seeds contain the triterpenoid hosenkol A, the first baccharance triterpenoid from natural source. The seeds also contain a protein- associated amyloid, galactoxyloglucan and beta-sitosterol.
In China, the aerial parts are used for the treatment of articular rheumatism. In Korea, the plant is used for treating tuberculosis. In Brunei, a de coction of the root is given in irregular menstruation. In Japan, the juice, obtained from the white petals, is applied topically to treat several types of dermatitis, including urticaria.
The flowers contain flavonols, flavonoid pigments, phenolic compounds and quinones.
An ethanolic extract (35%) of flowers shows significant anti-anaphylactic activity in mice.
The methanolic extract of the whole plant exhibited strong antibacterial
326 Imperata cylindrica Rausch.
activity against Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella typhimurium; antibacterial and antifungal activity has been attributed to a naphthoquinone derivative.
Imperata cylindrica Rausch.
Synonym I. arundinacea Cyr. Family Gram ineae; Poaceae.
Habitat The hotter parts of India, both in plains and hills, ascending up to 2,300 m in the Himalayas.
English Thatch Grass.
Ayurvedic Darbha, Suuchyagra, Yagnika, Yagyabhuushana, Bahir.
Siddha/Tamil Dharba.
Folk Daabh.
Action Diuretic, anti-inflammatory.
The rhizomes contain flavonoids, together with lignans, graminone A and B. A sesquiterpenoid, cylindrene, and biphenylether compounds, cylindol A and B, are also reported.
Cylindrene and graminone B show inhibitory activity on the contractions of vascular smooth muscles and aor ta of rabbit respectively; while cylindol A exhibits 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity.
The hot aqueous extract of the rhizomes show moderate GTP activity on primary cultured rat hepatocytes intoxicated with carbon tetrachioride cytotoxicity.
The leaves and stem contain cyanochroic constituents. The roots contain antibacterial substances. The root is used in fevers but does not possess antipyretic activity.
Dosage Root—50—100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)
Indigofera arrecta Hochst.
Family Fabaceae.
Habitat Cultivated in Assam, Bihar and in parts of Uttar Pradesh.
