Indian Medicinal Plants/Natural Order Capparideæ

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Natural Order Cruciferæ

Indian Medicinal Plants (1918)
Kanhoba Ranchoddas Kirtikar and Baman Das Basu

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3757557Indian Medicinal Plants — Natural Order Capparidae1918Kanhoba Ranchoddas Kirtikar and Baman Das Basu

N. 0. CAPPARIDEÆ.

86. Cleome viscosa, Linn. H.F.B.I., I. 170. Roxb. 501.

Syn.:—Polanisia icosandra, W & A.

Sans.:—Barbara, Karnasphota, Tilparni, Adityabhakta.

Vern.:—Kânphuti, Hulhul, Purhur (H.); Boogra (Pb.); Hoor-hooria (B.); Kathoree (Sind.), Kânphuti, Pivala tilavana, (Bomb.); Nayavayhe, Nahikuddaghoo (Tamil); Kukaworainta, (Teling.); Kat-kuddagho (Mal.); Jangli-hulvul, Choorai-ajwani, (Dec.) : Tinmani, Tilwan (GuzA Wal-aba, Ran-manissa (Sinhalese).

Habitat:—Throughout tropical and warm India; Bombay, Thana, Gujerat, Ceylon, An annual herb, 1-3ft., erect, sparingly branched, softly sessile, ovate, entire, terminal the largest, lateral often unequal at base; petioles ½-l in., becoming shorter above and uppermost (bracts) often sessile; flowers lemon-yellow, ¾ in. diam., on axillary pedicels ½ in. long; sepals ovate, acute; petals twice the length of sepals, obtuse long-clawed, 2 approximate, 2 divaricate; Stamens 12-24, anthers curled, blue-black; pod 2-4 in. without a gynophore, erect, linear, cylindrical tipped by glabrous blunt style, very viscous; seeds black, finely ridged on back.

A common weed in cultivated ground. Throughout the tropical regions of the world.

Parts used:—The seeds, leaves and roots.

Uses:—The seeds used as anthelmintic and carminative by the Vytians (Ainslie); the juice of the leaves poured into the ear to relieve ear-ache, and the bruised leaves are applied to the skin as a counter-irritant.

In Cochin China, the whole plant, bruised, is used for counter-irritation and blistering. (O'Shaughnessy).

According to Moodeen Sheriff, the seeds are anthelmintic, rubefacient and vesicant. The seeds are valuable in expelling round worms, and also as a rubefacient and vesicant in all the complaints in which mustard is used. The leaves are also useful in the same way as a local stimulant, and the juice possesses a curative influence over some cases of otalgia and otorrhœa. The seeds are used internally in powder with sugar, aud externally in the form of a poultice or paste by bruising with vinegar, lime-juice or hot-water, and their juice for the use of the ear is pressed out by bruising them without water. As a rubefacient and vesicant, the seeds under examination are much superior to the mustard seeds in this country, and quite equal to the mustard imported from Europe'

Used by the aboriginals of Australia to relieve headache. In the United States, the roots are said to be used as a vermifuge. Ph. J. Sep. 1. 1888, p. 179.

The seeds are given occasionally in fevers and diarrhœa (Lindley). At the 2nd Australasian Medical Congress, held at Melbourne, in January 1889, Surgeon-Major K. R. Kirtikar exhibited a specimen of oil obtained from the seeds of Cleome viscosa, Linn, (prepared by the late Mr. Periera of the Bombay Medical Stores), and made the following observations on the occasion. "The plant has a great reputation as a remedy for chronic Otorrhoea. The action is chiefly antiseptic, as it contains a powerful volatile principle, not unlike in smell to that of mustard. This active principle has, besides, stimulating properties."

87. Gynandropsis pentaphylla, DC h.f.b.i., i. 171.

Syn.:—Cleome pentaphyla, Linn.; Roxb. 500, 501.

Sans.:—Surjâvarta; Arkapushpikâ.

Vern.:—Hûrhûr, hulhul, karaila, churota (H.); Harhuriya Kánálá, bansarishá, arkahuli, Sádáhurhidiá (B.); Setakata arak, Guma (Santal.); kathal parhar (U. P.); Halhal (Dec); kinro, (Sind), Tilavana, mâbli (Mar.): velai, neivaylla, kadughu (Tam.); Váminta, vela-kura, (Tel.); tai-vélá, kara-velá, vélá (Malay.)

Habitat:—A common weed throughout the warm parts of India. Very common in Ceylon in waste and cultivated ground.

An erect, branched annual 2-4 ft. Stem shaggy with long, white, spreading hair. Leaves 5-foliate, leaflets sessile, broadly ovate, acute, entire, pubescent on both sides and ciliate, pale beneath, terminal largest, 1½-2 in.; petiole 2 in., stout, hairy and rough with prickles; flowers at first distinctly corymbose, afterwards in long erect racemes, bracts of 3 sessile leaflets, many empty. Pedicels over ½ in., viscoid, pubescent; sepals narrowly lanceolate, acute gladular-pubescent; petals rotundate, with a long narrow claw thrice the length of sepals, all curved upward; stamens inserted about half-way up; ovary on summit of a gynophore, linear-oblong, very glandular; style 0, stigma capitate, flat; ovules numerous; pods 2-3 in., linear, slightly curved, somewhat compressed, viscid, pubescent. Seeds helicoid-reniform, rough, dark brown (Trimen). Petals white or very pale pink, with pink claws, gynophore and stamens purplish.

