Hovenia dulcis Health Dictionary

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Hovenia Dulcis: From 1 Different Sources

Thunb.

Synonym: H. acerba Lindl.

Family: Rhamnaceae.

Habitat: Native to China. Now cultivated in Kumaon, Sikkim and West Bengal.

English: Japanese Raisin tree, Coral tree.

Folk: Sikkaa.

Action: Fruit—diuretic; relieves intoxication due to wine.

The leaves and root bark gave tri- terpene saponins. Root bark also gave peptide alkaloids.

The fruit extract contains potassium nitrate and potassium malate and is strongly diuretic. The seeds contain beta-carboline alkaloid, perlolyrine. A toothpaste, containing extracts of the fruits and seeds as one of the ingredients, has been patented for controlling dental caries (in Japan).
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Eleocharis Dulcis

Trin.

Synonym: E. plantaginea R. Br. E. tuberosa Schult.

Family: Cyperaceae.

Habitat: Widely cultivated in China. Sold in Kolkata under the name Singapuri Keysur.

English: Chinese Water Chestnut.

Ayurvedic: Shringaataka (substitute), Kasheruka (substitute).

Action: Tuber—antidysenteric, antileucorrhoeic, antibacterial.

The juice expressed from the tuber shows antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Aer- obacter aerogenes. The antibiotic principle has been designated as puchiin.

In ethanolic extract, hexacosanoic acid, 5 alpha-stigmastane-3, 6-dione, betulin and tricin were present. It also contained beta-sitosterol and stigmas- terol. applied to ulcers and eczema. Roots—given to patients with heart and liver affections; topically in rheumatism. Root and leaf— used in dysuria and other urethral complaints. An infusion of the whole plant is used to stimulate diuresis, reduce fever and to eliminate bladder stones. The decoction is also used in peptic ulcers, swelling or pain in stomach. Plant is also used in piles and scabies.

The plant contains germacranolide dilactones. Hydroxylated germacano- lides, molephantin and molephantinin, exhibited cytotoxic and antitumour properties.

The plant also gave epifriedelanol, lupeol, stigmasterol, triacontan-l-ol and dotriacontan-l-ol.... eleocharis dulcis

Scoparia Dulcis

Linn.

Family: Scrophulariaceae.

Habitat: Indigenous to tropical America; introduced into India, commonly found as a weed in Bengal and Tamil Nadu, and in many parts of India.

English: Sweet Broomweed.

Folk: Jastimadhu, Madhukam, Ghodaa-tulasi.

Action: Plant—decoction is used for gravel and other renal affections. Leaves—infusion used in fever, cough and bronchitis. Root— febrifuge. Stem and leaves—used in anemia, albuminaria, ketonuria and other complications associated with diabetes mellitus.

An antidiabetic compound, amellin, occurs in the leaves and stems of the green plant.

According to some researchers, hy- poglycaemic compounds were not present in the extracts obtained from dry plant material.

The leaves contain the flavonoids, scutellarein and 7-O-methylscutella rein. Whole plant gave the triterpe- noids, dulcitol, friedelin, scopadol, be- tulinic acid, dulcitolic acid and dulci- olone. Benzoxazolinone, beta-sitoster- ol, D-mannitol, hexacosanol and tri- triacontane were also obtained from the plant.... scoparia dulcis

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