Action Seeds—purgative, emetic. Fruits—poisonous. Leaves—used for scabies. Latex—applied to
wounds and ulcers.
The latex from the plant showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. It contains immunologically active acylphloroglucinols, multifidol, phloroglucinol and multifidol beta-D-glucopyranoside. The latex also contains an immunologically active, cyclic decapeptide, labaditin.
J. panduraefolia Andr. (native to America), widely grown in Indian gardens, is known as Fiddle-leaved Jatropha. The latex from the plant shows fungitoxic activity against ringworm fungus, Microsporum gypseum.
Juglans regia Linn.
Family Juglandaceae.
Habitat Native to Iran; now
cultivated in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh., Khasi Hills and the hills of Uttar Pradesh.
English Walnut tree.
Juncus effusus Linn. 347
Ayurvedic Akshoda, Akshodaka, Akshota, Shailbhava, Pilu, Karparaal, Vrantphala.
Unani Akhrot.
Siddha/Tamil Akrottu.
Action Leaves and bark— alterative, laxative, antiseptic, mild hyp oglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, antiscrofula, detergent. An infusion of leaves and bark is used for herpes, eczema and other cutaneous affections; externally to skin eruptions and ulcers. Volatile oil— antifungal, antimicrobial.
Key application (leaf) In mild, superficial inflammation of the skin and excessive perspiration of hands and feet. (German Commission E.). When English Walnuts (Juglans regia) are added to low fat diet, total cholesterol may be decreased by 4— 12% and LDL by 8—16%. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)
Walnut hull preparations are used for skin diseases and abscesses.
Walnut is eaten as a dry fruit. Because of its resemblance to the brain, it was thought, according to the “doctrine of signatures’ to be a good brain tonic. Walnuts are also eaten to lower the cholesterol levels.
From the volatile oil of the leaves terpenoid substances (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpene and triterpene derivatives) and eugenol have been isolated. Fatty acids, including geranic acid; alpha-and beta-pinene, 1,8,cincole, limonene, beta-eudesmol and juglone are also important constituents of the volatile oil.
The leaves contain napthoquinones, mainly juglone. The root bark gave 3, 3’,-bis-juglone and
