white, 4-lobed. Calyx 1/10in closely pubescent, lobes ovate obtuse, sub-segmently 5- toothed. Corolla 1/6in., hairy in the throat, 4-lobed, obscurely two-lipped. Drupe ¼in. diam., globose, black when ripe, with one pyrene. Roots about as thick as a crowquill with numerous almost globular woody knots. " A good example of a plant belonging to a genus mostly represented by trees or shrubs, and which has become permanently dwarfed by continuous exposure to periodical fires" (Duthie).
Use : — A preparation of the root is given internally for rheumatism by the Santals (Revd. A Campbell .
This plant is frequently confounded with Clerodendron serratura, Spreng., the roots and stems of which are sold under the name of Bharangi. In Sanskrit, Bharangi bears the names of Bhargi, Brahmayashtika, Hangika, Bringa-ja and Vardhaka, and is described in the Nighantas as hob, bitter, pungent, and digestive; a remover of dropsy, cough, phlegm, asthma, fever, and reheumatism. The juice of the root is given with the juice of ginger and warm water in asthma, and it enters into the composition of several compound decoctions for diseases of the lungs. A confection called Bhargi-guda is prepared with a decoction of the root, and the ten drugs called Dasaraula, chebulic myrobalans, treacle, and aromatics. An oil prepared with the root is recommended for external application in the marasmus of children (Chakradatta).
The properties of P. herbacea agree much more nearly with those attributed to Bharangi in the Nighantas, than do those of Clerodendron serratum, although the latter plant is at the present time in use as Bharangi through- out the greater part of India, Dutt attributes the drug to C. Siphonanthus, but the samples we obtained from Bengal consisted of the stems of C serratum. Bombay was formerly supplied from the Circars with P. herbacea, but now uses C. serratum.
Chemical composition.— The constituents of this root resemble to a great extent those fouud in P. integrifolia. An orange-brown acid resin soluble in ether, alcohol and alkaline solutions, and traces of an alkaloid are the most important. There is a quantity of starch in the root, and an entire absence of astrigency (Pharmacographia Tndica II, pp. 68-70), ​
956. Gmelina arborea, Linn., h.f.b.l, iv 581 ; Roxb. 486.
Sans. : — Kásmari (growing in Káshmere), Sarvato-Bhadra (auspicious in every quarter), Shri-parni (fortune-leaved), Krishna-vrintaka (black stalk), Kambari (of variegated color), Hira (a plant).
Vern. : — Kúmhár gúmhár, kákódrúmbari (Hind, and Pb.) ; Gúmár, gúmbár (Beng.) ; Gambari (Nepal) ; Gomari (Ass.) ; Numbor (Lepcha) ; Bolkobak (Garo) ; Gumadi, cummi (Tam.) ; Gúmar-tek, pedda-gomru, tagumúda (Tel.) ; Shewney, kuli (Kan.) ; Kurse (Gond.) ; At-demmata (Cingh.) Shewan, Shivan (Mar.).
Habitat. — Throughout the Dekkan and Konkan, C. P., Berar, North West Himalaya, Ceylon, Chittagong, Eastern Bengal.
An unarmed deciduous tree, up to 60ft. high ; bark some-what corky, greyish outside and yellow within ; young parts covered with white mealy pubescence. Leaves 4-8in. long, broadly ovate, acuminate, entire ; upper surface glabrous when mature, lower persistently clothed with fulvous stellate hairs, base cordate or truncate and shortly cuncate ; petioles 2-3in. long, cylindric, puberulous, glandular at the top. Flowers in small usually 3-flowered cymes which are arranged along the branches of a densely fulvous-tomentose panicle, about 12in. in length ; buds clavate, angled ; bracts ⅛in. long, linear lanceolate. Calyx broadly campanulate, 1/5in. long, densely fulvous-tomentose ; teeth small, triangular, acute. Corolla 5-lobed, 1½in, long, brownish-yellow, very hairy outside ; upper lip ⅜-½in. long, deeply divided into 2 oblong obtusebes lower lip about twice as long, 3-lobed, the middle lobe much longer than the lateral ones and with a crenulate margin. Drupe ¾-lin. long, ovoid or pyriform, smooth, orange-yellow when ripe.
Uses : — In Hindu medicine, the juice of the leaves is used to remove fœtid discharges and worms from ulcers (Dutt). The fruit is officinal in the Punjab. The root is bitter, tonic, stomachic and laxative ; given in cough, rheumatism, fever and indigestion, and is said to have anthelmintic properties (Watt). ​
In Bombay, the juice of the young lea Yes is used as a demulcent in gonorrhœa, cough, etc., either alone or combined with other drugs of similar properties (Dymock).
