Root—antitumour. Leaves and shoots—applied externally on venereal sores, herpes and scrofula.
Leaves contain seaquiterpene lactones—xanthinin, xanthumin, xanthanol and iso-xanthanol. Leaves also contain isohexacosane, chlorobu tanol, stearyl alcohol, beta- sitosterol and palmitic acid. A highly toxic compound, carboxyatractyloside, has been isolated from the plant.
Beta-sitosterol glucoside is anti-inflammatory, xanthumin is a central nervous system depressant. Alcoholic solution of xanthinin shows strong antibacterial activity against Gram- negative bacteria and fungi. A cytotoxic compound, xanthatin (a seco4,5-guaianolide) has been detected in the resin.
The root gave n-heptacosanol, stigmasterol, 3,4, - dihydro oxycinnamic acid, beta-sitosterol and its D-glucoside, and campesterol.
Xanthium spinosum Linn. (introduced from Europe into West Bengal and Assam), known as Spiny Clotbur, is used as a diuretic, antiperiodic (also in intermittent fevers), sudorific, antidiarrhoeal and styptic.
The whole plant gave several xanthanolides. The sesquiterpene lactones, xanthinin, solstitialin and stizolicin, isolated from the plant, demonstrated limited antitumour action in vitro. Xanthatin has also been isolated.
Ximenia americana Linn.
Synonym X. spinosa Salisb.
Family Olacaceae.
Habitat Both the Peninsulas and the Andaman Islands.
English Tallow-Wood, False Sandal-Wood.
Siddha/Tamil Chiru-illantai,
Kadaranji, Siruyilandai.
Action Fruits—known as Wild Plum or Wild Olive, are used as a substitute for lemon. Fruits and seeds—laxative. Root and leaves— decoction given in jaundice, diarrhoea and during fevers. Root—used for venereal diseases. Bark—astringent, applied to sores. Wood—used as a substitute for sandalwood.
724 Xylia xylocarpa (Roxb.) Taub.
The root contains fat, rich in acetylenic acids, including ximenynic acid. The bark contains 17% tannin. An extract of leaves gave positive test for presence of free triterpenoids.
Alcoholic extract of the plant showed antiviral and hypotensive activity in primary tests on animals.
A cyanogenic and antimicrobial constituent, sambunigrin, is present in the plant. Natural lignified products from the plant significantly stimulate iodination of human peripheral blood p
