Pandanus facicularis Health Dictionary

Lam.

Synonym: P. tectorius auct. non Soland ex Parkinson. P. odoratissimus Linn. f.

Family: Pandanaceae.

Habitat: Sea coast of the Indian Peninsula on both sides, and the Andaman Islands.

English: Screw Pine.

Ayurvedic: Ketaka, Ketaki, Suuchikaa pushpaa, Jambuka, Trinshunya, Ketakark, Krakchhada.

Unani: Keoraa.

Siddha/Tamil: Thazhai, Thalay.

Action: Flower—carminative, stomachic, cooling, antiseptic. Used for headache, ulcers, dysuria, scabies and other skin diseases. Root— used for osteoarthritis, leucorrhoea and amenorrhoea; contraindicat- ed during pregnancy. Leaves— used for skin diseases, small pox, scabies, leprosy. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the decoction of the root in abdominal inflammation. Oil and otto—stimulant, antispasmodic, antirheumatic.

The chief constituent of the oil is methyl ether of beta-phenylethyl alcohol. The oil also contains diterpene, d-linalool, phenylethyl acetate, citral, phenylethyl alcohol, ester of phthalic acid, fatty acids and stearoptene.

The leaves contain the piperidine alkaloids.

Dosage: Root—29-30 g for decoction (API, Vol. I); flower linctus—25-30 ml. (CCRAS.).