Myrica nagi Health Dictionary

Hook. f. non-Thunb.

Synonym: M. esculenta Buch.-Ham ex Don.

Family: Myricaceae.

Habitat: Subtropical Himalayas from the Ravi eastwards at 9002,100 m.

English: Box Myrtle.

Ayurvedic: Katphala, Kushb- hikaa, Shriparnikaa, Mahaavalkal, Bhadraa, Bhadravati.

Unani: Kaayaphal.

Siddha/Tamil: Marudam.

Action: Bark—carminative, antiseptic. Used in fever, cough and asthma; also as a snuff in catarrh with headache. Fruit wax— used externally for ulcers. Fruit— pectoral, sedative.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the stem bark and fruit in anaemia and polyuria.

The stembarkgave myricanol, a pro- anthocyanidin. The root bark yielded beta-sitosterol, taraxerol and myricadi- ol. The stem bark exhibited analgesic, spasmolytic, hypotensive and antiar- rhythmic activity.

Dosage: Fruit—3-5 g, stem bark— 3-5 g. (API, Vol. III.)