28 Ailanthus malabarica DC.
Leaves produce dermatitis; their accumulation in well-water produces chronic gastritis.
Many quassinoids and ailanthone derivatives are vermifuge and amoebicidal. Constituents of the bark and stem, particularly ailanthone, have antimalarial activity in vitro against Plasmodiumfalciparum and in mice against P berghei. (Alkaloids do not appear to have these properties.) Some quassinoids are antineoplastic, and are reported to have antileukaemic properties.
The rootbark is used in traditional Chinese medicine for dysentery and leucorrhoea. In Africa, rootbark is used in epilepsy.
Ailanthus malabarica DC.
Synonym A. triphysa (Dennst.) Aiston.
Family Simaroubaceae.
Habitat The evergreen forests of western Ghats from Konkan southwards.
Siddha Perumaram.
Folk Guggul-dhuupa. (Maharashtra.)
Action Bark—febrifuge, carminative (given in typhoid, dyspepsia and constipation). Oleo resin— used for dysentery and bronchitis.
The bark and roots give a number of beta-carboline alkaloids. The resinuous exudates from trunk give several triterpenoids, including malabaricol and malabaricanediol.
Ainsliaea aptera DC. Family Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat The Himalayas from
Kashmir to Bhutan at altitudes of
2,400 m, extending to Khasi hills of
Meghalaya.
Folk Karui Buuti (Garhwal).
Action Powdered roots—used for quick relief from acute stomach ache; diuretic.
A related sp., A. tat ifolia Sch-Bip., is used as an adulterant to Podophytlum emodi.
Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth.
Family Labiatae Lamiaceae.
Habitat The sub-Himalayan tract, plains of Punjab and the upper Gangetic plain.
Ayurvedic Neelkanthi.
Folk Ratapaati (Kumaon), Khurbanti (Punjab).
Action Astringent, febrifugal (given in intermittent fever), stimulant, aperient, diuretic. Used for the
