Air-dried, powdered whole plant gave n-octacosanol, scopoletin, urnbelliferone, isopimpineilin, beta-sitosterol and its —D(+)-glucoside and quer cetin.
Crinum asiaticum Linn. Family Amaryllidaceae.
Habitat Wild as well as cultivated as an ornamental.
English St. John’s Lily, Poison Bulb. Ayurvedic Naagadamani, Naagapatra, Sudarshana (var.). C. defixum Ker.-Gawl, is equated with Sukhadarshana.
Siddha/Tamil Vishamoongil. Action Bulb—laxative (a substitute
for ipecacuanha), expectorant. Used in biliousness, and in strangury and other urinary affections. Also used for the treatment of burns, whitlow and carbuncle. Fresh root—diaphoretic, emetic. Leaves— expectorant; externally, anti- inflammatory (used in skin diseases and for reducing inflammations). Seed—emmenagogue, diuretic.
The bark gave sterols and triterpenoids. Seeds contain alkaloids— lycorine, crinamine and crinasiatine.
Crinum latifolium Linn.
Habitat Wild as well as cultivated as an ornamental.
English Wide-leaved Crinum.
Ayurvedic Sudarshana, Suithadarshana, Chakraangi, Somvalli,
Madhuparnikaa.
Siddha/Tamil Vishamoongil.
Action Bulb—rubefacient, antirheumatic. Also used for piles and tubercular fistula.
The alkaloids, crinafoline and crinafolidine, have been isolated from the plant. These along with crinafoline methochloride exhibited significant tumour-inhibiting activity in vivo. The plant extract in also used in allergic condition. This activity is attributed to the presence of glucan A and phosphatidyllycorine.
A related species, C. zeylanicum, is known as Milk-and-Wine Lily.
Dosage Leaf, root—5—10 g paste. (CCRAS.)
Crocus sativus Linn.
Family Iridaceae.
Habitat Cultivated in Kashmir up to 2,000 m and in Chaubattia in Uttar Pradesh.
English Saffron, Crocus.
Ayurvedic Kumkuma, Rudhira,
Vadrika, Kaashmira, Kaashmiraka,
Vaalhika, Agnishilthaa, Ghrusrrn,
