R. Br.Synonym: P. morindaefolia R. Br. ex Wt.Family: Nyctaginaceae.
Habitat: Cultivated in gardens in Chennai and other places near the sea on both east and west coasts.
English: Lettuce tree.Siddha/Tamil: Chandi keerai, Leechai kottai keerai, Nachu Kottai keerai.Action: Fresh leaf—diuretic, used in inflammations (of elephantoid nature in legs and other parts). Root—purgative.
The plant gave octacosanol, beta- sitosterol, alpha-spinasterol, beta-si- tosterol-b eta-D-glucopyranoside, dul- citol and quercetin.Karkata, Karkataakhya, Kuli- rashringaaya, Kuliravishaanikaa, Vakraa, Vishaani. Ajashringi (also equated with Gymnema sylvestre).Unani: Kaakraasingi, Kakar.Siddha/Tamil: Karkatagasingi.Action: Gall—astringent, expectorant, antiasthmatic, antidysenteric, styptic.
Key application: In cough, bronchitis and dyspnoea. (The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.)The tetracyclic triterpenes, pistaci- gerrimones A, B and C have been isolated from the galls produced on the leaves.Alpha-pinene 21.8, beta-pinene 16.2, alpha-phellandrene 15.5 and delta-carene 11% are major constituents of the essential oil extracted from galls. The oil is reported to exhibit CNS- depressant, antispasmodic, carminative and antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antiamoebic, anthelmintic activities.Dosage: Gall—3-6 g powder. (API, Vol. I.)
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