Indian Medicinal Plants/Natural Order Myrtaceæ
N. 0. MYRTACEÆ.
500. Myrtus communis, Linn, h. f.b.i., ii. 462.
Vern. :— Vilâyati mehndi, mûrad (H.); Sutr-sowa, fruit; hab-ul-âs (Arab.)
Habitat : — Cultivated in India. This is the common myrtle, extensively grown in India. The leaves are extensively used by the European Jews in their religious ceremonials and by the Natives of India of all kinds for medicinal purposes. It extends from the south of Europe, especially the Mediterranean region, as far as Afghanistan and Baluchistan. In Bombay, it is a small shrubby plant, grown in gardens in pots and tubs.
The leaves are fragrant, opposite, sometimes ternate, ovate, smooth. of a beautiful green colour, glandular and persistent, with short petioles. Flowers axillary, 5-petulous, white, succeeded by a purple berry the size of a pea. (P. 333, The Bengal Dispensary, 0. Shaughnessy 1841, Calcutta.)
Uses :— In Upper India, the leaves are considered useful in cerebral affections, especially epilepsy, also in dyspepsia, and diseases of the stomach and liver. A decoction is employed as a mouth-wash in cases of apthæ. The fruit is carminative, and is given in diarrhœa, dysentery, hæmorrhage, internal ulceration and rheumatism. The seeds, ground and mixed with antimony, are used to color the eye-lids (Watt).
" The essential oil of the leaves has been esteemed in France as a disinfectant and useful antiseptic, also used in the Paris hospitals, in certain affections of the respiratory organs and the bladder, and recommended as a local application in rheumatic affections" (Pharm. Journ., March 30, 1889 : p. 782).
501 . Melaleuca leucadendron, Linn, h.f.b.i ii. 465, Roxb. 591.
Vern. r-Kâyâputi (H.) ; Cajuputte, ilachie (B.); ; Kâyâkuti (Bomb.); Cajupûta (Mar.) ; Kijapûte, kayâpute (Tam.)
Habitat:— Cultivated in India. A middle-sized evergreen tree. Bark white, thick, spongy, peeling off in papery flakes. Wood reddish brown, hard ; branches slender, pendulous. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, lanceolate, more or less oblique, 2-5in. long, tapering into a short petiole, with 3-7 distinct longitudinal nerves. Flowers yellowish-white, sessile in erect axillary spikes, 2-6in. long, the rachis generally prolonged and leaf-bearing. Stamens numerous, the filaments united at their base into 5 bundles, inserted opposite to the petals. Ovary half-inferior, enclosed in the Calyx- tube. Capsule loculicidaily 3-valved. Yields the Cajuput oil of commerce (Brandis).
Use : — The oil is used in medicine as a stimulant and diaphoretic (Gamble) ; it is used as an external application for rheumatism (Dymock).
It is antispasmodic; and, when externally applied, acts as rubefacient. It is also regarded as a powerful sudorific (Watt). The oil is officinal in British and Indian Pharmacopœias.
502. Psidium Guyava, Linn, h.f.b.i., ii. 468, Roxb. 396.
Var. pyriferum, Linn, (sp.), and pomiferum, Linn, (sp.)
Eng : — The guava tree.
Vern. :— Amrût, amrûd (Hind.) ; Piyara (Beng.) ; Amuk (Nepal.); Mcdharian (Ass.); Segapu (Tam.); Jama koia (Tel.); Lâl-jam, sûfêd-jam (Dec) ; Tâmbadâ-peru, Pândharâ-peru (Bomb.)
Habitat :— A native of Tropical America and the West Indies originally ; now quite naturalized all over India, Burma, Ceylon ; almost wild.
