dyspepsia, fever, helminthic manifestation, respiratory and skin diseases.
Flowers—given with honey for coughs and colds to children. Leaves— juice is used as an external application for psoriasis, chronic skin eruptions and painful swellings.
An alcoholic extract of leaves shows antibacterial activity.
The plant gave oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and beta-sitosterol. The root
contains a triterpenoid, leucolactone, and the sterols, sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol.
Leucas cephalotes
(Roth.) Spreng.
Family Labiatae; Lam iaceae.
Habitat Throughout the greater
part of India, as a weed, ascending up to 1,800 m in the Himalayas.
Ayurvedic Dronpushpi, Katumbaa. Siddha/Tamil Tumbai.
Folk Guumaa, Dhurpi saaga, HaLkusa (bigger var.), Tumbaa.
Action Plant—stimulant, diaphoretic, antiseptic (fresh juice is used in scabies), insecticidal. Flowers— a syrup is used as a domestic
remedy for coughs and colds. Dry leaves along with tobacco (1: 3) are smoked to treat bleeding as well as itching piles.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicated the use of the dried whole plant in jaundice, inflammations, cough, bronchial asthma and intermittent fever.
The plant contains beta-sitosterol glycoside and traces of an alkaloid.
Dosage Whole plant—5—l0 ml juice; 1—3 g powder. (API, Vol. II.)
Leucas Iavandulaefolia Rees.
Synonym L. linifolia Spreng.
Family Labiatae; Lamiaceae.
Ayurvedic Dronpushpi (related species).
Lilium giganteum Wall. 373
Folk Tumbaa, Guumaa.
Action Leaves—a decoction is used as a sedative in nervous disorders; also as a stomachic and vermifuge. Crushed leaves are applied externally for dermatosis, a poultice to sores and wounds.