Chemical composition.— The root reduced to fine powder lost 8.39 per cent, at 100° C. The ash amounted to 14.41 per cent., and was free from any trace of manganese.
On analysis the following results were obtained : —
| Petroleum ether extract. | 1.80 per cent. |
| Ether extract. | 21 per cent. |
| Alcoholic extract. | 4.274 per cent. |
| Aqueous extract. | 19.560 per cent. |
The petroleum ether extract consisted of a yellow viscid oil, with slight siccative properties. On standing, white grains separated, which were non- crystalline when examined microscopically. In alcohol the extract was partly soluble ; no alkaloid was present. The ether extract was yellowish-white, and contained a trace of oil ; it gave no reaction with ferric salts ; in addition to resins a trace of benzoic acid was present.
The alcoholic extract was yellow and brittle ; with water a turbid mixture was obtained, which had a bitter taste. In addition to resins, a trace of an alkaloidal principle was detected.
The aqueous extract was sweetish and slightly bitter, and easily reduced Fehling's solution on boiling.
The fruit contained butyric acid, with a trace of tartaric acid a trace of astringent matter giving a greenish coloration with ferric chloride, an alkaloid, and a white principle, non-crystalline, and neutral, with resin and saccharine matter.
The alkaloids present in the fruit and in the root appear to be identical. The amount present in each case was very small, not exceeding a trace. (Pharmacographia Indica III, 71-72).
957. G. asiatica, Linn., h.f.b.l, iv. 582 ; Roxb. 487.
Sans. : — Biddari.
Vern. : — Badhára, Nâg-phul (Hind.) ; Gannudu, Chinta ganer Chelu (Tel.) ; Nalacomul (Tam.) ; Nilak-kumizh (Tam. ) ; Challa-gummudu (Tel.) ; Nilak-kumazh (Mal.) ; Láhán shivan (Mar.).
Habitat : — Deccan Peninsula and Bengal.
Flowers appear along with young foliage. 4 upper lobes dull orange-pink, lower one lemon-yellow.
A large straggling shrub, with bright yellow flowers some-times climbing, branches frequently spinescent, at times unarmed. Bark brownish white thin. Wood hard grey. Leaves ½-1½in., ovate or obovate, frequently lobed, pubescent when young ; mature beneath, glabrous glaucescent from a coat of ​ minute round glands (C. B. Clarke). Petiole ¼in. Racemes l-2in., bracts 1/6in. caducous. Calyx 1/6in., tomentose, but with large bare glands. Corolla l½in., tomentose with glabrous glands. Drupe ¾in., long ovoid or obovoid 1-2-seeded.
Use : — Used for rheumatism, pains in the loins, and syphilitic diseases. It was known to the Portuguese under the name Rais Madre de Deas. The root was in great request in Goa as an antidote to every poison, and a remedy for every disease in former days. The roots are slightly bitter, astringent, and aromatic (Dymock). It is regarded by the Hindu doctors as a demulcent and alterative. " The leaves and young shoots of this shrub abound with a thick, viscid mucilage, which is imparted readily to cold water, which, when thus impregnated, is employed by the natives in the treatment of gonorrhœa to allay ardour urinae " (Pharm. Ind.). At the present time the root is principally employed as a demulcent for gonorrhœa and catarrh of the bladder (Watt).
958. Vitex trifolia, Linn. f., h.f.b.i., IV. 583 ; Roxb. 481.
Sans.:— Sindhuvára ; Sindhuka.
Vern.— Nishinda (B.) ; Pani-ki-sanbhálu, sambhalus (H.); Nirnochi (Tam.) ; Vavilli (Tel.) ; Lingoor (Mar.) ; Páni-ki-Sambhâlû (Dec.) ; Nira-lakki-gida (Kan.).
Habitat : — Scattered throught out India, in the tropical and sub-tropical region, from the foot of the Himalaya to Ceylon, nowhere common.
A shrub or small tree. Shoots hairy or tomentose. Leaves, opposite, 3-often 1-foliate. Leaflets sessile, pleasantly aromatic l-3in., obovate or ovate oblong sub-obtuse entire, glabrate above ; beneath tomentum of matted, scarcely stellate hairs, so close as with difficulty to be scraped off. Petiole lin. Panicles terminal penultimate axillary, closely white tomentose ; l-4in. oblong, often leafy at the base ; bracts minute, peduncles often added. Calyx ⅛-1/6in ; cup-shaped minutely 5-toothed. Corolla tomentose, lavender to blue, ⅓-½in., small tubular. Stamens 4, didynamous. Filaments hairy at the base. Drupe -1/5in. diam., black. ​ Uses : — The leaves useful in special diseases and after parturition and also in cutaneous diseases, said to regulate the bile and increase the appetite, also applied externally in enlarged spleen, contusions, sprains and rheumatism (Mukerjee).
