Synonym G. Montana (Roth)
Benth.
Maytenus senegulensis Exell.
M. emarginata Ding Hou. Family Celastraceae.
Habitat Throughout the drier parts of India.
Ayurvedic Vikankata (substitute) Sruva-Vrksha (substitute), Vyaaghrapaadi.
Siddha/Tamil Kattangi, Nandunarai, Valuluvai.
Folk Baikal.
Action Plant—antispasmodic.
Root—used in gastroenteritis and dysentery.
The bark is ground to a paste and applied with mustard oil to kill lice in the hair. A decoction of leafy twigs is used as a mouth wash to relieve toothache.
Gynocardia odorata R.Br. 299
The leaves contain celacinnine, alpha-and beta-amyrin, beta-amyrone, beta-sitosterol and its 3’-O-glucoside and kaempferol. The extracts of the plant show cytotoxic effect on some cancers. An ointment, prepared by mixing leaf ash and purified butter, is used for sores.
Gynandropsis gynandra
(Linn.) Briq.
Synonym G. pentaphylla DC. Cleome gynandra Linn.
Family Capparidaceae.
Habitat Throughout warmer parts of India.
Ayurvedic Tilaparni (white var.), (Pita or yellow-flowered
var. is equated with Cleome viscosa Linn.), Ajagandhaa, Pashugandhaa, Ugragandhaa, Puutigandhaa, Barbaraka. Suuryaavartta has been equated with G. pentaphylla DC.
Siddha/Tamil Thaivelai, Nalvelai.
Action Leaves and seeds—used in the same way as mustard.
Bruised leaves—rubefacient and vesicant, used as counter-irritant in headache, neuralgia, rheumatic affections. Roots—decoction, febrifuge. Seeds—anthelmintic; externally counter-irritant. Applied as poultice to sores with maggots. An infusion is given for coughs.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommended the use of the seed in chlorsis, chronic obstructive jaundice and enlarged prostate.
The seeds are reported to contain cleomin, hexacosanol, free beta-sitosterol and kaempferol; also
