The seeds are poisonous and contain taxine.
The aqueous extract of leaves showed a depressant effect on the central nervous system in rats.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India attributed antirheumatic, anticatarrhal, insecticidal and wound-healing properties to the dried needles of Himalayan Yew and indicated the use of the drug in powder form (1—3 g) in disorders due to vitiated blood, tumours, dermatosis and helminthiasis.
Dosage Leaf—1—3 g powder. (API, Vol. III.) Leaf, bark—3—5 g powder. (CCRAS.)
Tecoma stans (Linn.) H. B. & K.
Synonym Stenolobium stans (L.) D. Don.
Bignonia stans Linn.
Family Bignoniaceae.
Habitat Cultivated in gardens.
English Yellow Elder, Yellow Bells.
Siddha/Tamil Sonapaati, Thanga Arali, Naga Sambagam.
Tectona grandis Linn. f. 649
Action Leaves—hypoglycaemic (tecomine and tecostanine are hypoglycaemic alkaloids).
Root—diuretic, vermifuge.
The flowers contain beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. The plant gave phenolic acids, beta-sitosterol and triterpenoids—ursolic acid, oleanolic acid and alpha-amarine. An indole-metabolizing enzyme, indole-oxygenase, has been isolated from the leaves. Antidiabetic activity of the plant was tested on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Tecomella undulata
(G. Don) Seem.
Synonym Tecoma undulata G. Don.
Bignonia undulata Sm.
Family Bignoniaceae.
Habitat North-West and Western India, and in the outer Himalayas.
English Rohida tree.
Ayurvedic Rohitaka, Rohi,
Daadimpushpaka, Daadimchhada, Plihaghna. (Amoora rohituka is also known as Rohitaka.)
Action Bark—relaxant, cardiotonic, choleretic. (Heartwood toxic due to lapachol.) Used for the treatment of leucorrhoea, diseases of the liver and spleen, leucoderma, syphilis
and other skin diseases.
