The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the bark in metrohhagia, menorrhagia, chronic lymphadenitis and inflammations.
The flowers contain fatty acids and gallic acid; apigenin-7-0-beta- D-glucoside, cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside, kaempferol 3-0-beta-D-glucoside, pelargonidin-3,5-diglucoside, quercetin
and its 3-0-beta-D-glucoside and sitosterol.
The bark yields alkanes, esters and primary alcohols. It gave n-octacosanol, tannin (6%), catechin, (+)-catechol, (—)-epicatechin, (—)-epicatechol, leucocyanidin, leucopelargonidin, procyanidin derivatives, methyl-and ethylcholesterol derivatives.
Quercetin and its 3-0 -rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-0-alpha-L-rhamnoside, amyrin, ceryl alcohol and beta-sitosterol have been isolated from leaves and stems.
Alcoholic extract of the bark is reported to be active against a wide range of bacteria. The aqueous extract has been found to enhance the life span of mice infected with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma by 24%.
Pure phenolic glucoside (P2), isolated from stem bark, exhibited highly potent oxytocic activity on different mammals and was similar in nature to pitocin and ergometrine.
Dosage Dried stem bark—20—30 g for decoction. (API, Vol. I.)
Sarcococca saligna
(D. Don) Muell.-Arg.
Synonym S. pruniformis Hook. f. S. trinervia Wt.
Family Buxaceae.
Habitat The Himalayas and the hills of North-eastern India up to 2,700 m.
Folk Geru (Garhwal, Patiala), Tiiari (Jaunsar), Sukatsing (Kumaon).
584 Sarcostemma brevistigma W. &A.
Action Leaves—used in the
treatment of rheumatism and fever.
The leaves contain steroidal alkaloids, including saracosine, saracodine and saracodinine; also betulin.
Aerial parts exhibit spasmolytic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory activity. Steroidal alkaloids induce non- recoverable fall in blood pressure in
dogs.
Sarcostemma brevistigma
W &A.
Synonym S. acidum Voigt. Family Asclepiadaceae.
Habitat Dry places in West Bengal, Bihar and Peninsular India.
