Linn.
Synonym: C. horrida Linn.f.
Family: Cappariadaceae.
Habitat: Common in plains as a hedge plant.
English: Ceylon Caper.
Ayurvedic: Ahimsra (Himsraa and Ahimsra are synonyms). Vyaaghranakhi.
Siddha/Tamil: Aathondai.
Folk: Kareruaa.
Action: Root bark—sedative, stomachic, anticholerin, diuretic febrifuge. Leaves—applied as poultice to piles, swellings, boils.
The plant contains a saponin and p- hydroxybenzoic, syringic, vanillic, fer- ulic and p-coumaric acids. The leaves contain beta-carotene. The leaves and seeds contain glucocapparin, alpha- amyrin, n-triacontane and a fixed oil.Aerial parts exhibited spasmolytic activity.
Roth.
Synonym: C. decidua Edgew.
Family: Capparidaceae.
Habitat: Rajasthan, Punjab and Sindh; southward to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
English: Caper Berry.
Ayurvedic: Karira, Krakar, Apatra, Granthila, Marubhoo-ruuha, Niguudhapatra, Karila.
Unani: Kabar, Kabar-ul-Hind, Kabar-e-Hindi; Tenti.
Siddha/Tamil: Chhengan.
Folk: Tenti.
Action: Anti-inflammatory (used for enlarged cervical glands, sciatica, rheumatoid arthritis; externally on swellings, skin eruptions, ringworm). Fruits and seeds—used for urinary purulent discharges and dysentery. Flowers and seeds— antimicrobial. The fruit is used as a pickle.
The root bark contains spermidine alkaloids, used for inflammations, asthma and gout.Activity of the seed volatiles against vibro cholerae has been recorded.Aqueous extract of the plant exhibits anthelmintic activity; seeds contain antibacterial principles—glucocapparin; isothiocynate aglycone of glucocap- parin.The blanched fruits, when fed to rats at 10% dietary fibre level, showed a significant hypocholesterolaemic effect, which is attributed to its hemicel- lose content.Pickled fruits are use for destroying intestinal worms.
Dosage: Leaf, root—50-125 mg (CCRAS.)
Folk: Hains, Kanthaar.
Action: Antiseptic, antipyretic. Used for eczema and scabies.
Leaves contain taraxasterol, alpha- and beta-amyrin and beta-sitosterol, erythrodiol and betulin.
Dosage: Root—5-10 g powder. (CCRAS.)... capparis aphylla
Linn.
Family: Plumbaginaceae.
Habitat: Cultivated in gardens throughout India; also found wild in Peninsular India.
English: Ceylon Leadwort, Leadwort.
Ayurvedic: Chitraka, Agni, Vahni, Jvalanaakhya, Krshaanu, Hutaasha, Dahana, Sikhi.
Unani: Sheetraj Hindi.
Siddha/Tamil: Chittramoolam.
Action: Root—intestinal flora normalizer, stimulates digestive processes; used for dyspepsia. Root paste is applied in order to open abscesses; a paste prepared with milk, vinegar or salt and water, is used externally in leprosy and other obstinate skin diseases. A cold infusion is used for influenza and black-water fever.
Key application: In sprue, malabsorption syndrome, piles and inflammatory diseases of ano-rectum. (The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.)The root yielded naphthoquinone derivatives, plumbagin being the most important active principle.The root extract, after processing for plumbagin enhancement, has been used in a number of drug formulations for liver ailments. Experimentally, plumbagin prevented the accumulation of triglycerides in liver and aorta and regressed atheromatous plaques and abdominal aorta. The chloroform extract of the root showed significant activity against pencillin-resistant (also non-pencillin resistant) strains of Neisseria gonorrhoea. (The root is used for treating sexually transmitted diseases in traditional Indian medicine.)In Siddha medicine, in Tamil Nadu, the plant is an ingredient in a number of drug formulations for treating cancers of the uterus, breast, lungs and oral cavity, in addition to haemorrhoids.Plumbagin is abortifacient, antiovu- latory; causes selective testicular lesions in dogs; in lower doses it behaves like a spindle poison, in higher concentration exhibits radiomimetic nu- cleotoxic and cytotoxic effects.
Dosage: Detoxified root—1-2 g powder. (API, Vol. I.)... plumbago zeylanica
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