The powdered leaves have been given with success in cases of intermittent fevers, and the flowers are prescribed with honey in fevers accompanied with vomitting and severe thirst. Pillows stuffed with the leaves of this plant are used to cure catarrh and headache. The leaves are considered useful as an external application to all rheumatic pain, sprains, etc. Fruit employed in amenorrhœa, etc. (Agra Exhibition).
Bontius speaks of it, as anodyne, diuretic and emmenagogue, and. testifies to the value of fomentations and baths prepared with it in the treatment of " Beriberi " and in the burning of the feet (Ignipedites) in natives (Ph. Ind.).
959. V. negundo, Linn., h.f.b.l, iv. 583; Roxb 482.
Sans. : — Nirgundi.
Vern. : — Sambhálú, nirgandi (Hind.); Nishinda (Beng.) ; (Venn.); Aslaq (Arab.); Sisban (Pers.); Shánbáli (Dec); Noch-chi, chinduviram, (Tam.) ; Tellavávilli Sindhuvâramu, (Tel.) ; Bill-nekki, Karlakki, lakki-gida (Kan) ; Kiyon-bhánbin (Burm.) ; Katri (Bom.); Lingoor (Alar.); Banna (Pb).
Habitat : — In the warmer zone, a universal plant throughout India. Thana district freely growing.
A small tree or shrub about 3ft. high, deciduous, strongly scented ; branchlets, underside of leaves and inflorescence clothed with short grey or white pubescence. Bark thin grey. Wood greyish white, hard. Leaves 3-5-foliate (simple and more distinctly crenate on luxuriant young shoots) with a raised line across the stem at the base of the petioles. Leaflets lanceolate, l-5in., by ⅓-1⅓in., the lowest pair smallest sessile or sub-sessile, the midpart, if present, more or less distinctly petiolulate, the odd leaflet largest and with a petiolule ⅓-3/5in., ​ long, entire or distinctly crenate above the middle, glabrescent above, grey pubescent beneath. Flowers small. Panicles upto 12in. long. Calyx 1/10-1/6in., 5-toothed. Corolla very hairy in the throat 1/5-½in., middle lobe of the lower lip the largest. Stamens 4, didynamous, exserted. (3 vary 2-4 celled, 4 ovuled ; style filiform, shortly 2-lobed. Fruit a succulent drupe supported by the more or less accrescent calyx, 1/6-¼in. diam., globose, black when ripe. Endocarp normally 4-celled (Kanjilal).
The branches are apt to be attacked by Cuscuta reflexa (Dodder), says Gamble.
Uses: — " Sanskrit writers mention two varieties of Nirgundí — that with pale blue flowers is called Sindhuvára (Vitex trifolia), and that with blue flowers is called Nirgundi. The properties of both are identical, but the latter is generally used in medicine. The root of V. Negundo is considered tonic, febrifuge and expectorant. The leaves are aromatic, tonic and vermifuge. A decoction of Nirgundí leaves is given with the addition of long pepper in catarrhal fever with heaviness of head and dullness of hearing. A pillow stuffed with the leaves of Nirgundf is placed under the head for relief of head-ache. The juice of the leaves is said to have the property of removing foetid discharges and worms from ulcers. An oil prepared with the juice of the leaves is applied to sinuses and scrofulous sores " (Hindu Mat. Med.). Dr. Fieming remarks that the leaves are discutient, and are useful in dispersing swellings of joints from acute rheumatism and of the testes from suppressed gonorrhœa. The people of Mysore are in the habit of treating febrile, catarrhal and rheumatic affections by means of a vapour bath prepared with this plant. Roxburgh also mentions the use of the decoction of the leaves as a bath in the puerperal state of women in India, and Ainslie states that the Mahomedans smoke the dried leaves for the relief of headache and catarrh. The dried fruit acts as a vermifuge (Pharm. Ind ),
Dr. Hove (1787) states that the Europeans in Bombay call it the fomentation shrub, and that it is used in the hospitals ​ there as a foment in contractions of the limbs occasioned by the land winds. In the Concan, the juice of the leaves with that of Máká (Eclipta alba) and Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) is extracted, and Ajwán seeds are bruised and steeped in it, and given in doses of six massas for rheumatism. The juice in half tolá closes with ghi and black pepper is also given, and in splenic enlargement 2 tolás of the juice with 2 tolás of cow's urine is given every morning (Dymock).
