Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/360

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
There was a problem when proofreading this page.
280
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.


by the midrib, paler beneath. Flowers small, in much-branched panicles. Filaments elongate, filiform, exserted, several times exceeding the anther. Fruit about 3 membranous, linear-oblong samaras, about 1¼ by ⅓in. Seed near the centre of the samara, about ¼ by 1/1in.

Part used : — The bark.

Medicinal uses : — According to Professor Hetet, the bark is an active vermifuge ; in powder it has a strong, narcotic, nauseating odour. It exerts a powerful, depressing influence over the nervous system similar to that of tobacco.

Leaves used as an atringent in China,- — (Ph. J., 20th, December 1884.)

Useful in dysentery.— (I. M. G., March 1877, p. 83.)

It contains ellagic acid, and a colouring matter, quercetin (C lS H 10 07). On fusion with alkali, protocatechnic acid (in. p. 194-196°) and phloroglucinol (m. p. 210°) were identified as the principal products of the decomposition of qu rcetin.

{{smaller|The aqueous filtrate from the quercetin was found to contain a large quantity of gallic acid. The tannin of the Ailanthus glandulosa is evidently gallotannic acid.

A tannin analysis gave the following result :—

Item Percentage.
Tanning matter 11.2
Soluble non-tannins 20.4
Insoluble at 60° F 60.0
Water 8.4
Total. 100.0

J. Ch. S. T. 1898, p. 381.

244. — A. excelsa, Roxb. h.f.b.i. i. 518.

Sans. : — Mâdalâ, Aralu. Atarusha.

Vern. : — Maharukha, mahârukha, limbado (Hind.); Adulsa, Adusa, Maharuka, Mahânimb (Mar.) ; Mahanim, mâhâla, gormi- kawat (Uriya) ; Ghorkaram (Palamow) ; Moto aduso (Guz.) ; Varul, mahârukh (Dec.) ; Arua (N.-W. P. and Mewar) ; Peru, pee, perumaruthâ (Tam.) ; Pedu, pey, pedda, peddâ mânu putta (Tel.); Perumarum (Mal.)

Habitat: — Common in the North- Western Provinces, Behar,