506 Polycarpaea corymbosa Lam.
as Chamkhirni. The leaves contain alpha-and beta-amyrin, lupeol, betasitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol. The stems and leaves contain the triterpene, suberosol, which showed anti-HIV replication activity The stem bark contains alkaloids, oxostephanine and lanuginosine, which exhibited antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Polycarpaea corymbosa Lam. Family Caryophyllaceae.
Habitat Throughout the greater part of India, ascending up to
2,100 m in the Himalaya.
Ayurvedic Parpata (substitute). Siddha/Tamil Nilaisedachi.
Folk Pittapaaparaa (Uttar Pradesh), Rupaaphuli (Gujarat).
Action Leaves—anti-inflammatory, applied as poultice. Also prescribed in jaundice in the form of pills with molasses. Flowering head, along
with stem and leaves—astringent, demulcent. Plant—spermicidal.
The plant gave camelliagenins (barrigenol) and stigmasterol.
Polycarpon prostratum
(Forsk.) Alschers & Schweinf.
Synonym P loeflingii Benth. & Hook. f.
Habitat Throughout the warmer parts of India in fields and waste places.
Folk Ghima, Suretaa.
Action Leaves—an infusion of roasted leaves is given for cough following fever, particularly in
measles.
Alcoholic extract of the plant exhibits spasmolytic activity. The aerial parts contain tetrahydroxy triterpenes. Presence of a triterpenoid saponin, and hentriacontane, hentriacontanol, betaamyrin and its acetate, beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol is also reported.
Polygala chinensis
auct. non Linn.
Synonym P arvensis Willd.
Family Polygalaceae.
Habitat Throughout India and the Andamans.
English Senega.
Folk Meradu, Maraad, Negali (Maharashtra). Maraad (Nepal).