Chemical composition. — The leaves contain principally an essential oil and a resin. The oil possesses the odour of the drug and is neutral and almost colourless. The resin dissolves in alkaline solutions with a reddish-brown colour, softens below 40° C, and gives off aromatic vapours when heated. A tincture of the drug gives a green colour with ferric chloride. The ash of the air-dried leaves amounts to 7-75 per cent.
The fruits contain an acid resin, an astringent organic acid giving a green colour with ferric salts and a precipitate with gelatine, malic acid, traces of an alkaloid and colouring matter. The fruits previously dried at 100° gave 6-8 per cent, of ash (Pharmacog Indica. III. 75).
960, V. peduncularis, Wall.,Var. Roxburghiana, h.f.b.i., iv. 587 ; Roxb. 482.
Vern. : — Boruna ; Goda (B) ; Osai (Ass.) ; Bhadu, marak, (Santal) ; Karwru (Magh.) ; Hila-anwal (Cachar) ; Shelangri, (Garo) ; Navaládi (Kan.).
Habitat: — Behar, at Parasnath, E. Bengal and Khasia Terai.
A middle-sized or large deciduous tree, 20-40 ft. Bark thick. Wood purplish or reddish grey, hard, close-grained youngest shoots minutely grey pubescent, branchlets, petioles, and leaves glabrous. Leaves 3 foliate. Leaflets 4½ by lin., acuminate, lanceolate ; mature glabrate above, densely covered by minute shining yellow resinous glands beneath, midrib sometimes puberulous ; petiolule of the middle leaflet 1/6-⅓in. Petiole 2-4 in., slender or sometimes slightly winged. Peduncles 3-4in., from the penultimate axils. Panicles often 6-8 by 2in., open. Bracts 1/12in, linear. Calyx 1/10in., grey-pubescent sub-truncate, Corolla, 1/5in., grey-pubescent lower lip longer than the tube. Drupe 1/5in. diam., cuboid globose, There are ​ shining resinous glands on the corolla ; and calyx also. Flower yellowish or greenish white.
Use: — In Chutia Nagpur, the bark is used for making an external application for pains in the chest (Revd. A. Campbell).
961. V. glabrata, Br. h.f.b.i., iv. 588.
Vern.: — Goda, horina, ashwal (Beng.) ; Luki neva-ledi (Tel.); Sengenit karril (Kan.) ; Tokra (Magh.) ; Sherasa (Mar.); Htouksha (Burm.) ; Sheras ; Longarbisthiras (Bom.).
Habitat : — From S. Assam and Cachar to Deccan Peninsula.
A large deciduous tree ; wood grey, handsome, with a satiny lustre, moderately hard, close-grained, durable. Youngest shoots slightly fulvous-tomentose or woolly. Leaves almost glabrous, mostly 5-3 foliate. Leaflets 5 by 2½in., ovate or oblong, subentire, acute or cuneate at both ends, entire, rarely toothed, mature with scattered appressed minute hairs beneath, younger very softly hairy or subtomentose. Petiolules ¼-¾in., upperside without resinous glands. Petiole l-4in., not winged. Peduncles long or often short. Cymes dichotomous. Flowers somewhat numerous, mostly shortly pedicelled ; bracts inconspicuous. Calyx 1/10in., minutely toothed, usually glabrous in the lower, hairy in the upper part. Corolla ⅓-½in. long, white and purple, tomentose, " ochroleucous," says C. B. Clarke, which means yellowish white or buff ; further Mr. Clarke adds thus : — " Lowest segments much the largest, hairy blue-purple." Filaments minutely hairy. Pistil glabrous. Drupe ⅓-½in. long, succulent, obovoid.
Use : — The bark and root are used as astringents.
962. Clerodendron inerme, Gœrtn., h.f.b.i., iv. 589 ; Roxb. 477.
Sans. : — Kshudrâgnimantha, kundali.
