Cera Health Dictionary

Linn.

Family: Caesalpinaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in Punjab. English: Locust Bean; St. John's Bread, Carob tree.

Unani: Kharnub Shaami.

Action: Pod and husk from seed— antidiarrhoeal (stools in gastroenteritis and colitis are known to solidify within 48 h).

The pods contain tannin from 0.88 to 4.09%.

Pulp of the pod contains 30-70% sugars, fats, starch, protein, amino acids, gallic acid; leucoanthocyanins and related phenolics. Leaves contain catechols.... ceratonia siliqua

Linn.

Family: Ceratophyllaceae.

Habitat: All over India from temperate to tropics, in ponds and lakes.

English: Coontail, Hornwort.

Ayurvedic: Shaivaala (also equated with Vallisneria spiralis Linn., Hydrocharitaceae), Jalnili, Jalaja.

Unani: Tuhlub, Pashm Vazg.

Siddha/Tamil: Velampasi.

Folk: Sevaar.

Action: Purgative, antibilious, antibacterial.

The herb is rich in protein, calcium and magnesium; contains ferre- doxin and plastocyanin. EtOH (50%) extract—antimicrobial.

Dosage: Whole plant—10- 20 ml juice; 50-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)... ceratophyllum demersum

Naud.

Family: Cucurbitaceae.

Habitat: Wild on wastelands in Gujarat.

Ayurvedic: Shankhini.

(Also equated with Corivolvulus arvenis L.)

Folk: Aankha-phuutaa-mani (Gujarat).

Action: Emetic, drastic purgative. Used for internal tumours and abscesses. (C.R.A.V.)... ctenolepis cerasiformis

D. Don.

Synonym: P. puddum Roxb. ex Brandis. non-Miq.

Family: Rosaceae.

Habitat: The temperate Himalayas from Garhwal to Sikkim, also in Ootacamund.

English: Wild Himalayan Cherry, Bird Cheery.

Ayurvedic: Padmaka, Padma- gandhi, Padmaadyaa, Padmaakha, Padmakaashtha.

Action: Kernel—antilithic. Stem— refrigerant, antipyretic. Tender branches are crushed and soaked in water and taken internally to avert abortion. Oil—similar to that of bitter almond oil.

The plant contains a flavone glu- coside, puddumin-A. The root bark contains beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, ursolic acid, prunetinoside, glucogen- kwanin and neosakuranin. Seeds contain flavonoid glycosides.

The leaves, twigs, bark and kernels contain a cyanogenetic substance.

Dosage: Heartwood—1-3 g powder. (API, Vol. III.)... prunus cerasoides

Linn.

Family: Rosaceae.

Habitat: Native of Eurasia; cultivated in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Kumaon for edible fruits.

English: Sour Cherry.

Ayurvedic: Elavaaluka (var.).

Folk: Aalu-baalu, Gilaas.

Action: Fruit—diuretic, anti- inflammatory. Used for genitourinary inflammations, cystitis and urine retention. Bark—febrifuge, antidiarrhoeal. Fruit stalk—diuretic. Fruit stalk and stem—pectoral. Bark and fruit stalk—astringent. Kernel—nervine. Leaf—an infusion is given for convulsions in children.

Key application: Heartwood—in skin eruptions, erysipelas, obstinate skin diseases, haemorrhagic diseases. As a tonic for promoting conception. (The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.)

The leaves, fruits and bark gave flavone glycosides. The bark contains 5-7% tannin. The kernel contains a considerable proportion of hydrocyanic acid. The leaves contain amyg- dalin. (Amygdalin, a nitrile glycoside, has been reported to inhibit the growth of Sarcoma-180 cells in culture.)... prunus cerasus

(Roxb.) Chatterjee & Kanjilal f.

Synonym: S. nervosum DC. S. operculatum Niedenz. Eugenia operculata Roxb.

Family: Myrtaceae.

Habitat: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Assam up to 600 m and in the Western Ghats up to 900 m.

Ayurvedic: Bhumi Jambu.

Folk: Rai Jaamun, Dugdugiaa; Topaakudaa (Bihar), Peeta-jaam (Orissa).

Action: Fruit—antirheumatic. Aerial parat—hypoglycaemic.

Root—rubefacient. Bark—bitter, astringent; given in dysentery, biliousness and bronchitis. A concentrate of the root infusion is applied and rubbed over painful joints. Aerial parts exhibit hypoglycaemic activity.... syzygium cerasoideum