sitosterol-3-0-glucoside; all parts contain tannins.
Chloroform and ethanol extracts of leaves exhibit promising antibacterial activity against Shigella and Vibrio cholerae. Leaf extract shows antifungal activity against several pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
Henna paint is used as a medicament for treatment of hands and feet for mycosis. The antimycotic activity is due to lawsone, a naphthoquinone.
The ethanol-water (1 : 1) extract of the stem bark shows hepatoprotective activity CC14-induced liver toxicity. Stem bark and root, probably due to the presence of isoplumbagin and lawsaritol, exhibit anti-inflammatory activity experimentally.
Evidence shows Henna leaf might be able to decrease the formation of sickled cells in individuals with sickle cell anaemia. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)
Dosage Leaves—5—l0 ml juice. (API, Vol. IV.)
Leea aequata Linn.
Synonym L. hirta Roxb. ex Hornem.
Family Vitaceae.
Habitat Northern Eastern India,
West Peninsula and the Andamans.
Ayurvedic Kaakajanghaa,
Nadikaantaa, Sulomaasha, Paaraavatapaadi.
Lens culinaris Medic. 367
Folk Surapadi (Telugu).
Action Stem and root—astringent, anthelmintic. Used for indigestion, jaundice, chronic fever and malaria. Essential oil—inhibits the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Schroeter) Lehmann & Neumann; also inhibits the growth of Micro- coccus pyogenes var. aureus and Paste urella pestis. Root, tuber and stem—mucilaginous, astringent. Leaves and twigs—antiseptic; used for poulticing wounds.
Leea crispa Linn.
Family Vitaceae.
Habitat North-Eastern India and in Western parts of Deccan Peninsula.
Folk Banachelt (Maharashtra), Banachalit (Bengal), Nalugu, Nellu (Kerala).
Action Leaves—applied to wounds. Root tubers—used for guineaworm. Plant—a host of the Indian lac
insect.
Leea indica Merrill. Family Vitaceae.
Habitat Forests of tropical and subtropical India, from Himalayas as far west as Kumaon, and
