Habitat: Throughout India in shady wet places and near streams.
English: Gaub Persimmon, Riber EbonyAyurvedic: Tinduka, Tinduki, Sphu- urjaka, Kaalaskandha, Asitkaaraka. Nilasaara.Unani: Tendu.Siddha/Tamil: Tumbika, Kattatti.Action: Fruit and stem bark— astringent. Infusion of fruits—used as gargle in aphthae and sore throat. Fruit juice—used as application for wounds and ulcers. Oil of seeds— given in diarrhoea and dysentery Ether extract of fruit—antibacterial. Bark—astringent and styptic, used in menorrhagia, diarrhoea, dysentery and intermittent fevers.
A paste is applied to boils and tumours. The ethyl acetate extract showed antistress and anti-ulcerogenic activity. It also prevented hepatotoxi- city and leucocytosis in experimental animals.The bark contains betulinic acid, myricyl alcohol, triterpenoids and sa- ponin. The leaves gave beta-sitosterol, betulin and oleanolic acid. Fruit pulp and seeds contain lupeol, betulin, gallic acid, betulinic acid, hexacosane, hex- acosanol, sitosterol, beta-D-glucoside of sitosterol and a triterpene ketone.Stem bark—antiprotozoal, antiviral, hypoglycaemic, semen-coagulant. Stems yielded nonadecan-7-ol-one.Dosage: Bark—50-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)