(Japanese) A little, gentle deer Shicka, Shicca, Sheka, Shecka, Shyka, Shycka, Sheeka
(Willd.) DC.
Synonym: A sinuata (Lour.) Merrill; A. rugata (Lamk.) Ham.
Family: Mimosaceae.
Habitat: Tropical jungles throughout India, especially in the Deccan.
Ayurvedic: Saptalaa, Shitalaa, Saatalaa, Shrivalli, Kantvalli.
Unani: Shikaakaai, Kharunb Nabti.
Siddha/Tamil: Seekai, Sigakai.
Folk: Ban-Reethaa.
Action: Febrifuge, expectorant, emetic, spasmolytic, diuretic, antidiarrhoeal. Leaves—an infusion is given in malarial fever. Pods and seeds—decoction is used to remove dandruff (known as Shikaakaai), extensively used as a detergent. An ointment is used for skin diseases. Bark—extract is used in leprosy.
The bark yields a saponin which, on hydrolysis, yields lupeol, alpha- spinasterol and acacic acid lactone. Pods also yield saponins (20.8%). Sugars identified are glucose, arabinose and rhamnose.The leaves contain alkaloids, nicotine and colycotomine, a triterpenoid saponin and oxalic, tartaric, citric, suc- cinic and ascorbic acids.The bark saponins are spermicidal, also haemolytic and spasmolytic. A decoction of pods relieves biliousness and acts as a purgative.The ethanolic extract of unripe pods yields a glycosidal fraction (0.28%) which exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. It also shows significant antibacterial activity.The plant acts as an antiseptic agent for curing sores, gums and loose teeth.The flowers are the source of Cassie perfume.The main constituents of the flowers are benzyl, anisic, decylic and cuminic aldehydes, as well as traces of geraniol, farnesol and linalool.... acacia concinna
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