Vern. : — Sang-kuppí, síng-kúpi, lán-jai (H.); Bun-jumat, bun-join, bonjoi, bán-jai, ban-juen, batraj (B.) ; Vanajâi (Bom.) and Mar.) ; Isandhári, sangkupi (Duk.) ; Shengan-kuppi, pina-shengam-kuppi, shangam-kupi, pinari (Tam.) ; Pishinika, uti ​ chettu, písangi, pisingha, tak-kolapu-chettu, nalla-kupi, erupichecha eti-pisi-nika, peunika, eru puchcha (Tel.). Vishamadhâri, Kundali (Kan) ; Nirvochchi (Mal).
Habitat : — India and Ceylon, near the sea, from Bombay to Tenasserim.
A straggling almost scandent evergreen shrub, 3-7ft. Young shoots minutely grey-pubescent. Leaves opposite, rarely ternate, dark green, ¾-1½in. entire elliptic or ovate, nearly coriaceous, base cuneate young somewhat grey pubescent. Petiole 1/6-⅓in. long. Flowers showy white, in axillary pedunculate 3-9-fid. cymes. Bracts 1/30in. linear, pedicels ⅓-½in. Calyx grey puberulous or glabrate. Corolla tube ¾in. long, ⅓in. broad, pear-shaped, spongy hardly succulent, smooth hardly sulcate. Separating into 4 long woody pyrenes.
Uses : — Ainslie says the juice of the leaves and root is considered alterative in scrofulous and veneral affections, the dose being a tablespoonful with or without a little castor oil. Rheede speaks of the use of the dried leaves for the same purpose, and of a poultice, of the leaves to resolve buboes ; he also says a bath prepared with them is used in mania, while the root boiled in oil affords a liniment useful in rheumatism. The Malays and Macassars administer the berries or the root to people poisoned by eating unwholesome fish ; the leaves smeared with oil are heated over the fire and applied to recent wounds ; they are also one of the leaves used for preparing the green rice of the Malays. In Bombay the plant has a great reputation as a febrifuge ; the juice of the leaves is used in doses of half an ounce. It is mucilaginous, very bitter, somewhat saline, and with a fragrant, apple-like odour.
The medicinal properties of C. inerme closely resemble those of Chiretta. The dried leaves have been found to be quite as efficient as the juice of the fresh plant ; they should be dried in the shade to preserve their aroma, and may be administered in decoction with aromatics, or powdered and made into pills. A tincture has also been found to be an efficient preparation. — (Dymock). ​1004 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.
Chemical composition.— A proximate analysis of the leaves gave the following results :—
| Etherial extract | 4.77 |
| Alcoholic extract | 5.70 |
| Aqueous extract | 15.54 |
| Alkline extract | 11.41 |
| Organic residue | 50.06 |
| Inorganic residue | 6.44 |
| Moisture residue | 6.01 |
| Total | 100.00 |
| Ash soluble in water | 44.14 |
| Ash soluble in acid | 47.10 |
| sand and silicates | 8.76 |
| Total | 100.00 |
| Sodium chloride in ash | 24.01 |
The bitter principle is entirely removed by ether, and the subsequent treatment by alcohol and water affords extracts which are free from any bitterness.
The dual nature of the bitter principle seems to show a very remarkable resemblance with that found in Chiretta (Swertia Chirata), a gentianaceous plant.
The leaves, when distilled with water, yield a stearopten-like body having the fruity flavour of the fresh plant. The ether extract was fragrant, green, and of a greasy consistence. The alcoholic extract contained some resinous matter, and much of the salt, which was left as cubical crystals when evaporated. Water dissolved out gum and brown colouring matter. Neither tannin nor starch was present in the leaves. They left on gentle incineration as much as 15.29 per cent, of ash, and the large amount of salt in this ash indicates the habitat of the plant as being in close proximate to the sea, (Hooper, in Pharm. Record, Aug. 1st, 1888).
963. C. phlomoides, Linn., h,f.b.i., iv. 590; Roxb. 477.
Sans. : — Váta-ghni.
Vern. : — Urin, pírun (H.) ; Panjot (Santal) ; Gharayt (Sind.) ; Irun, arni (Guz.); Airan (Bom.); Airanmula (Mar.); Talúdalel, taludala, vatamadakki (Tam.) ; Telaki, nellie, tekkali, teleki, tilaka (Tel.).
