Linn.
Family: Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat: Throughout drier parts of India.
Unani: Kanochaa, Isfahaan Marv.
Siddha/Tamil: Mela-nelli.
Action: Leaves—an infusion is used in headache. Seeds—carminative, diuretic.
Whole plant revealed antispasmod- ic action in isolated guinea-pig ileum, CNS depressant and hypothermic effects in mice.
Schum. & Thonn. Phyllanthus fraternus Webster.
Family: Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat: Throughout the hotter parts of India, particularly on cultivated land, up to 1,000 m.
Ayurvedic: Bhuumyaamalaki, Bahu- patri, Bhuudhaatri, Bahuphalaa, Taamalaki.
Unani: Bhui Aaamalaa.
Siddha/Tamil: Keelkaay Nelli.
Action: Plant—diuretic, deobstru- ent, astringent, anti-inflammatory, styptic. Used as a single drug in the treatment of jaundice. Used in prescriptions for dyspepsia, indigestion, chronic dysentery, urinary tract diseases, diabetes, skin eruptions.
The leaves yielded lignans—phyl- lanthin (bitter), hypophyllanthin (nonbitter); niranthin, nirtetralin and phyl- tetralin. The whole plant gave a number of flavonoids, including quercetin, quercitrin, astragalin, rutin, kaempfer- ol. Isolation of a hydrolysable tannins, amarulone, is reported from the plant.The plant is reported to show antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus and related hepadna virus. It was also found to effectively repair CCl4-induced liver damage in rats.The herb exhibited hypotensive and hypoglycaemic activity. (Indian J Exp Biol 1995, 33 (11) 861-864.)Phyllanthus fraternus Webster: The ethanolic extract of the plant exhibited hepatotoxic-protective activity in albino rats pretreated with CCl-4, The petroleum extract is reported to possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The flavonoids, isolated from the ethanolic extract of the plant, exhibit hypoglycaemic activity in alloxan-treated albino rats. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the plant exhibit antibacterial and antifun- gal activity.
Dosage: Root, stem, leaf—3-6. powder. (API, Vol. I and III.)... phyllanthus amarus
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