Habitat Dry, deciduous forests, throughout Peninsular India.
English Indian Satinwood tree.
Ayurvedic Provisionally equated with Bhillotaka.
Siddha/Tamil Karumboraju, Kudavuboraju, Poraju.
Folk Bhirraa, Bharahula, Raktarohidi.
Action Leaves—anti-inflammatory, antiseptic. A paste is applied
to wounds; also in rheumatism.
Bark—astringent. A decoction is
used in contusions and for painful joints. (The wood, its dust, moist dust of freshly cut wood, cause skin irritation and dermatitis.)
The bark contains the alkaloids— skimmianine, swietenidins A and B, chloroxylin and chloroxylonine. Chloroxylonine is a powerful irritant. The bark also contains the coumarins and lignans.
The leaves yield an essential oil which shows antibacterial and antifungal activity.
Chondodendron tomentosum
Ruiz et Par.
Family Men ispermaceae.
Habitat A native of Peru and Brazil.
English False Pareira Brava.
Ayurvedic Paatha, Ambashthaa (true Pareira is equated with
Cissampelos pareira root).
144 Chonemorpha macrophylla (Roxb.) G. Don.
Action Diuretic (used for chronic inflammation of urinary passages, calculus affections, jaundice, dropsy); also for leucorrhoea, rheumatism.
Roots and stem contain alkaloids, including delta-tubocurarine and 1- curarine. Tubocurarine is a potent muscle relaxant. The plant contains toxic derivatives and must be used in medicinal doses with caution.
Tubocurarine alkaloid is used as tubocurarine chloride to paralyse body’s muscles during operations.
Chonemorpha macrophylla
(Roxb.) G. Don.
Synonym C. fragrans (Moon) Alston.
Family Apocynaceae.
Habitat Dense moist forests throughout India up to 1,500 m altitude.
English Wood Vine.