Habitat : — From the N.-W. Himalaya Terai to Ceylon, general in the drier climates, extending to Behar and Orissa (not to Bengal). Ratnagiri and Thana Districts (K.R.K.). ​ A small tree, up to 30ft. high, or large pubescent semiscandent shrub. Bark light brown thin smooth. Wood grey hard close-grained. Branches cinereous. Leaves small l½-2½in. long, ovate or rhomboid more or less sinuate-crenate, often broader han long, truncate subcordate at base, often apiculate, undulate, rather thick puberulous beneath. Petiole ½-lin. pubescent. Flowers white or pink, fragrant, moderate-sized on slender pubescent pedicels ; cymes small, axillary, dichotomous combined to form a rounded terminal panicle. Bracts small leafy, oblong, obtuse, mucronate. Calyx large, over ⅜in., segment cut fully half way, ovate acuminate, glabrous, veiny.Corolla-tube lin., slightly pubescent outside, lobes ⅓in., very nearly equal, oval or elliptic- obtuse. Drupe, not seen, says Trimen Dry, ⅓-½in. long separating in 4 pyrenes, says Brandis, slightly succulent, says C. B. Clarke.
N. B. — The specific name is given by Trimen as C. Phlomides, Linn f. He says it is incorrectly given as C. Phlomoides (K.R.K.).
Mr. H. H. Haines, I. F. S. gives Safed tekar as its Marathi name, and mentions a variety of it as Var. Donaldi, and gives Kala tekar , as its Marathi name. He says the ' Safed tekar ' is used in native medicine, but not the ' Kala tekar,' which is distinguished by the following characteristics :— Leaves attaining 3.25" (while those of 'safed tekar' only reach 175"), glabrous, membranous, with a cuneate base (type pubescent on both sides). Calyx .25" in flower and enlarged calyx as long as lobes of fruit only, which is .3 " long (in ' safed tekar ' the sepals are acuminate and are at least .12" longer than the fruit), glabrous, deltoid apiculate. Corolla .75" long (The Indian Forester, Aug., 1914, p. 402).
Uses : — In Bombay, the root is used as a bitter tonic, and is given in the convalescence of measles (S. Arjun). In Southern India, the juice of the leaves is given in neglected syphilitic complaints in doses of half an ounce or more twice daily (Ainslie). The Santals rub the plant over their bodies in dropsy and give it to their cattle to cure them of diarrhœa and worms or when the stomach swells (Campbell).
964. C. serratum, Spreng. h.f.b.l, iv. 592.
Syn. : — Volkameria serrata. Linn. Roxb 479.
Sans. : — Barbara
Vern. : — Barangi (H.) ; Ban-bakri ( Jaunsar) ; Chúa (Nepal) ; Yi (Lepcha); Chirudekku (Tam.) ; Brahmari mari (Tel.) ; Bharang, bharangi or Bhángrá (Bomb.) ; Bháranga-mula, mula-root (Mar) ; Bharurgi (Guz.). ​ Habitat : — From the Himalaya, east of the Sutlej to Ceylon ; frequent ; very common in Bengal, also in Thana and Ratnagiri Districts.
A handsome shrub. Stem 4-8 ft. slightly branched, quadrangular. Bark yellow. Rootstock woody thick, perennial annually shooting up fresh herbaceous stems. Youngest shoots and inflorescence pubescent, (Brandis) Young parts glabrous, says Trimen from Ceylon. Leaves large 4-8 in., passing bracts above, oval ovate-oval acute at both ends, very coarsely and sharply serrate, glabrous, petiole very short stout. Flowers large on short stout compressed, pubescent, deflexed pedicels. Cymes numerous, lax, pubescent, dichotomous, with a pair of acute bracts at each branching and a flower in the fork, each in axil of a large leafy bract, and collectively forming a long, lax, terminal erect panicle 6-10in. long. Calyx 1/6in. long, cup-shaped, puberulous, segments very short broadly triangular, ciliolate. Corolla- tube short, ¼-⅜in, somewhat inflated, oblique at mouth, upper and lateral lobes ½in., broadly oval, flat, spreading, lowest one (lip) ¾in. long, very concave deflexed ; filaments much curved, hairy at base. Fruit a drupe about ¼in. long, depressed, somewhat succulent, normally 4-lobed, with a pyrene in each lobe (1-3 often suppressed). The leaves have a faint scent. Corolla with posterior and lateral lobes pale-blue, anterior one dark bluish-purplish (Trimen). Fruit purple black (C. B. Clarke). Flowers bluish white, fruit black (Kanjilal).
Uses : — The root is used by natives in febrile and catarrhal affections (Ph. Ind.) It is said to be good in malarial fevers by the people of Ratnagiri where the tender leaves are eaten also as vegetable by the power classes of Hindus (K.R. Kirtikar).
Leaves boiled with oil and butter made into an ointment useful in cephalalgia and ophthalmia. The seeds bruised and boiled in butter milk used as aperient and in dropsy (Drury).
