The rhizome contains several flavonoid glycosides and curcumin.
The oil of Zerumbet contains about 13% monoterpenes and several sesquiterpenes of which humulene and zerumbone are major constituents. The major constituent of monoterpenes is camphene. Unlike the oil of Z. officinale, Zerumbet oil does not contain any methyl heptanone; instead, it contains camphor.
Zerumbone inhibits the growth of Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Indian samples contain only 37.5% of zerumbone, while those from Fiji 58.7, Vietnam 72.3 and Tahiti 65.3%.
Zizania caduciflora Hand.-Mazz.
Habitat North-east India (as an aquatic grass). (It forms an important parat of the floating grass island in Logtak Lake, Manipur.) Cultivated in China.
English Zizania.
Action Clums, rhizomes, grains— used in China against anaemia and fevers, also for heart, kidney and liver affections. The herb exhibits diuretic activity; leaves are rich in vitamin C (142 mg!100 g).
Ziziphus jujuba
(Lam.) Gaertn. non-Mill.
Synonym Z. mauritiana Lam. Rhamnusjujuba L.
Family Rhamnaceae.
Habitat Throughout India and in the outer Himalayas up to 1,350 m.
English Indian Jujube, Common Jujube.
Ayurvedic Badar, Kola.
Unani Ber.
Siddha Handai.
Action Fruits—wild var.: astringent, anodyne, cooling, stomachic, styptic. Ripe and dry cultivated var.: mild laxative, expectorant. Seeds—antidiarrhoeal. Kernels— antispasmodic, sedative, antiemetic. Leaves—astringent and diaphoretic. Stem bark—astringent, used in diarrhoea. Root bark—juice purgative, externally applied to rheumatic inflammations and gout. Leaves and twigs—paste applied to
Family Gram ineae; Poaceae.
736 Ziziphus jujuba Mill.
abscesses, boils and carbuncles and
in strangury.
Leaves gave protopine and berberme; exhibited anticholinergic activity. Fruits gave cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP, Sisyphus saponins I, II and III; jujuboside B and p-coumaroylates of aiphitolic acid. Seeds
