Caesalpinia bonduc Health Dictionary

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Caesalpinia Bonduc: From 1 Different Sources

(L.) Roxb. Dandy & Exell.

Synonym: C. bonducella Flem. C. crista Linn.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Throughout the hotter parts of India. Common in West Bengal and South India. Often grown as hedge plant.

English: Fever Nut, Bonduc Nut, Nikkar Nut.

Ayurvedic: Puutikaranja, Lataa- karanja, Kantaki Karanja, Karanjin, Kuberaakshi (seed).

Unani: Karanjwaa.

Siddha/Tamil: Kazharchikkaai.

Action: Seed—antiperiodic, antirheumatic. Roasted and used as an antidiabetic preparation. Leaf, bark and seed—febrifuge. Leaf and bark—emmenagogue, anthelmintic. Root—diuretic, anticalculous.

The seeds contain an alkaloid cae- salpinine; bitter principles such as bon- ducin; saponins; fixed oil.

The seed powder, dissolved in water, showed hypoglycaemic activity in alloxanized hyperglycaemic rabbits. Aqueous extract of the seeds produced similar effects in rats. The powder forms a household remedy for treatment of diabetes in Nicobar Islands. In Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, roots are used in intermittent fevers and diabetes.

In homoeopathy, the plant is considered an excellent remedy for chronic fever.

(Three plant species—Pongamia pinnata Pierre, Holoptelea integrifo- lia (Roxb.) Planch. and Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. are being used as varieties of Karanja (because flowers impart colour to water). P. pinnata is a tree and is equated with Karanja, Naktamaala and Udakirya; H. integri- folia, also a tree, with Chirabilva, Puti- ka (bad smell) and Prakiryaa; and C. bonduc, a shrub, with Kantaki Karanja or Lataa Karanja.)

Dosage: Seed kernel—1-3 g powder. (CCRAS.)
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Caesalpinia Coriaria

(Jacq.) Willd.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Grows abundantly in South India, also cultivated in North-western India and West Bengal.

English: American Sumac, Divi-divi Plant.

Siddha/Tamil: Kodivelam.

Folk: Libi-dibi; Divi-divi.

Action: Bark—febrifuge, antiperi- odic. Pod—astringent (in piles). Fruit—semen coagulant.

All parts of the plant contain tannin, the maximum amount occurring in the pods (69.4%). The tannins from pods comprise pyrogallol type of hy- drolysable tannins and consists of gal- lotannin and ellagitannin. Divi-divi closely resembles myrobalans both in nature and contents of tannins. Seeds contain little or no tannin.

The plant is used for treating freckles. Leaves contain ellagic and gallic acids, catechol and tannins.

Ethanolic extract of the leaves showed antifungal activity.... caesalpinia coriaria

Caesalpinia Digyny

Rottl.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Bengal, Assam and Andamans up to 1,000 m.

English: Teri Pods.

Ayurvedic: Vaakeri.

Siddha/Tamil: Nunigatcha.

Action: Root—astringent and antipyretic, used in phthisis and scrofulous affections.

The roots gave a phenolic compound vakerin, identical with bergenin. The ethanol-water extract of roots inhibits the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The pods contain 28% tannin (without seeds, more than 54%). The bark contains 28% tannin (without seeds, more than 54%). The tannin is pure gallo-tannin and gallic acid.

Dosage: Root—3-5 g powder. (CCRAS.)... caesalpinia digyny

Caesalpinia Pulcherrima

Sw.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in gardens throughout India.

English: Barbados Pride, Peacock Flower.

Ayurvedic: Padangam, Ratnagandhi, Krishnachuudaa.

Siddha/Tamil: Mayirkonrai, Nalal.

Folk: Guleturaa, Sankeshwara.

Action: Leaves—laxative, antipyretic. Used in Eastern India as a substitute for senna. Dried and powdered leaves are used in erysipelas. Flowers—anthelmintic. Also used for cough and catarrh. Root—a decoction is prescribed in intermittent fevers. Bark— emmenagogue, abortifacient.

The plant contains a flavonoid, my- ricitroside. The leaves, flowers and fruits contain tannins, gums, resin, benzoic acid. Presence of cyanidin- 3,5-diglucoside is also reported from the flowers, hydrocyanic acid from the leaves. The root contains caesalpin type diterpenoids along with sitosterol.

The leaves have displayed anticancer activity in laboratory animals. A diter- penoid, isolated from the root, also showed anticancer activity.

In Pakistan, the leaf and flower extract exhibited activity against Grampositive bacteria.... caesalpinia pulcherrima

Caesalpinia Sappan

Linn.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Native to India and Malaysia. Cultivated in Bengal and South India, also grown as a hedge plant.

English: Sappan.

Ayurvedic: Pattanga, Patanga, Pattraanga, Raktasaara, Ranjana, Pataranjaka, Suranga, Kuchandana.

Unani: Bakam.

Siddha/Tamil: Patangam, Anaikun- trumani.

Folk: Patang.

Action: Wood decoction— emmenagogue, antidiarrhoeal; used in skin diseases.

The heartwood gave an anti-inflammatory principle brazilin; amyrin glu- coside, amino acids and carbohydrates. EtOH (50%) extract of stem exhibited semen coagulant activity Aqueous and chloroform extracts of the wood exhibited inhibitory action on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. The methanolic extract of the sappan lignan showed sleep-time-elongation effect in mice. Significant anti-hypercholes- terolaemic activity is attributed to ben- zilic compounds.

The oil exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activity.

Plant pigments find use in facials which are resistant to light, heat and water and are non-irritating.

Dosage: Heartwood—5-10 g (API Vol. IV.)... caesalpinia sappan

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