The authors of the Pharmacographia Indica write : —
{{smaller|" From enquiries we have made there is no doubt that this plant is largely used in many parts of India as a substitute for Premna herbacea, the true Gantu Bhárangi, but if we regard the root of C. serratum as the true Bhárangi, and the root of P. herbacea as the Gantu (or knotted Bhárangi,) ​ there will be no confusion. C. serratum has a light-coloured root, very often contorted, and seldom more than an inch in diameter. A light brown epidermis and thin bark cover the tough woody portion, which shows well-marked medullary rays and concentric rings. The drug contains much starch, it is faintly bitter, and has no peculiar odour. The young tops and light blue flowers are used as a vegetable by the natives.
The root of C. serratum did not yield anything of great activity when examined chemically, which proves that there is little to recommend it as a medical agent."
965. C. infortunatum, Gœrtn., h.f.b.l, iv. 594.
Syn : — Volkameria infortunata, Roxb. 478.
Vern. :— Bhant, bhat (Hind.); Chitu (Nepal); Kadung (Lepcha) ; Lukunah (Mechi) ; Khaoung-gyee (Burm.); Peragoo (Mal.) ; Barangi (Punj.) ; Bakada (Tel.) ; Karu (Dehra Dun).
Habitat: — Very common in the warm region throughout India, from Gurhwal and Assam to Ceylon.
A shrub or small slender tree often gregarious 4-10ft. branchlets bluntly quadrangular, yellowish or white villous silky pubescent upwards.. Petioles, underside of leaves inflorescence slightly pubescent. Leaves large, 4-6in., ovate, cordate or rounded at base, acuminate, acute or sub-acute, entire, thinly hairy on both sides, especially on the veins beneath, somewhat 3-nerved from base, venation prominent beneath. Petiole l½-3in., Cylindric, pubescent. Flowers large, white pink-tinged, on rather long pedicels, cymes stalked, in large lax, pyramidal pubescent panicles. Bracts leafy, deciduous. Calyx ½in., silky pubescent, very much enlarged in fruit, segments deep, lanceo- late, very acute. Corolla-tube about 1in., slender, lobes, large, ½in., oblong, obtuse. Drupe fin. nearly globose, succulent, purplish black, shining, seated in centre of the very much enlarged, spreading, succulent bright pink Calyx, l½in. diam., pyrene usually solitary brittle (Trimen).
Uses: — "Dr. Bholanauth Bose calls attention to the leaves as a cheap and efficient substitute for chiretta as a tonic and antiperiodic. The fresh juice of the leaves is stated by Mr. Kanny Lall Dey to be employed by the natives as a vermifuge, and also as a bitter tonic and febrifuge in malarious fevers, especially in those of children " (Ph. Ind.). The leaves and ​ root are employed externally for tumors and certain skin diseases (Ph. J. July 25, 1885, p. 87). The bark is also employed by Indian and Arabian physicians (Balfour). " The expressed juice is an excellent laxative, cholagogue and anthelmintic. It is used as an injection into the rectum in cases of ascarides. It is also a valuable bitter tonic, and the natives believe that its presence cures scabies in the locality " (Dr. Thornton, in Watt's Dictionary).
Chemical composition.— Approximate analysis of the leaves gave the following result :—
| Ethereal extract | 10.81 |
| Alcoholic extract | 16.40 |
| Aqueous extract | 15.20 |
| Alkaline extract | 8.97 |
| Organic residue | 38.47 |
| Inorganic residue | 5.93 |
| Moisture residue | 4.22 |
| Total | 100.00 |
| Ash soluble in water | 16.83 |
| Ash soluble in acid | 72.86 |
| Sand and silicates | 10.30 |
| Total | 100.00 |
| Sodium chloride in ash | 5.58 |
The leaves of C. inforunatum yielded no volatile constituent when boiled with water. The ether extract contained a quantity of resinous matter, and gave up the bitter principles when heated with water ; the extract was of a less fatty consistence than that from the C. inerme leaves. The spirituous extract was also much larger than in the previous sample, and was differently constituted, i asmuch as it almost entirely consisted of a taunin, giving a green colour with ferric chloride. These leaves contain much more soluble organic matter than the former, but the percentage composition of the ash shows that the soluble inorganic salts are much smaller. The ash of these leaves amounted to 12.3 per cent (Hooper, in Pharm. Record, Aug. 1st, 1888).
966, C. siphonanthus, Br., h.f.b.l, iv. 595.
Syn. : — Siphonanthus indica, Willd. Roxb. 481.
