The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the fresh rhizome in dysuria, polyuria (in females) and menstrual disorders; the flower in asthma, bleeding disorders, vaginal discharges and leucorrhoea.
The pulp of ripe fruit (50 g!rat per day) given daily with standard food pellets prevented increase in blood pressure in deoxycorticosterone-induced hypertension in rats. This was found partially related to increased serotonin levels triggered by the high carbohydrate and tryptophan content of the fruit.
Dietary fibre prepared from unripe banana exerted an antiatherogenic effect, keeping the levels of cholesterol in serum and aorta low, as also the level of LDL cholesterol in rats fed on cholesterol diet.
Family Musaceae.
Mycrotomia benthami C. B. Cl. 427
An anti-ulcerogenic acylsterylglycoside, sitoindoside IV, has been isolated from unripe banana.
A pectin containing hexoses (32.4%) and uronic acid (52.5%) has been isolated from the pith of the stem. The pectin was found to exhibit significant hypolipidaemic and hypoglycaemic activity in rats.
The flower extract exhibited hypoglycaemic activity in rabbits.
The pseudostem is reported to possess lithotriptic and antiithic properties. The extract reduced the precursor of oxalate formation, the liver glycolic acid content in hyperoxaluric rats.
The benzene extract of the root exhibited significant antibacterial and antifungal activity.
Dosage Dried flower—1O—20 g. (API, Vol. IV.)
Mussaenda frondosa Linn.
Synonym M. frondosa var. glabrata Hook. f.
M. glabrata (Hook. f.) Hutch. Family Rubiaceae.
Habitat Tropical Himalayas, Khasi Hills, Deccan Peninsula and the
Andamans.
English White Lady, White Rag
Plant.
Ayurvedic Shrivati.
Siddha/Tamil Vellai-yilai, Vellimadandai.
Folk Shrivara, Bedina, Bebina, Bhutakesha (Maharashtra), Naagaballi (Bengal)
Action Flower—diuretic, antiasthmatic, antiperiodic. Leaves and flowers—used in external
applications for ulcers. Root—used in the treatment of white leprosy. White petiolate bract—prescribed in jaundice.
The flowers contain anthocyanins, hyperin, quercetin, rutin, ferulic and sinapic acids; beta-sitosterol glucoside.
