Morphological information

A perennial herb, sometimes in shady places, subscandent; stems 0.6-1.5 rn long, somewhat woody,spreading, terestriate, glabrous. Leaves thin, 3.8- 7.5 by 2.2- 3.8 cm, ovate, subacute, entire, glabrous some what glaucous beneath, reticulately veined shortly and abruptly attenuated into a short petiole;petiole narrow, emplenicaul at the base and there often dilated into stipule like auricles. Flowers inelongate spikes; rhachis glandular, striate; bracteoles ovate acuminate, shorter than the calyx,glandular or not. Calyx 1-1.3 cm long, narrowly tubular, persistent, densely covered with stalked glands; teeth small, with membranous margins. Corolla white, slender; tube 2- 2.5 cm long; lobes 8mm long, obovate oblong acute apiculate. Filaments as long as the corolla-tube; anthers exerted just beyond the throat. Capsule oblong, pointed; pericarp thin below, thick and hardened above.

Flowering                       : June-September

Fruiting                          : October-December

History                           :

Parts                              : Root- bark and root.

Status                            :

Phytochemistry

Plumagin, 3-chloroplumbagin and a new substance- 3, 3’-biplumbagin- isolated from roots; a new binapthaquinone- chitranone- together with zeylinone, isozeylinone, elliptonone and droserone isolated from roots.

 

Medicinal

 Externally it is a strong irritant and has a powerful germicidal action on bacteria and unicellular organisms. The principal action of plumbagin is on the muscular tissue, which stimulates in smaller doses and paralysis in larger ones. It stimulates the contraction of the muscular tissue of the heart, intestines and uterus. The action is deep-seated. It stimulates the scretion of sweat, urine and bile. It has a stimulant action on the nervous system.

Ayurvedic

The root and root bark are bitter, hot, dry; stomachic, carminative, astringent to the bowels, anthelmintic. Alternative; cure intestinal troubles, dysentery, leucoderma inflammation, piles, bronchitis, "vata" and "kapha". itching disease of the liver, consumption, ascites, "tridosa"; good in anaemia.

Unani

 The root has a bitter sharp taste; bechic, taxative, expectorant, stomachic, tonic, abortificient, alexipharmic; good appetizer useful in laryngitis, rheumatism, diseases of the spleen, leucoderma, ring- worm, scabies. The leaves are caustic, vesicant, aphrodisiac and for scabies.The root of P. zeylanica increases the digestive power to promote the appetite and also useful in dyspepsia, piles, anasarca, diarrhoea, skin disease etc. for external administration.

Traditional

 The paste prepared with the milk, vinegar or salt and water. It is applied externally in leprosy and other skin diseases of an obstinate character and is allowed to remain until a blister has formed. A tincture of the root-bark has been employed as an anti-periodic. It acts as a powerful soporific. The milky juice is used as an application to unhealthy and in cases of scabies.

Note: Roots made into powder, mixed with rice flour and processed to prepare cakes called Marcha, is used for formation of "Jaanr" the local millet beer.

 

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