MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIKKIM

 

 

Basic Information

 

 

Species                                   : Skimnia laureola (DC.) Walpers.

Local Name                              : Chumlani, Limbuni phal (Nep), Timburhyok (Lep)

Synonym                                 : S.melanocarpa Rehder & Wilson, S.wallichi Hook. F &Thomson

Family                                      : Rutaceae

Habitat                                    :

Distribution                            : Distributed in Temperate region.

Sikkim                                     : On the way from Lachen to Thangu, Tsoka Dzongri trek.

Out side                                  : Darjeeling, Bhutan (c-Ha, Thimpu, Tongsa and Tashigang districts, N-Upper Kuru Chu district).

General                                   : Temperate Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon, 6000-10,000 ft and Khasia hills, 5000-6000 ft.

Morphological information

Semi prostrate shrub, seldom exceeding 1 m. Leaves elliptic-oblanceolate, 4-10 x 2-3 cm, acute, base cuneate. Flowers in short racemes. Calyx c 1.5 mm. Petals greenish yellow, oblanceolate, 4.5-5 x 1.5 mm. Stamens c3mm. Ovary ovoid, c 2mm. Fruit subglobose, 7-8mm diameter, black.

Flowering               :

Fruiting                  :

History                  :

Parts                     : Leaf.

Status                   :

Phytochemistry

Lupenone and lupeol isolated from leaves; β-sitosterol, skimmianine, scopoletin, umbeliferone, bergapten and isopimpinellin from leaves and roots (Curr.Sci. 1973, 42, 59; Planta Med. 1978, 34, 338); Xanthotoxin, heradenin, isoimperatorin, scopoletin glucoside and sucrose obtained from roots (Planta Med. 1978, 34, 338).

Medicinal                    : The leaves are used in smallpox; the smoke produced by their burning is said to purify the air.

 

Reference

1. Grierson, J.C.C and D.G. Long (1983). Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim (Vol. 1, part 1). Royal Botanical Garden, Edinburgh. 18.

2. Progress Report of the Project "Studies on Medicinal Plants of Sikkim"' (1998-2001). State Council of Science and Technology for Sikkim.