Erythrina indica Lam.
Synonym F. variegata Linn. var. orientalis (Linn.) Merril.
Family Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.
Habitat Grown as an ornamental.
English Indian Coral tree. Ayurvedic Paaribhadra, Paaribhadraka, Paarijaataka, Mandaara, Dadap. Kantaki-palaasha, Kantkimshuka, Raktapushpa; Nimbataru. (Erythrina suberosa Roxb. is also equated with Paaribhadra.)
Siddha/Tamil Kaliyanamurukkan. Folk Farhad.
Action Leaf—cathartic, diuretic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory. Applied externally for dispersing venereal bub oes. Bark—antibilious, anthelmintic, febrifuge, astringent, expectorant. (E. variegata is an adulterant to the Ayurvedic drug Rohitaka.) Different parts of the plant are used as nervine sedative, antiepileptic, astringent, antiasthmatic and antiseptic. Bark is used in liver ailments, fever and rheumatism.
A number of tetracyclic alkaloids have been isolated from the plant.
The alkaloids showed a muscle relaxant activity and increased the sedative effects of hexabarbital. The aLkaloids extracted from the leaves are re Actio
Bitter tonic.
246 Erythrina stricta Roxb.
ported to have anti-inflammatory activity Bark alkaloids are neuromuscular blocking, smooth muscle relaxant, CNS depressant, hydrocholeretic and anticonvulsant. The bark contains 0.05% alkaloids.
The root extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium smegmatis.
The seeds of many of the species of Erythrina contain alkaloids with curare-like activity Clinical trials on biologically standardized beta-erythroidine hydrochloride and dihydrobeta-erythroidine hydrochloride have shown promising results in the treatment of conditions involving certain types of muscular rigidity
Dosage Stem bark—6—12 g powder; 12—24 g for decoction. (API Vol. II.)
Erythrina stricta Roxb.
Family Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.
Habitat Assam, Manipur, West Bengal and South India.
Ayurvedic Muraa (controversial). Siddha/Tamil Mullu-murukku.
Action Bark—antibilious, antirheumatic, febrifuge, antiasthmatic, antiepileptic, antileprotic. Flowers—
