acting, spasmogenic antagonist of GABA.
Dichroa febrifuga Lour.
Family Saxfragaceae.
Habitat The temperate Himalayas from Nepal to Bhutan and Khasi Hills.
Folk Basak.
Action Febrifuge, antipyretic, antiparasitic (used for malarial fever). Dried roots, known as Chang Shan, dried leafy tops, known as Shu Chi, in Chinese medicine, are used for malarial fever. Dried roots (Chang Shan) contain the alkaloid dichroine
A and B, dichrin A and B.
The active principle febrifugine compared to quinine was estimated to be 16 to 64 times more efficacious against Plasmodium gallinaceum in chicks, about 100 times against Plasmodium lophurae in ducks also against Plasm odium relictum in canaries. The aqueous extract of the plant inhibited the infecting rate of the parasite Plasmodium berghei up to 10 days and increased the mean survival time to twice that of untreated control at 2.5 g!kg dose.
Clinical trials with febrifugine indicated that the drug given in four oral doses totalling 2—5 mg/day reduces the parasite count.
Dichrostachys cinerea W. &A. Synonym Cailliea cinerea Macb. Family Mimosaceae.
Habitat Northwestern and Central India, Maharashtra, from North Karnataka southwards.
Ayurvedic Virataru, Vellantaru, Viravrksha.
Siddha/Tamil Vidathalai. Folk Varatuli, Khairi.
Action Root—astringent and diuretic; used in renal affections, urinary calculi, also in rheumatism. Tender shoots—applied externally for ophthalmia.
The plant foliage contain tannin— 2.40, 5.60 and 4.40 mg/100 g during February, June and November respectively. Roots afforded n - octacosanol, beta-amyrin, friedelan-3- one, friedelan-3-beta-ol and beta-sitosterol. Flowers contain cyanidin and quercetin.
Dosage Root, bark—50—100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)
Dicoma tomentosa Cass.
Family Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat Native to Africa and Asia, found in north-western and southern India.
Digitalis lanata Ehrh. 213
Folk Navananji (Maharashtra), Vajradanti (Punjab).
Action Febrifuge (used in febrile attacks after childbirth. Applied locally to putrescent wounds.
