Coscinium fenestratum Health Dictionary

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Coscinium Fenestratum: From 1 Different Sources

Colebr.

Family: Menispermaceae.

Habitat: South India, particularly in Western Ghats.

English: False Calumba.

Ayurvedic: Pitachandana, Pitasaara, Harichandana, Kaaliyaka, Kalam- baka.

Siddha/Tamil: Maramanjal, Man- jalkodi.

Folk: Jharihaldi.

Action: Root—stomachic, diuretic, hypotensive, antidysenteric, antibacterial, antifungal, bitter tonic in dyspepsia and debility.

The stems and roots of Kalambaka contain alkaloids including berberine 3.5-5% and jatorrhizine. Stems contain ceryl palmitic acid and oleic acid.

The plant is also used against fractures; for dressing wounds and ulcers and in cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The stems are used in South India as a substitute for Berberis (Daaruhari- draa); also as an Indian substitute for True Calumba (Jateorhiza palmata Miers).

Dosage: Root—3-5 g powder; decoction—50-100 ml. (CCRAS.)
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Berberis Aristata

DC.

Sub sp. ? B. asiatica Roxb. ex DC.

Substi. ? B. lycium Royle & other species.

Family: Berberidaceae.

Habitat: Northwestern Himalayas, Nilgiris, Kulu and Kumaon.

English: Indian Barberry.

Ayurvedic: Daaruharidraa, Daaru, Daarvi, Daarunishaa, Daarura- jani, Vrahitaphala, Valliphala, Sthirphala. Pushpaphala, Somakaa, Parjanyaa, Parjani, Kantkateri, Taarthya, Pachampachaa. Kaaliyaka is now equated with Pita Chandana (Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr., Menispermaceae). Extract—Rasaanjana.

Unani: Daarhald. Rasaut (extract). Zarishk (fruit).

Siddha/Tamil: Marmanjal.

Action: Rasaut, Rasasranjana (extract)—bitter, cholagogue, antidiarrhoeal, stomachic, laxative, diaphoretic, antipyretic, antiseptic. Used externally in opthalmia,conjunctivitis, ulcers, sores, swollen gums. Root bark— anti-inflammatory, hypoglycaemic hypotensive, antiamoebic, anticoagulant, antibacterial. Bark— used in liver complaints, diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, gastric disorders, enlargement of spleen and for regulating metabolism. Berries— antiscorbutic, laxative.

Berberine hydrochloride and sulphate help in the diagnosis of latent malaria by releasing the parasites into the blood stream.

Alkaloid berberine possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. It is used as an intestinal antiseptic and bitter stomachic. It also exhibits antineoplastic properties. (Its synthetic derivative dihydroberberine is used in brain tumour.)

Berberine has been found to inhibit the activity of enzymes trypsin (32%) and chymotrypsin (60%) in in-vitro studies.

B. asiatica Roxb.ex Dc. is found in the Himalaya at 900-3,000 m, Assam and Bihar.

See B. vulgaris.

Dosage: Extract—1-3 g (CCRAS.); dried stem—5-10 ml decoction. (API Vol. II.)... berberis aristata

Jateorhiza Palmata

Miers.

Synonym: J. calumba Miers.

Family: Menispermaceae.

Habitat: Indigenous to south-east tropical Africa. Imported into India.

English: Calumba, Colombo.

Ayurvedic: Kalambaka. (Coscinium fenestratum Colebr., known as False calumba, is used as a substitute for J. palmata.)

Siddha/Tamil: Kolumbu.

Action: Root—bitter tonic without astringency, carminative, gastric tonic, antiflatulent, hyptotensive, orexigenic, uterine stimulant, sedative. Used in anorexia, poor digestion, hypochlorhydria, amoebic dysentery and menstrual disorders. Antifungal.

Key application: As appetite stimulant. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)

The root gave isoquinoline alkaloids 2-3%; palmatine, jaterorrhizine and its dimer bis-jateorrhizine, columbamine; bitters (including chasmanthin and palmanin). Volatile oil contains thymol.

The alkaloid jateorrhizine is sedative, hypotensive. Palmatine is a uterine stimulant.

As calumba contains very little volatile oil and no tannins, it is free from as- tringency which is common with other bitter herbs.

The root alkaloids exhibit narcotic properties and side effects similar to morphine. It is no longer used (in Western herbal) as a digestive aid, and is rarely used as an antidiarrhoeal agent. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)... jateorhiza palmata

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