swelling in mice.
Osmanthus fragrans Lour.
Family Obleaceae.
Habitat Native to China and Japan. Found in Kumaon, Garhwal and
Sikkim.
Ayurvedic Vasuka (Also equated with Brihat Bakula.)
Folk Silang, Silingi, Bagahul, Buuk.
Action Diuretic, genitourinary tract disinfectant.
Flowers—antiseptic, insecticidal. Used for protecting clothes from insects.
The flowers yield an oil containing oleanolic and urosolic acids, betasitosterol, glycosides and awax (0.04%) composed mainly of triacontane. The leaves are reported to contain a phillyrin-like glycoside.
Osmanthus suavis King, known as Siingi in Nepal and Chashing in Bhutan, is found in eastern Himalayas at altitudes of 2,700—3,000 m and in Aka hills in Assam. It is used as a var. of Vasuka.
Dosage Flower—500 mg to 1 g powder. (CCRAS.)
456 Osmunda regalis Linn.
Osmunda regalis Linn.
Family Osmundaceae.
Habitat The Himalayas, Khasi hills and the Western Ghats at altitudes of 1,500—3,000 m.
English Royal Fern.
Action Fern—antispasmodic, astringent, an aqueous extract is administered for intestinal gripe; used externally in rheumatism; also prescribed in muscular debility. Fonds enter into diuretic drinks used for treating body swellings. Root—mucilaginous, styptic, stimulant.
The rhizomes contain phenolic, gallic, caffeic, p-coumaric, vanillic, salicylic, p-hydroxybenzoic and ferulic acids and catechol tannins (2.8%) which are responsible for fern’s astringent activity. Biological activity of these tannins corresponds to that of 10% tannic acid.
Osyris wightiana Wall. exWight.
Synonym 0. arborea Wall. ex DC. 0. quadriparita Salzm. ex Decne.
Family Santalaceae.
Habitat Sub-tropical Himalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu.
Folk Popli (Maharashtra); Paral (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu); Jhuri (Nepal); Dalmi, Dalmia (Garhwal, Kumaon).
The leaf contains 20% tannin. It gave cis-4-hydroxy-L-proline, and exhibited antiviral activity.
