Barringtonia acutangula Health Dictionary

(Linn.) Gaertn.

Synonym: Eugenia acutangula L.

Family: Lecythidaceae; Barringtoni- aceae.

Habitat: Sub-Himalayan tracts from the Ganges eastwards to Assam and Madhya Pradesh.

English: Indian Oak. (Oak is equated with Quercus robur L.)

Ayurvedic: Nichula, Hijjala, Ijjala, Vidula, Ambuj. (Central Council for Research in Ayurveda & Siddha has wrongly equated Hijjala, Nichula and Vidula with Argyreia nervosa, Elephant Creeper.)

Unani: Samandarphal. (Saman- darphal is also equated with Rhus parviflora Roxb. in National Formulary of Unani Medicine.)

Siddha/Tamil: Kadappai, Samudra- phullarni.

Action: Leaf juice—given in diarrhoea. Fruit—bitter, acrid, anthelmintic, haemolytic, vulnerary; prescribed in gingivitis as an expectorant. Powdered seeds— emetic and expectorant. Bark— astringent, used in diarrhoea and blennorrhoea. Febrifuge. Wood— haemostatic (in metrorrhagia).

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicated the use of the fruit in goitre; also in psychological disorders.

The bark contains tannins (16%), also ellagic acid.

The fruits contain triterpenoid sa- pogenins. Saponins possess haemolyt- ic properties.

A related sp. B. racemosa (L.) Roxb., found in Assam, eastern and western coasts of India and the Andaman Islands, is also equated with Samu- draphala and Hijjala.

European Oak (Quercus robur) contains 15-20% tannins, consisting of phlobatannin, ellagitannins and gallic acid. The bark is used as astringent, antiseptic and haemostatic.

Dosage: Fruit—1-3 g (API Vol. III.)