Linn.Synonym: S.persica L.var. wightiana Verde. S. indica Wt.Family: Salvadoraceae.
Habitat: Arid regions, on saline lands and in coastal regions.
English: Mustard tree. Salt Bush tree, Tooth Brush tree.Ayurvedic: Pilu (smaller var.), Pilukaa, Sransi, Angaahva, Tikshna- vrksha.Unani: Miswaak, Araak.Siddha: Perungoli.Action: Fruit—carminative (used in biliousness), deobstruent (used for rheumatism, tumours, splenomegaly), diuretic, lithotriptic. Leaves—decoction used for cough and asthma, poultice in painful piles and tumours; juice in scurvy. Flowers—stimulant, laxative. Applied in painful rheumatic conditions. Seeds—diuretic; purgative; fatty oil applied locally on rheumatic swellings. Root bark—topically vesicant. Bark—emmenagogue, ascarifuge, febrifuge. Biological activity of stem bark—spasmolytic. Plant—anti-inflammatory, hypoglycaemic, antibacterial.
The root gave elemental gamma- monoclinic sulphur, benzyl glucosino- late, salvadourea (a urea derivative), m-anisic acid and sitosterol. Benzyl isothiocyanate, isolated from the root, exhibits antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus-1 which affects oral region. (The root is used in many parts of the world as a tooth brush.) Root bark and stem bark contain trimethy- lamine. Myristic, lauric and palmitic acids are the major acid components of the seed fat.Dosage: Fruit—3-6 g powder; 50100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)
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