A small evergreen tree or large shrub, 20-30ft. Girth 2-3ft. pubescent on the young branches. Bark smooth, thin, greenish grey, epidermis greybrown, peeling off in thin paper-like flakes (K. R. K.) Wood greyish brown, moderately hard, even-grained. Leaves opposite, oblong to ovate, on a very short petiole 1/6-⅓in. usually acuminate or almost blunt, 3-5 or 6in. long, glabrescent above, adpressed pubescent beneath, lateral nerves 15-20. pair, prominent parallel and very strong, with conspicuous transversal veins and net venation between. Flowers rather large, 1½ in, across, solitary or by 2-3 or ½-2in. long, pubescent peduncles, arising either solitary or rarely by 2-3 from the axils the leaves ; " fragrant," says Kurz (Flora of Burma, Vol II, 477 ; not so in Bombay (K. R. K.) Bractlets under the Calyx 2, subulate. Calyx-tube ovoid or globular, densely puberulous, the lobes broadly ovate, acute, nearly as long as the adnate part ; petals broad, fully ½ in. diam. Fruit a large berry. The largest fruit I have seen is from Allahabad (K. R. K.), 4in. in diam ; ordinarily of the size of an apple or pear, fleshy, many-seeded, crowned by the Calyx-limb ; when fully ripe, yellow and glossy. Pulp pinkish or white, edible, acid sweet.
Var. Pyriferum (P. pyriferum Linn). Peduncles 1 -flowered ; fruit pear-shaped.
Var. 2 pomiferum (P. pomiferum, Linn) : Peduncles usually 2-flowered, with a third flower in the fork ; fruits globular or ovoid.
Uses:— -The bark of the root of Var. pyriferum is valued for its astringent properties, and has been employed with success in the diarrhœa of children. It is generally administered in the form of a decoction. The decoction serves a good deal in the prolapsus ani of children. The young leaves are used as a tonic in the diseases of the digestive functions. The bark of the Var. Pomiferum possesses similar properties. The decoction of the leaves has been used in cholera with some success, in arresting vomiting and diarrhœa (Pharm. Ind.).
The leaves when chewed are said to be a remedy in tooth ache.
An oil from the leaves is of a lemon-yellow colour, and has a faint aromatic odour ; Sp Gr. at 15° C, 0.9157 ; AD = — 10°5' (100mm.); ND20=1.49638 ; acid value, 2.0; ester value, 6.4 ; soluble in about 10 volumes of 90 per cent, alcohol.
[Schimmel's Report, April 1910, p. 123).
The leaves have the percentage composition: — resin, 3.15,; fat, 5.99 ; volatile oil, 0.865 ; chlorophyll, 0.395 ; tannin, 9.15 ; mineral salts, 3.95 ; cellulose, 77.
The citron-yollow aromatic resin dissolves easily in chloroform, ether, or alcohol, melts at 189° and has the iodine number 115, acid number 89, and saponification number 131. Akalis colour it yellowish-red, and strong sulphuric acid produces a brown mass. The fat is yellowish green, has a pleasant aromatic odour, and dissolves completely in chloroform, partially in ether or alcohol ; it melts at 235°, and has iodine number 199, acid number 95, and saponification number 137.
The greenish-yellow volatile oil contains eugenol and dissolves in chloroform, ether, or alcohol ; it boils at 237° and has a sp. gr. 1.069. Sulphuric acid colours it dark green, and bromine vapor orange-yellow. The tannin forms a brown amorphous powder, soluble in water and alcohol, giving a black precipitate with iron salts and reducing alkaline copper solution after boiling with dilute sulphuric acid. Calcium and manganese are present in the plant in combination with phosphoric, oxalic, and malic acids, (J. Ch. S. 1905 A I. 192).
503. Eugenia jambos, Linn, 474, Roxb. 401.
Vern. : — Gulâb-jâmân (H.) ; Gulâb-jamb (B.) ; Golâpjam (Uriya); Jamu (Sind.) ; Jâmb (Deccan) ; Malle-nerale, pannerale (Coorg) ; Pannerali (Kan.)
Habitat : — East Indies.
