Randia dumetorum Poir.
Synonym R. spinosa Poir.
R. brandisii Gamble.
R. longispina W. & A.
R. tomentosa W & A. non Blume.
Xeromphis spinosa Keay.
Family Rubiaceae.
Habitat Assam, Naga and Khasi Hills, Travancore and the Andamans.
English Common Emetic Nut.
Ayurvedic Madana, Chhardana, Pindi, Shalayaka, Vishapushpaka.
Unani Mainphal, Jauz-ul-Qai.
Siddha/Tamil Marukkaaraikai, Madkarai.
Folk Mainphal.
Action Fruit—nervine, calmative, antispasmodic, emetic, anthelmintic, abortifacient. Used as a substitute for ipecacuanha.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the dried fruit in chlorosis, common cold, rhinitis and obstinate skin diseases.
The activity of the drug is attributed to the presence of saponins which occur to the extent of 2 3% in fresh fruits and about 10% in dried whole fruit. The saponins are concentrated mostly in the pulp. A mixture of two saponins, viz. randialic or neutral sap onin and randialic acid or acid sap onin has been isolated from the pulp. On complete hydrolysis both the saponins yield oleanolic acid as sapogenin. Ursosaponin, isolated from the ethanolic extract of the dried whole fruit, gave ursolic acid and glucose. Randianin, isolated from the fruit, gave a haemolytic triterpenoid saponin. In experimental animals, the drug
caused haemolysis both in vitro and in vivo. Crude saponin fraction showed haemolytic, molluscidal and immunostimulating activities.
Oleanolic acid 3-glucoside, isolated from the seed, exhibited anti-arthritic activity in exudative and proliferative phases of inflammation in rats.
Dosage Fruit—0.5—1.0 g powder
for decoction, 3—6 g for induction
