Africa; runs wild at some places in
West Bengal.
English Strophanthus.
Action Dry ripe seeds—cardiac glycosides (the mixture is known as Strophanthin-K) act like digitalis but are poorly absorbed from the digestive tract, are given by injection.
Strophanthus wightianus Wall. ex Wight, known as Nerivalli (Tamil) and Kambetti (Malyalam), is found along with western coast of Kerala.
The plant yields 2.1% of glycosides. The glycosides are known as cauloside and divaricoside, the corresponding genins are caudogenin and sarmentogenin; the latter a precursor of cortisone. Studies have indicated that the tinctures prepared from the seeds compare favourably with those from the seeds of S. kombe.
Strychnos colubrina Linn.
Family Lognaniaceae; Strychnaceae.
Habitat Deccan Peninsula from Konkan to Cochin.
Ayurvedic Kupilu-lataa, Kuchilaalataa.
Folk Kaajar-vel (Maharashtra).
Action Leaves and roots are boiled in oil and applied to
rheumatic swellings. Wood—used for malarial fever and cutaneous
eruptions. Root—purgative, febrifugal, anthelmintic.
The roots, wood, bark and seeds contain alkaloids (bark 5.54%, wood 0.96%), consisting of brucine and strychnine. Beta-sitosterol has been reported in the plant.
Strychnos nux-vomica Linn. 629
Strychnos ignatii Bergius.
Family Loganiaceae; Strychnaceae.
Habitat Native to the Philippines. Seeds are imported into India.
English Ignatus Beans.
Unani Papitaa Vilaayati. (Papitaa Desi is equated with Carica papaya Linn.)
Siddha/Tamil Kayappankottai.
Action Properties similar to those of Nux vomica. Used as a stimulant and nervine tonic, also for asthma and rheumatism.
The seeds contain indole alkaloids; brucine and its N-oxide, alpha-and beta-colubrine, diaboline, icajine, novacine, strychnine and its N-oxide, and 12-hydroxyderivatives, vomicine, and others. Share