A middle-sized tree. Wood brown, rather soft, with fairly regular, wavy, concentric lines of loose texture Leaves thinly coriaceous, oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, narrowed towards both ends; blade 4-7in., petiole ¼in., secondary nerves and intra-marginal veins slender, but distinct. Flowers greenish-white, 2-3in. across, in short terminal corymbs ; composed of 2-4 pair of opposite flowers, those of the uppermost pair often opening first. Calyx-tube obconical, ½in. long ; stamens l¾in. long, pedicel often as long as Calyx-tube. Fruit globose or pear-shaped, l½-3in. long, yellow or pink ; edible, having the faint flavour of rose.
Use:— In Bhamo, Upper Burma, the leaves are boiled and used as a medicine for sore eyes (Watt).
504. E. operculata, Roxb. h.f.b.l, II. 498, Roxb. 398.
Vern. : — Rai-jaman, piaman, jamawa, dugdugia, thuti (H.) ; Topa (Kol.); Totonopak (Santa!.); Boteejam (Chittagong).
Habitat:— Sub-Himalayan forests, from the Jumna to Assam, Oudh and Gorakhpur forests ; Cachar and Chittagong. A large or moderate-sized evergreen tree. Leaves turning red in the cold season. Bark, grey or light brown, rough, with irregular hard scales, leaving cavities when they exfoliate. Wood reddish grey, hard, rough (Gamble). Branch lets subterete or 4-ginous. Leaves 3-8 by 2-4in., opposite, subcoriaceous, soft, dots often black (in the dried specimens), rarely pellucid, broadly ovate or elliptic-rounded at the apex, or obtusely acuminate, narrowed below ; lateral nerves 8-12 pair, prominent beneath, gradually fainter towards the margin, curving into a faint intra- marginal vein. Petiole ½-¾in., or even lin. Flowers tetramerous, small, greenish, odorous, subsessile. Cymes arranged in trichotomous lateral panicles below the current year's leaves, "mostly from scars of fallen leaves" (Duthie). Peduncles long, acutely-angled.. Calyx campanulate, with short obtuse lobes, or nearly truncate. Petals united and falling off in one piece (operculum). Berry globose or ovoid, ¼-½in., rugose, juicy, edible.
Part used :— The fruit, root, leaves and bark.
Use : — The fruit is eaten for rheumatism, the root, boiled down to the consistence of gur, is applied to the joints by rubbing ; the leaves are much used in dry fomentation ; the bark is also employed medicinally (Revel. A. Campbell, in Watt's Dictionary).
505. E. Jambolana, Lam. h.f.b.i., ii. 499, Roxb. 398.
Syn. : — Sizygium Jambolanum, D. C.
Sans. : — Jamboo.
Vern. : — Jâman, jâm, jâmun (H.) ; Kâlâjâm (B,); Chambu (Garo) ; Jamu (Ass.); Naval, naga (Tarn.); Nasodu, nairuri (Tel.); Jâmbûl (Bomb.) ; Jaâmbûra (Guz.)
Habitat : — Common throughout the plains of India.
A large evergreen tree, usually with a rather crooked stem and many branches. Bark lin. thick, light grey, with large patches of darker colour, smooth, with shallow depressions caused by exfoliation. Wood reddish grey, rough, moderately hard, darker near the centre, no distinct heartwood. Leaves, coriaceous, elliptic, or elliptic-lanceolate; blade 3-6in., petiole ½-1in. long; secondary nerves numerous, slender, closely parallel. Flowers whitish, scented, sessile, in compound dichotomous cymes on the previous year's wood, rarely axillary. Calyx-tube turbinate, 1/9-¼in. long, base short, cylindrical, limb almost truncate, segments very short. Petals united in a calyptra. Stamens as long as the Calyx-tube. Fruit ½-1½in. long, pink while ripening, beautifully purple almost to black when fully ripe, luscious, juicy, astringent to taste, but very agreeable when eaten quite ripe.
Parts used : — The bark, leaves, fruits and seeds.
