Folk Naadi shaaka, Narichaa. Titapat (Bengal).
Action Leaves—stomachic, carminative, diuretic, antidysenteric (dried leaves). Seeds purgative.
Seeds contain cardiac glycosides. These include two monosides, helveti cosid
and corchoroside A and two polar glycosides, erysimoside and olitoriside. Leaves contain beta-sitosterolglucoside. Corchoroside A exhibited cardiotonic properties.
The aqueous/alcoholic extracts, containing polysaccharides, may be used in preparations of skin cosmetics or hair preparations for their moisturizing effect.
Corchorus fascicularis Lam.
Family Tiliaceae.
Habitat Throughout warmer parts of India.
Ayurvedic Chanchuka, Chanchu. Folk Chanchu shaaka, Baaphali.
Action Astringent, spasmolytic, restorative, mucilaginous.
The plant contains betulinic acid and beta-sitosterol. Seeds yield cardenolides including triocularin. The glycosides of the plant were found to be devoid of any effect of its own on smooth muscle of guinea pig ileum, but produced spasmolytic effect against acetylcholine, histamine and bradykinin. Direct action of the drug was observed on rabbit intestines. Slight cardiac depressant effect was found on isolated amphibian heart preparation.
Corchorus depressus (L.) Christensen, found in drier parts of North India, is known as Bhauphali (Delhi).
The Plant is used as a cooling medicine in fevers; its mucilage is prescribed in gonorrhoea, also for increasing the viscosity of seminal fluid. An extract
Cordia wallichii G. Don. 173
of the plant is applied as a paste to wounds.
The plant contains alpha-amyrin derivatives, together with apigenin, luteolin, sitosterol and its glucoside. Presence of quercetin and kaempferol has been reported in leaves and flowers.
The plant exhibits antimicrobial and antipyretic activities.
Cordia myxa Roxb. non Linn.
Synonym C. dichotoma Forst. f.
C. obliqua Wild.
Family Boraginaceae.
Habitat Throughout India, wild and often planted.
English Sabestan Plum.
