dehydroelsholtzia ketone 88.7% as the main constituent, followed by humulene 2.4% and caryophyllene 0.9% (the oil composition of the species which grow in Japan and Kashmir is different.)
Plant contains linarin, apigenin and 7-0-glucosides of apigenin and lute- olin.
The Japanese species, used for hangovers, gave compounds including tnterpenoids, steroids and flavonoids.
Elsholtzia blenda Benth., synonym Perilla elata D. Don, is also equated with Ban-Tulasi. Major constituent of the essential oil is geranyl acetate. Other constituents are p-cymene, sabinene, borneol, geraniol, linalyl acetate, fernesol, limonene, linalool, citronellol, thymol and nerolidol.
Elytraria crenata VahL
Synonym F. acaulis Lindau. Tubiflora acaulis Kuntze.
Family Acanthaceae.
Habitat The Deccan Peninsula, extending northwards to eastern Himalayas.
Folk Patharchattaa, Dasmori. (Also known as Shat-muuli.)
Action Leaves—decoction prescribed in fever, also in venereal diseases. Root—used in mammary tumours and abscesseses, pneumonia and infantile diarrhoea. Plant
Embelia robusta C. B. Clarke, non-Roxb. 237
infusion is used as a cough remedy for infants.
Embelia ribes Burm. f. Family Myrsinaceae.
Habitat Throughout India.
English Embelia.
Ayurvedic Vidanga, Krmighna, Krmihara, Krmiripu, Chitratandula, Jantughna, Jantunaashana, Vella, Amogha.
Unani Baobarang, Barang Kaabuli. Siddha/Tamil Vaayuvidangam.
Action Ascaricidal, anthelmintic, carminative, diuretic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, febrifuge. Used in diseases of chest and skin. Active principles are found to be oestrogenic and weakly progestogenic. Root—bechic, antidiarrhoeal. Seed—spermicidal, oxytocic, diuretic. The plant is also used for its blood purifying properties. It is an ingredient in cough syrups, preparations for anaemia, genitourinary tract infections, diarrhoea and diseases of the liver.
Embelin, isolated from the berries, shows significant anti-implantation and post-coital antifertility activity. (Successful trials have been carried out at the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi on human beings.) It is found to be a potential male antifertility agent. Spermatogenesis has been impaired and sperm count reduced to