Use:— The bark is astringent, and is used alone or in combination with other medicines of its class, in the preparation of astringent decoctions, gargles and washes. The fresh juice of the bark is given with goat's milk in the diarrhœa of children. The expressed juice of the leaves is used alone or in combination with other astringents in dysentery (Dutt).
The author of the Makhzan says that the fruit is useful astringent in bilious diarrhœa, and makes a good gargle for sore throat or lotion for ringworm of the head. The root and seeds are useful astringents, also the leaves. He tells us that a kind of wine is made from the fruit, and that the juice of the leaves dissolves iron filings, or, as he expresses it, reduces them to so light a condition that they float upon the surface of the liquid as a scum. This, when collected and washed, he recommends as a tonic and astringent (Dymock).
A vinegar, prepared from the juice of the ripe fruit, is an agreeable stomachic and carminative ; it is also used as a diuretic.
Recently the seeds have been used in diabetes.
{{{1}}} about 335°C, whilst the pentabenzoyl derivative is colourless, and melts at 333°0. No substance of a glucosidic nature was found in the seeds.— J. Ch. I, November 15, 1912, p. 1052.
The phenolic substance isolated from jatnbul seeds (this J. 1912, 1051) which was named " Jambulol," and which has also been detected in Chinese rhubarb (Chem. Soc. Trans. 1911, 99, 962 and Proc. 1912. 28. 96), and in Euphorbia pilulifera (this J. 1913, 505) has since been identified as ellagic acid C14H2O4 (O H.) 4— A. S. J. Ch. I., August 30, 1913, p. 840.
506. Barringtonia racemosa, Blume, h.f.b.i., ii. 507. Roxb. 445.
Vern:— Ijjal (H.) ; Samudra-phal (B.) ; Nivar (Concan) ; Samudra (Cuddapah) ; Samutra-pullam (Tam.) ; Samudra-pao, Sam-stravadi (Mal.)
Habitat : — On the sea coasts, Concan.
A moderate-sized evergeen tree, attaining 50ft., glabrous. Wood white, very soft, porous. It is a handsome tree, planted on the road sides in Colombo^ for ornament. It is found on the west coast, from the Concan southwards near rivers and back waters, also inland. Leaves lightly crenate-denticulate, cuneate- oblong ovate or oblanceolate, 10 by 3in., narrowed into a very short petiole ⅛-¼in. long. Racemes 12-18in., pendulous ; flowers cream-coloured, 2½in. across, distant. Pedicels ⅛-¼in. Calyx- tube ⅜in., ovate, closed in the bud, broadly funnel-shaped ; segments 2-3, irregular. Filaments often crimson. Fruit ovoid, 2-2½in. long, obscurely quadrangular below when quite ripe ; in ripening, attaining nearly its full length before one-third its full breadth. Exocarp very thick, fibrous.
Uses :— The root resembles Cinchona in medicinal virtues. It has de-obstruent and cooling properties. The fruit is efficacious in coughs, asthma and diarrhoea. The seeds are used in colic and ophthalmia (Watt).
The kernels of the drupes with milk, given in jaundice and other bilious diseases. The seeds are aromatic ; used also in parturition (T. N. Mukerji).
The pulverised fruit is used as a snuff, and combined with other remedies, is applied externally in diseases of the skin (Treasury of Botany.)
507. B. acutangula, Gaertn. Template:Sc h.f.b.i., ii. 508; Roxb. 440.
Habitat: — Very common, from the Himalaya throughout India ; no tree is more plentiful in the plains of Bengal.
Vern. :— Hijgal, samundar-phal, panniari, ingar (H) ; Hijal samandar (B.); Kinjolo (Uriya) ; Hindol (Ass.); Ijar (Monghyr) Hinjal (Santal) ; Saprung (Kol.) ; Batta, kurpâ, kadamic (Tel.) Hole kanva (Kan.) ; Ingar, ijal, samundar-phal, kana-pachethi (Bomb.) ; Piwar, newar, tiwar, datte-phal (Mar.); Samudra phula (Cutch) ; Niwar (Concan) ; Sjeria-samstravadi (Mal.)