Sans. : — Brahma yastika.
Vern. : — Barangi ; Arnah and Ami (H.) ; Bamanhati (B.) ; Arnii, dawá-i-mubarak, arnah (Pb.) ; Bhârangî (Bomb.) ; Sarum enter (Dec). ​ Habitat : — From Sikkim and Assam to Tenasserim frequent, Mts. of S. Deccan Peninsula ; Kumaon, wild.
A glabrous shrub 4-8ft., branches virgate. Stems herbaceous, fluted, hollow. Leaves in whorls of 3-5, 6-9 by 1-l½in., narrow lanceolate, subentire glabrous, rather hard, base tapering. Petiole 0-1/6in. Flowers white, fading into yellow, in rigid terminal panicles, 9-18in. long. Pedicels ½-1½in. Calyx ½in. long, divided ¾ way down dark red and enlarged in fruit. Segments oblong, acute. Corolla-tube 3-4 by 1/10in., drooping ; lobes ½-⅔in., oblong-ovate. Corolla glabrous, white. Drupe ovoid, dark-blue, about ½in. long, supported by the spreading red Calyx.
Uses : — " The root considered useful in asthma, cough and scrofulous affections " (Dutt). The wood is slightly bitter and astringent and the resin employed in syphilitic rheumatism (Baden-Powell). The expressed juice of the leaves and tender branches is used with ghî, as an application in herpetic eruptions and pemphigus. The branches cut into small pieces and threaded like heads, are put on the necks of children suffering from these diseases as a charm, and it is believed by the natives that the smell of this plant is sufficient to cure these diseases (Dr. Thornton, in Watt's Dictionary).
967. Avicennia officinalis, Linn., h.f.b.i, iv. 604.
Syn. : — A. tomentosa, Facy. Roxb. 487.
Vern. : — Bina (B. and H.) ; Timmer, cheria (Sind) ; Tivar (M.) ; Nalla-mada, Mada-chettu (Tel.) ; Upputti (Mal.)
Habitat : — Common in the mangrove swamps of the Deccan Peninsula. Also in the swamps near Bombay and Kurla, (K.R.K.)
A large evergreen shrub or tree attaining 20ft., and a great girth, found in salt marshes, coast and tidal forests of India, Ceylon, Burma, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sundarbans, often gregarious. " This tree, like other mangroves," says Gamble, " has the property of sending out very numerous ​ leafless blind root suckers which are believed to assist in respiration in the same way as lenticels do." Sometimes the suckers produce leaves and grow up into bushes. Bark greyish -brown, thin. Wood brown or grey, hard, in alternate layers of pore-bearing tissue and loose large-celled tissue without pores. The former layer shows the large moderate-sized or small pores in radial strings of 1 to 5 between the fine short medullary rays ; the latter is much narrower and darker, forming belts which occasionally join each other, so that the layers are clearly not annual growth (Gamble). Branchlets, petiols underside of leaves and inflorescence clothed with a dense white silvery tomentum of very minute hairs. Leaves obovate or elliptic-obtuse, 3½ by 1½., base tapering, at times glabrate beneath. Flowers yellow, sessile, in bracteate heads (contracted cymes) which are arranged in trichotomous corymbs. Calyx ⅛in., minutely pubescent, divided to the base into 5 imbricate sepals, corolla tubular glabrate, ¼in. lobes, 4 ovate acute or one lobe shortly bifid or lobes 5, subequal (not rarely all forms on one bush). Stamens 4, in the throat of the tube, another cells parallel. Ovary hairy, imperfectly 4-celled, ovules 4, suspended from a central 4-winged placenta, style short, distinct, sometimes as long as the ovary. Capsule lin., compressed, dehiscing into two thick valves. Seed one, cotyledons large, folded lengthwise, hypocotyl (radicle) villous ; the seed often germinates before it falls (Brandis).
Uses : — The roots possess aphrodisiac properties. The unripe seeds are used as poultice to hasten suppuration of boils and abscesses. It is used for small-pox in Madras. " The bark is astringent" (Watt's Diet. I. 361.)
N. 0. LABIATÆ.
968, Ocimum canum, Sims., h.f.b.i., iv. 607 ; Roxb. 463 (under 0. album).
Sans. : — Âjaka, gambhiram, tiksnamânu gandhapanirjjak.
Vern. : — Bharbhari (Santal) ; Kukka tulasi (Tel.) ; Ganjam-korai (Tam.) ; Nâyitulasi, Râmatulasi (Kan.) ; Káttu-ramatulasi (Mal.).
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