Action: Seed—expectorant, bechic. Oil—antibacterial, antifungal. Fruit—used in whooping cough; also in leucoderma and other skin diseases. Bark—spasmolytic.
The plant is reported to be a potential source of diosgenin (used in oral contraceptives). The fruit pulp contains steroidal saponins. The dios- genin content of the fruit varies from 0.3 to 3.8%. Aqueous extract of fruits showed spermicidal activity without local vaginal irritation in human up to 4%; sperms became sluggish on contact with the plant extract and then became immobile within 30 s; the effect was concentration-related.Protracted administration of the fruit pulp extract produced hypergly- caemia-induced testicular dysfunction in dogs. An aqueous extract of meso- carp exhibited antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice.The seed contains balanitins, which exhibit cytostatic activity.Dosage: Leaf, seed, bark, fruit— 50-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)... balanites aegyptiaca
Habitat: Common throughout the plains of India (a very variable grass).
Ayurvedic: Takraa, Takraahvaa, Panchaanguli, Nrityakaundaka. (Classical synonyms.) (Takra is the classical name of buttermilk.)Folk: Makaraa, Makari (Bihar, Orissa), Timidaa (Tamil Nadu)
Action: Astringent, bitter tonic, anthelmintic. Used for polyurea; externally for wounds and ulcers.
The grass growing is New South Wales is reported to contain cyano- genetic glycosides.In Indian medicine, the grass is used for imparting medicinial properties of Takra (buttermilk) in intestinal, biliary and urinary diseases.Ayurvedic: Raktaniryaas, Khoon- kharaabaa, Heeraadokhi.Unani: Damm-ul-Akhwain.
Action: Astringent. Used for diarrhoea, dysentery. Also used against malignant tumours.
The resin contains red tannin derivatives—drocoresinotannols, dracoresen and flavone quinones.Dosage: Resin—1-3 g. (CCRAS.)... dactyloctenium aegyptium
Linn.Synonym: S. pumila Benth.Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae.
Habitat: Arid areas from Delhi westwards in Punjab and Rajasthan, and southwards in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Unani: Tukhm-Malangaa.
Action: Seeds—used for diarrhoea, also in haemorrhoids.
Seeds yield mucilage and a gum which contain aldobiuronic acid and aldotriouronic acid.The mucilage on hydrolysis yields D-galactose, L-arabinose, L-rhamnose and galacturonic acid.The seeds of this plant are often confused with those of Lallemantia roye- leana Benth. which are also sold as Tukhm-Malangaa.... salvia aegyptiaca
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