A middle-sized, evergreen, glabrous tree. Bark f½in. thick, dark-brown, rough. Wood white, shining, soft, even-grained. Leaves obovate or oblanceolate, minutely denticulate ; blade 2-5in-long, narrowed into petiole, 1/6-⅛in. long. Flowers red, ⅓in. across, in long, slender, pendulous racemes 6-15in. long. Calyx- segments rounded, ciliate. Ovary 2-celled. Fruit oblong, bluntly quadragular, 1¼-1½in. long, crowned by the persistent calyx lobes.
Uses. — The root is bitter and supposed to be similar to Cinchona in its properties. It is also held to be cooling and aperient. The seeds are very warm and dry, used as an aromatic in colic and in parturition, also in ophthalmia (Watt). Considered by the natives of Bombay to be warm and stimulating and emetic, often prescribed alone or in combination with other medicines as an external application in colds. A few grains often given as an emetic to children suffering from catarrh, and seldom fail to induce vomiting (Dymock). The kernels powdered and prepared with sago and butter are said to be used in diarrhœa (Watt). The juice of the leaves is given in dirrahœa. The powdered seeds are used as snuff in headache (U. C. Dutt.) The fruit rubbed in water is administered as an emetic (Lisboa).
508. Careya arborea, Roxb., h.f.b.i,, ii. 511, Roxb., 447.
Sans. — Kumbhi.
Vern. — Kumbi, vâkamba, kumbh, (H. and Pb.) ; Kumbha, kumbhâsâla, kembya, vâkumbhâ (Mar.) ; Gummar (Gond.) ; Boktok (Lepcha) ; Dambel (Garo.); Pailpûta tammi (Tam.); Kumbir (Santal) ; Asunda (Kol.) ; Budâ-durmi, buda darini ; dudippi (Tel.); Kaval (Kan.) ; Govuldu (Mysore).
Habitat. — Throughout India, from the Himalaya to Travan- core and Tenasserim.
A large, deciduous tree, turning red in the cold season. Bark ½in. thick, dark-grey, with vertical and diagonal cracks, exfoliating in narrow flakes ; linear substance reddish, fibrous. Wood moderately hard ; sap wood whitish large ; heart wood dull red, sometimes claret-coloured, very dark in old trees ; even- grained (Gamble). Leaves membranous, obovate, narrowed into a short marginate petiole, crenate ; secondary nerves prominent, 10-12 pair. Flowers 2-4in. across, sessile, with an unpleasant smell, each supported by 3 unequal bracts ; a few flowers clustered at the end of branchlets ; petals white or greenish white, l-2in. long, filaments purple ; ovules in 2 rows in each cell. Fruit green, globose, fleshy, 2-3in. diam., crowned by the persistent calyx-segments and the remains of the long slender style.
Parts used. — The bark, flowers, juice and fruit.
Uses. — The bark is used as an astringent medicine by the natives. " The bark is applied to the wound in snake-bite and an infusion of the same is given internally" (Rev. A. Campbell, Mânbhum).
The flowers are given in Sindh as a tonic after child-birth (Murray.) In Bombay the natives use the flowers as well as the juice of fresh bark with honey as a demulcent in coughs and colds (Dymock).
The fruit is also astringent and used as a decoction to promote digestion (S. Arjun, 55). It is also pickled by Banyas of Gujrat.
" A miner who was at work in some gold fields in Australia, poisoned his hand, and a bad ulcer formed on the knuckle of one of his fingers. Ordinary treatment having proved useless, Dr. Armitt, F. L. S., tried, at the recommendation of a native, some leaves of the Careya made into a pulp and used as a poultice four times a day. In five days the ulcer had disappeared. Having met with such success, Mr. Armitt subsequently tried it on similar occasions and always with similar results."—Chrysty's Commercial Plants and Drugs, No. 7, p. 44 (1884).
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