Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/122

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42
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.

to abscesses, clearing away or maturing the inflammation, and that, prepared as an infusion, it is a valuable emenagogue.

He also states that the perfumed oil prepared from the flowers is a useful application in cephalalgia, ophthalmia, and gout, and that the oil of the seeds is rubbed over the abdomen to relieve flatulence. In Dacca, the juice of the leaves is given with honey in cases of Colic (Taylor).

In the Pharmacopœia of India, the bark is described as having febrifuge properties. Dr. Kanay Lal Dey considers it to be an excellent substitute for guaiacum.

In the Gazetteer of Orissa, the bark is described as stimulant, expectorant and astringent; the seeds and fruit are said to be useful for healing cracks in the feet, and the root is described as purgative.

Dr. Moodeen Sheriff considers the flowers to be stimulant, antispasmodic, tonic, stomachic and carminative; and describes an infusion, decoction and tincture; particularly recommending the last.

Chemistry—"The essential oil from yellow champaca flowers (Michelia champaca L.) has the specific gravity 0.904—0.9107 at 30°/30° C., nD=1.4640—1.4688 at 30°C, ester value 124—146, and ester value after acetylating 199. When distilled in a vacuum it polymerises. It contains isoeugenol, benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, cineol and p-cresol methyl ether. The white flowers (Michelia longifolia BI.) yield an oil with the following characters:—specific gravity 0.897, ester value 180.0, uD=1.4470 at 30°C. It contains linalool, methyleugnol, methylethylactic acid probably in the form of the methyl or ethyl ester, and a phenolic substance possessing an odour closely resembling that of thymol. The yellow flowers contain a ketone inciting at 165°—166°C., and yielding ahydrazone C16, H20 04: N. N.H C6. H5, m. pt. 161°C."—J. Ch. I. Jan. 31st, 1912, p. 90.

31. M. Nilagirica, Zenk. H.F.BR.I., I.44.

Vern.:—Pola champa (H.); Shempangan, sempagura, shembugha (Tam.). Walu sapu (Sinhalese).

Habitat:—Higher mountains of the Western Peninsula, Ceylon.

A handsome moderate-sized tree or shrub at high elevations. Young parts silky, particularly buds. Bark brown, ½ in. thick, cleft but not deeply, into small rectangular plates.