shown to reduce gastrointestinal foam.
Both the seeds and the essential oil are classed as carminative in I.P.
The essential oil shows moderate antibacterial and antifungal activity against several bacteria and fungi. Mixed with alcohol and castor oil, it is used for scabies.
Dosage Seed—1—3 g powder.
(CCRAS.)
Casearia esculenta Roxb.
Synonym C. ovata (Lamk) Wild.C. zeylanica (Gaertn.) Thw.
Family Samydaceae; Flacourtiaceae Habitat Peninsular India, up to
1,800 m.
Ayurvedic Saptachakraa.
Siddha/Tamil Kakkaipilai, Kilar, Kottargovai.
Folk Saptrangi (root and root bark).
Action Root—antidiabetic (used in milder chronic diabetic cases), astringent, liver tonic. Frequently adulterated with the roots of Salacia chinensis Linn. and S. macrosperma Wight.
The crude aqueous extract of the roots has shown hypoglycaemic activity.
The root gave leucopelargonidin, beta-sitosterol, dulcitol, a flavonoid and arabinose.
Casearia tomentosa Roxb. Synonym C. elliptica Wild. Family Samydaceae; Flacourtiaceae. Habitat The Himalayas from
Kashmir to Nepal, ascending to
1,000 m; throughout tropical India. Ayurvedic Chilhaka.
Siddha/Tamil Kadichai.
126 Cassia absus Linn.
Folk Chillaa, Saptrangi.
Action Root—hypoglycaemic. Root bark is used as a tonic in anaemic conditions.
Fruit pulp—diuretic, purgative, Leaves—anti-inflammatory. Fruit pulp
—diuretic.
Ethanolic (80%) extract of the leaves showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in rats. Oil extracted from the seeds in rubbed on sprains. Various plant parts are used in neuralgia.
Cassia absus Linn.
Family Caesalpiniaceae. Habitat Throughout India.
Ayurvedic Chakshushyaa, Aranyakulathhikaa, Kataka.
