Roxb.Synonym: Premna arborea Roth.Family: Verbenaceae.
Habitat: Throughout India, up to 1,700 m on the hills and in Andaman Island; also grown in gardens.
English: Candahar tree, White Teak.Ayurvedic: Gambhaari, Kaash- mari, Kaashmarya, Sarvatobhadraa, Bhadra, Mahaabhadraa, Sadaab- hadraa, Madhuparnikaa, Sriparni, Pitarohini, Hiraa, Bhadraparni, Trishati.Siddha/Tamil: Kattanam, KumizhamAction: Leaf—demulcent, bechic. Used for removing foetid dis charges from ulcers. Root— stomachic, laxative, antibilious, demulcent, galactagogue. Bark— anticephalalgic. Root and bark— febrifuge.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the use of the bark and stem in inflammatory diseases and oedema; the fruit in dysuria and haem- orrhagic diseases.The heartwood contains lignans, ar- borone, 7-oxodihydrogmelinol, pau- lownin acetate and epieudesmin; me- trans-p-methoxycinnamate and trans- p-hydroxycinnamic acid.Alcoholic extract of stem bark showed anti-inflammatory activity comparable to phenylbutazone.Dosage: Root, root bark—20-30 g for decoction. (API Vol. I.)The leaves show antibiotic activity against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
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