Kanpur, Bareffly districts of Uttar
Pradesh, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and
Hoshiarpur districts of Punjab.
English Loquat, Japanese Mediar.
Ayurvedic Lottaaka (non-classical).
Unani Lokaat.
Siddha Ilakotta, Nokkotta (Tamil).
Action Leaves—used in China and India for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and skin diseases. Fruit— sedative, antiemetic. Flower— expectorant.
The plant contains lipopoiysaccharides (LPS), which exhibit antirheumatic activity. LPS is also found useful for treating diabetes meilitus and lowering high cholesterol level. The ethanolic extract of the leaves showed anti-inflammatory activity on carrageenan-induced oedema in rats and significant hypoglycaemic effect in normal rabbits like the standard drug toibutamide. The sesquiterpene glycoside and polyhydroxylated triterpenoids showed a marked inhibition of glycosuria in genetically diabetic mice; also reduced blood glucose level in normogiycaemic rats. The hypogiycaemic effect is mediated through the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells.
The leaves gave ionone-derived glycosides and triterpenes. Maslinic and ursolic acids have also been isolated. Maslinic acid possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity. It also exhibits inhibitory effect on histamine- induced contraction in isolated ileum of guinea pig.
Hot aqueous extract of the leaves showed hepatoprotective activity experimentally.
The leaves yield an essential oil containing nerolidol (61—74%).
The presence of an antifungal compound, eriobofuran, is also reported.
The methanolic extract of the plant exhibits antioxidant and radical scavenging activity.
Eruca sativa Mill.
Family Cruciferae; Brassicaceae.
Habitat Cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh.
English Rocket-Salad.
Ayurvedic Tuvari, Tuvarikaa, Shveta-sursaa, Bhuutaghna, Daradharsha, Siddaartha.
Unani Jirjeer, Taraamiraa.
Folk Safed Sarson.
Action Tender leaf—stimulant, stomachic, diuretic, antiscorbutic, rubefacient. Seed—vesicant, antibacterial.
