Morphological information

A large tree, the young shoots silky pubescent, the branchlets lenticillate, leaves oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, obtuse or acute at the base, shortly but sharply acurninate, 19-21.5 cm long as and 1.2-2.5 cm long petiole usually slightly silky pubescent and pale-coloured beneath, the nerves and netvenations distinct. Flowers white and fragrant, on 1.2-2.5 an long lenticillate pedicels, arising singly from the axils of the leaves. Sepals rounded, nearly twice broader than long, densely silky inside. Capsules globose, woody, the size of a bullet, white young silky.

Flowering                      : April-June

Fruiting                          : November-February

History                          :

Parts                              : Bark.

Status                             : Low risk

Phytochemistry

A stable adduct of at least five saponins-schhiwallin, m.p 300 degree decomp-isolated; its acid hydrolysis yielded primulagenin A and angulates of dihydropriverogenin, barrigenols Al, RI and barringtogenol C; one of these   barrigenol Al 28-angelate was identified as new ester. Constituent saponins of schiwallin contained same sugars, gluguronic add, glucose, galactose and rhamnose in equmolarratio. Its alkaline hydrolysis gave proschiwallins A and B having different genins but same sugar   components. Barrigenols Al and RI bearing saponins formed major constituent of schiwallin;octacosanol, phytol and a spinasterol also isolated.

 

Medicinal

The bark is used as a rubefacient given to expel tapeworms, also administered in gonorrhoea.

Traditional

250 ml paste prepared from the bark is taken weekly to relief gastric trouble.The three-year-old seed after powdering is taken with 100 ml water for antifertility.

 

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Reference