Family Lythraceae.
Habitat Tropical Himalaya, and
Assam, Western and Eastern Ghats, up to 1,000 m.
English Pride of India, Queen’s Flowers, Queen Crape Myrtle.
Siddha/Tamil Kadalai, Pumaruttu.
Folk Jaarul. Kramuk and Arjun are confusing synonyms.
Action Seed—narcotic. Root— astringent, stimulant, febrifuge. Fruit—used for aphthae of the
mouth. Leaves—purgative, diuretic, deobstruent. Bark—an infusion is given in diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
A decoction of the leaves, also of dried fruits, is used like tea for diabetes mellitus in Philippines. Mature leaves and fruits, in fresh condition, exhibit hypoglycaemic activity experimentally. The potency decreases on storing the material.
The leaf extract, when administered as powder and as tannin-free extract, showed hypoglycaemic activity in mice. Amino acids constitute the insulin like principle. The plant contains triterpenoids, colocolic acid and maslinic acid. Colocolic acid is known to possess hypoglycaemic activity.
Leaves contain lageracetal and sitosterol. Ellagitannins have been isolated from fruits and leaves.
Lagerstroemia indica Linn.
Family Lythraceae.
Habitat Native to China; grown as an ornamental.
English Common Crape Myrtle.
Siddha/Tamil Pavalak-kurinji, Sinappu.
Folk Saavani, Faraash.
Action Seed—narcotic. Bark— stimulant, febrifuge. Leaves
and flowers—purgative. Root— astringent. Used as a gargle.
Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxb.
Family Lythraceae.
Habitat Almost throughout India, up to an altitude of 900 m, in the Himalayas.
Ayurvedic Siddhaka, Siddha,
Syandana (provisional synonym).
Folk Dhauraa, Bakli. Chungi (Hyderabad). Lendia (trade).
Action Astringent, fungitoxic.
The bark and leaves contain tannin 7—10 and 16% respectively. The plant contains a pentacyclic
