English Gaub Persimmon, Riber Ebony.
Ayurvedic Tinduka, Tinduki, Sphuun aka, Kaalaskandha, Asitkaaraka. Nilasaara.
Unani Tendu.
Siddha/Tamil Tumbika, Kattatti. Action Fruit and stem bark— astringent. Infusion of fruits—used as gargle in aphthae and sore throat. Fruit juice—used as application for wounds and ulcers. Oil of seeds— given in diarrhoea and dysentery. Ether extract of fruit—antibacterial. Bark—astringent and styptic, used in menorrhagia, diarrhoea, dysentery and intermittent fevers.
A paste is applied to boils and tumours. The ethyl acetate extract showed antistress and anti-ulcerogenic activity. It also prevented hepatotoxicity and leucocytosis in experimental animals.
The bark contains betulinic acid, myricyl alcohol, triterpenoids and saponin. The leaves gave beta-sitosterol, betulin and oleanolic acid. Fruit pulp and seeds contain lupeol, betulin, gallic acid, betulinic acid, hexacosane, hexacosanol, sitosterol, beta-D-glucoside of sitosterol and a triterpene ketone.
Stem bark—antiprotozoal, antiviral, hypoglycaemic, semen-coagulant. Stems yielded nonadecan-7-ol-one.
Dosage Bark—50—100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)
Diospyros kaki Linn. f.
Family Ebenaceae.
Diospyros montana Roxb. var. cordifolia Hiem.
219
Habitat Native to China; now grown in Himachal Pradesh, Kumaon, the Nilgiris and West Bengal for edible fruits.
English Japanese Persimmon. Ayurvedic Tinduka (var.).
Action Hypotensive, hepatoprotective, antidote to poisons and bacterial toxins. Calyx and peduncle of fruit—used in the treatment of cough and dyspnoea. Roasted seeds—used as a substitute for coffee.
The fruit, in addition to sugars, glucose, fructose, ascorbic acid, citric acid, contains (% of fresh weight) 0.20—1.41 tannins, 0.21—10.07 total pectins, 0.67 pentosans and 0.16—0.25 polyphenols. The fruit also contains 2.4 mg!100 g carotenoids; carotene expressed as vitamin A 2200—2600 IU. The carotenoids identified in the pulp include cryptoxanthine, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, lycopene and beta- carotene. (Many carotenoids originally present in the fruit decompose during ripening.
The fruit pulp is an antidote to bac terial toxins and is used in the preparation of a vaccine for pertussis.
Condensed tannins from the fruits effectively inhibited 2-nitrofluorene mutagen.
The immature leaves contain a steroidal saponin, lignin and phenolic compounds. Eugenol and
