Premna latifolia Roxb.
Family _ Verbenaceae.
Habitat _ Peninsular India, Bihar,
West Bengal and North-eastern
India.
English _ Dusky Fire Brand Bark.
Ayurvedic _ Agnimantha (var.).
Siddha/Tamil _ Pachumullai, Erumai
munnai.
Folk _ Agethu (var.).
Action _ Leaves—diuretic, spasmolytic.
Stem bark—hypoglycaemic.
The leaves gave a furanoid, premnalatin,
and flavone glycosides. The
stem bark gave iridoid glucosides and
geniposidic acid.
Premna latifolia var. mucronata C.B.
Clarke and Premna barbata Wall. are
known as Bakaar and Basota (in Garhwal).
These have been equated with the
classical herb Vasuhatta.