for ulcers.
Polypodium vulgare Linn. Family Polypodiaceae. English Polypody Root.
Unani Bisfaayaj.
Pongamia pinnata Pierre. 511
Action Expectorant, laxative, stomachic, cholagogue, alterative, antistress. Used in cough, bronchitis, catarrh, loss of appetite, dyspepsia; and in skin diseases.
The rhizome gave saponin glycosides, based on polypodosapogenin, including osladin; ecdysteroids; phloroglucin derivatives; tannin.
Polyporus off icinalis Fries Family Polyporaceae.
Habitat On the old trunks of various coniferous trees.
English White Agaric.
Unani Ghaariqoon.
Action Used in the treatment of sweats in wasting diseases such as phthisis (it checks profuse sweats); also as an expectorant and diuretic.
The drug contains agaric acid (agaricm). The resinous extract, when burnt, yields not more than 2% of a white ash, rich in phosphates. The drug gives 4— 6% soft resin.
Agaric acid acts as a counter-irritant when applied to abraded surfaces or mucous membrane.
Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms.
Synonym Nothopanaxfruticosum (L.) Miq.
Panaxfruticosus L.
Family Araliaceae.
Habitat Cultivated in gardens all over India.
Action Leaf—used in sinusitis, headache, migraine, tonsillitis. Stem bark—used for promoting expulsion of placenta after child birth. Root— antibacterial, antifungal, diuretic. Leaf and root—used in dysuria.
The root contains polyacetylenes, falcarinol and heptadeca derivatives. Falcarinol and heptadeca exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and the dermatophytic bacteria, also showed antifungal activity. The antibacterial activity of falcarinol was found to be 15 to 35 times stronger than that of erythromycin, chloramphenicol and oxytetracyclin.
Polyscias scutellaria (Burm. f.) F. R. Fosberg (commonly grown in Indian gardens) exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. The leaves contain several tnterpenoid saponins, polyscisaponins, oleanolic acid derivatives.
