(Pall.) Rehder.Synonym: S. ramiflora Muell. Flueggea suffruticosa Baill.Family: Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat: Eastern Himalayas, up to an altitude of 250 m.
Siddha/Tamil: Vellaippula (S. virosa).Folk: Dalme, Kodarsi, Pandharphali (S. virosa).Action: Alkaloid, securinine in the leaves stimulates central nervous system similar to strychnine and is comparatively less toxic. It is found useful in paresis and paralysis following infectious diseases and physical disorders. (The plant can replace strychnine and nux-vomica in medicinal preparations.)
A related species, Securinega virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Baillon, distributed throughout India up to an altitude of 2,000 m, gave securinine as the main alkaloid, along with virosecurinine and viroallosecurinine, and a coumarin, bergenin. The root bark contains an alkaloid, virosine. Whole root contains alkaloids, hordenine (flueggeine) and nor-securinine. A decoction of the root is given to induce sleep and for fever; that of bark in diarrhoea and pneumonia. The leaves are reported to be given in venereal diseases.
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