Singapuri Keysur.
English Chinese Water Chestnut. Ayurvedic Shringaataka (substitute), Kasheruka (substitute).
Action Tuber—antidysenteric, antileucorrhoeic, antibacterial.
The juice expressed from the tuber shows antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Aerobacter aerogenes. The antibiotic principle has been designated as puchiin.
In ethanolic extract, hexacosanoic acid, 5 alpha-stigmastane-3, 6-dione, betulin and tricin were present. It also contained beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol.
Elephantopus scaber Linn.
Family Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat Throughout warmer parts of India.
Ayurvedic Mayura-shikhaa,
Gojihvaa. (Actinopteris dichotoma
Bedd. and Celosia cristata Linn. are
also used as Mayura-shikhaa.
Anchusa strigosa Lebill., and other
Boraginaecae sp. are used as
Gojihvaa.)
Siddha/Tamil Yaanaichhuvadi. Folk Mayurjuti, Maaraajuti.
Action Plant—astringent, cardiac tonic, diuretic, mucilaginous, emmolient (used in dysuria, diarrhoea, dysentery. Leaves—
applied to ulcers and eczema. Roots—given to patients with heart and liver affections; topically in rheumatism. Root and leaf— used in dysuria and other urethral complaints. An infusion of the whole plant is used to stimulate diuresis, reduce fever and to eliminate bladder stones. The decoction is also used in peptic ulcers, swelling or pain in stomach. Plant is also used in piles and scabies.
The plant contains germacranolide dilactones. Hydroxylated germacanolides, molephantin and molephantinin, exhibited cytotoxic and antitumour properties.
The plant also gave epifriedelanol, lupeol, stigmasterol, triacontan-l- ol and dotriacontan- l-ol.
Elettaria cardamomum Maton.
Family Zingiberaceae.
Habitat Cultivated either as pure plantation crop, or as subsidiary to coffee and arecanut in hilly forests regions of Western Ghats in Karnataka and Kerala, and in parts of Madurai, the Nilgiris and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.
