Ehretia laevis Health Dictionary

Roxb. var. aspera (Willd.) C.B. Clarke.

Synonym: E. aspera Willd. E. obtusifolia Hochst. ex DC.

Family: Ehretiaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India, also grown along roadsides.

Ayurvedic: Charmi-vrksha.

Siddha/Tamil: Addula.

Folk: Chamror (Punjab). Kuptaa, Datarangi (Maharashtra.)

Action: Root—used in venereal diseases. A decoction of bark is used internally and as gargle in throat infections.

The plant contains tannins, saponins and allantoin, and monomethyl ethers of cyclitols. Leaves yielded a pyrrolizidine alkaloid, creatinine. arsenic effectively. It can be used in purification of silver-containing waste water, also for the treatment of low- level liquid radioactive wastes and mercurial waste water. The plant has a strong capacity for removing phenol. Biomass of non-living dried water Hyacinth roots showed high absorption of copper from aqueous solutions.

The plant exhibits antifungal activity against Candida albicans.