anti-inflammatory, nerve sedative, emetic, purgative; used in the
treatment of rheumatic fever, lumbago, scrofula, nervous disorders, chorea.
The plant is reported to contain trans-aconitic acid, which shows a strong cytostatic action. Its Me ether is active against Ehrlich’s ascites tumours.
In folk medicine, roots are used in cases of ovarian neuralgia, uterine tenderness and sub-involution. They are adulterant of the roots of Helleborus niger. Berries are poisonous; used topically for skin diseases. The toxic constituent is protoanemonin (lactone). It is irritant to mucous membrane.
Actiniopteris dichotoma Kuhn.
Synonym A. australis (L. f.) Link. A. radiata (Sw.) Link.
A. dichotoma Kuhn. Family Adiantaceae.
Habitat Throughout India, especially common in Kumaon Hills and the Nilgiris, below an altitude of 1,200 m.
English Peacock’s tail.
Ayurvedic Mayurshikhaa, Madhuchhadaa, Sahastrahi, Vahrishilthaa.
Action Styptic, antibacterial, antipyretic.
The stems and leaves contain rutin, a styptic active principle. Anthelmintic activity, attributed to the fern, was not observed in experiments on mice.
Dosage Root—3—5 g powder. (CCRAS.)
Actinodaphne hookeri Meissn. Synonym A. angustifolia Nees.
Family Lauraceae.
Habitat The western Ghats, Orissa and Sikkim up to 1,500 m.
Siddha/Tamil Thali, Paratathali. Folk Pisaa (Maharashtra).
Action Infusion of leaves—urinary tract disinfectant, antidiabetic,
spasmolytic.
The leaves contain a very small amount of an amorphous alkaloid. They also contain beta-sitosterol, hentriacontanone, hentriacontanol and
18 Adansonia digitata Linn.
quercetin-3-rhamnoside and hydrocarbons.
The bark gives an alkaloid, actinodaphnine.
The roots contain a flavanone glycoside.
Adenanthera pavonina Linn.
