flavonoids and reducing sugars are also reported. Powdered or crushed leaves are applied to wounds.
The bark contains 13.40% tannins. The presence of ailcaloids, saponins and reducing sugars is also reported.
Gum (stem exudate) is antidiarrhoeal. Used internally in rheumatism.
Dosage Stem bark—5—10 g (API Vol. IV.)
Habitat Drier parts of India.
Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. 105
Bupleurum flacutum Linn.
Family Umbellferae; Apiaceae.
Habitat The Himalayas from
Kashmir to Bhutan and the Khasi Hifis, at 1,000—4,000 m.
English Hare’s Ear.
Folk Shingu (Himachal Pradesh), Sipil (Punjab), Thaanyo (Garhwal).
Action Roots—anti-inflammatory, haemolytic, antipyretic. Used in
inflammations, muscle stiffness, neurosis, pain and pyrexia. Roots resolve inflammations of costal
margin and diaphragm.
Key application Extracts have been used for the treatment
of chronic hepatitis, nephrotic syndrome and auto-immune diseases (WHO.).
Therapeutic properties are attributed to saikoside or saikosaponins (yield from roots 2.06—3.02%), a complex mixture of triterpenic sap onins. Sap 0- nm content varies with age. Saikosaponins are analgesic, antipyretic as well as antitussive; anti inflammatory on oral administration. In Japan and China, roots have been used traditionally in auto-immune diseases. Saikosaponins form an ingredient of anti- tumour pharmaceuticals. A water- soluble crude polysaccharide fraction, prepared from the root, was reported to prevent HC1!ethanol-induced ulcerogenesis in mice significantly. Saikosaponin-d, at a concentration of more than 5 lim, inactivated measles virus and herpes simplex virus at room temperature.
Several sterols, possessing metabolic activities and plasma cholesterol- lowering activity, have also been isolated from the root.
Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.
Synonym B. frondosa Koenig ex Roxb.
Family Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.
Habitat Throughout India, up to 1,200 m except in very arid regions.
