I
Yucca aloifolia Linn.
r
728 Yucca gloriosa Linn.
Y)
Oxycanthin, extracted from Yucca plant, is used for the treatment of pruritus. It also stimulates hair growth.
The leaves of Yucca gloriosa contain sap ogenins—titogenin derivatives, smilagenin, hecogenin, diosgenin, gb-
riogenin, 12-beta-hydroxysmilagenin and chlorogenin. Beta-sitosterol is also reported from leaves.
Essential oil from leaves contains cis9-nonadecene and cis-8-heptadecene as major constituents.
Family Cycadaceae.
Habitat Native to tropical and sub-tropical America; introduced into Indian gardens.
Action Plant—toxic, insecticidal.
The leaves contain bilobetin, ginkgetin and sciadopitysin, which have been isolated from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba Linn. (Ginkgo extract is used for cerebral insufficiency and for improving mental performance in geriatric patients.) Other flavone compounds include amentoflavone, sequoiaflavone and amentoflavone derivatives.
Zanonia indica Linn.
Family Cucurbitaceae.
Habitat The peninsular India, khasi hills of Meghalaya and the Andamans.
Ayurvedic Chirpoti, Chirpotaa, Kuntali, Tiktaka.
Siddha/Tamil Penar-valli.
Folk Parpoti.
Action Fruits—cathartic, used for cough and asthma. Leaves— antispasmodic; topically applied to reduce inflammation and irritation. Plant—febrifuge.
Zantedeschia aethiopica
(L.) Spreng.
Synonym Richardia africana Kunth.
Family Araceae.
Habitat Cooler parts of Bihar and Orissa.
Action Leaves—used as a poultice on sores, boils, wounds, burns, insect-bites and on painful parts of
