and Central Asian countries; cultivated in North India.
English Pistachio, Green Almond. Ayurvedic Mukuulaka.
Unani Pistaa (Kernel), ILk-ulAmbaat (resin).
Action The kernel is used as a cardiac and brain tonic; flowers are included in prescriptions for leucorrhoea; husk is used against dysentery and as astringent in stomatitis and tonsillitis.
Pistia stratiotes Linn. var. cuneata Engl.
Family Araceae.
Habitat Tropical and sub-tropical Asia, Africa and America.
English Water Lettuce, Tropical Duckweed.
Ayurvedic Jalakumbhi, Vaariparni, Vaarimuuli.
Siddha/Tamil Agasatamarai.
Action Whole plant and root— diuretic, used for dysuria. Leaf—antitussive, demulcent, antidysenteric, externally applied to haemorrhoids, ulcers, skin diseases. Ash—applied to ringworm of the scalp.
The plant gave 2-di-C-glycosylfla- vones of vicenin and lucenin type, anthocyanin-cyanidin-3-glucoside, luteolin-7-glycoside and mono-C-glycosylfiavones— vitexin and orientin.
Dosage Plant—L0—20 ml juice. (CCRAS.)
496 Pithecellobium dulce Benth.
Pithecellobium dulce Benth. Family Mimosaceae.
Habitat Cultivated throughout the plains of India.
English Minila Tamarind, Madras Thorn, Quamachil.
Siddha/Tamil Karapilly, Kodukkaa Puli.
Folk Vilaayati Imli, Dakhini
Babool.
Action Bark—astringent, febrifuge, antidysenteric. Stem-bark—spasmolytic. Seeds—anti-inflammatory.
The leaves contain alpha-spinasterol; its beta-D-glucoside, octacosanol, kaempferol, its 3 -rhamnoside, behenic and lignoceric acids. An insulin-like principle has also been reported in the leaves.
_______ Seeds gave kaempferol, quercetin
and a saponin consisting of a mixture
of oleanolic and echinocystic acid gly cosides Lecithin is also reported from
seeds.