The inter nodes of the floral axis (gynophore) between the whorl of petals, stamens and ovary are remarkably developed in this plant (Trimen).

Parts used : — The seeds, leaves and root.

Uses : —Sir W. Jones observes that its sensible qualities seem to promise great antispasmodic virtues, it having a smell much resembling assafœtida, but comparatively delicate. According to Dr. Wight (Illust. i, p. 34), the bruised leaves are rubefacient and vesicant, producing a very copious exudation, affording in many cases the relief obtained from a blister without its inconveniences. The expressed juice is a popular remedy, in high repute as a local application in otalgia, both amongst the natives of India and the settlers in the West Indies, where the plant is also indigenous. Dr. J. Shortt states that the seeds are used as a substitute for mustard, and yield a good (fixed?) oil. (Ph.Ind.).

The seeds are anthelmintic and rubefacient, and are employed internally for the expulsion of round worms, and, externally as a counter-irritant. The juice of the leaves is used in otalgia. The leaves are applied externally to boils to prevent the formation of pus. A decoction of the root is said to be a mild febrifuge.

The seeds yield to ether about 25 per cent, of a thick greenish, drying oil, having an acid value of 6.4; saponification value, 194.6, and iodine value, 119. 5. [D. Hooper, Ann. Rept. Indian Museum, Industrial section 1908-9].

88. Mœrua arenaria, H. ƒ. and T. h.f.b.i. i. 171.

Vern. : — Pumichakarei (Tarn.); Puta-tiga (Tel.); Vika (Guzerati).

Habitat: — Western Himalaya. Dryer parts of the N. W. Provinces. Southern and Central India; Ceylon.

A large woody climber, or straggling shrub, with divaricate branches; bark smooth, pale. Leaves 1-2 in. oval or oblong-oval , very obtuse or retuse, entire, glabrous, glaucous, somewhat fleshy; petiole ¼ in. Flowers few, rather large, in terminal corymbose racemes, without bracts; pedicels, ¾ in., smooth; Calyx-lobes ¼ in , lanceolate, acute or obtuse, reflexed. Petals distant, ¼ in., ovate, acute, erect, veined, green. Stamens much exceeding petals, spreading; filaments white, anthers green; gynophore ¼ in., ovary short, truncate. Fruit yellow, 1-3 in. (Brandis); a berry 1-2 in. long, fleshy, irregularly, and interrupted by moniliform, smooth, many-seeded; each seed portion forming almost a separate berry. Cotyledons fleshy, involute. Flowers green, sweet-scented.

Part used :— The root.

Use : — The root slightly resembles liquorice root in appearance and taste. It is said to be used as an alterative, tonic and stimulant.

This plant has two varieties :-— Var. 1. glabra. Hooker's Ic. Pl. t. 127.

Var. 2. scabra, Camb in Jacq. Voy. Bot. 22, t-23, 24. Niebuhria oblongifolia, Royle III. 73.

89. Cratœva religiosa, Forsk. h.f.b.i, i.172.

Syn. :— Capparis trifoliata, Roxb. 426.

Sans. : — Var una ; asmarighna.

Vern. : — Barua, barun, bilasi, bila, biliana(Hind.); Barun, tikto-shak (Beng.); Tailadu, bun boronda (Mechi ); Purbong, (Lepcha) ; Barua, barnahi, (Pb.); Raj Bela, bel (C.P.); Vayavarna, Chatavarna, hadavarna, kunla, warnna, karvan (Bomb.); kumla, karwan (Mar.); maralingam, marvilinga, narvala, (Tam.); (Nirvala vituse) iKau,, Mai. J; uskia, usiki, asiki maun, ulimidi, Lirimidi, urimitfi, tella ulimidi, tella vule (Tel.).

Habitat: — Near streams in Malabar and Canara; cultivated elsewhere in India.

A moderate-sized, spreading, unarmed, deciduous, tree. Bark grey, | in. thick, with long horizontal wrinkles. Wood yellowish-white, when old turning light brown, moderately hard, even-grained. Pores moderate-sized, numerous and uniformly distributed, often sub-divided, each pore surrounded by a whitish ring. Medullary rays very wavy, fine and moderately broad, the distance between the rays slightly greater than the transverse diameter of the pores (Gamble). Branches with large white lenticels. Leaves clustered at the ends of branchlets, common petiole 2-4 in, long; leaflets 3-6 by 1¼-2½ in., abruptly or gradually acuminate, pale beneath, ovate-lanceolate or ovate, the lateral form an oblique basis; petiolules articulate. Flowers 2 in. diam.; "cream coloured" (Brandis); "large greenish yellow at length purplish " (Hooker, f. and Thorns.); appearing with the leaves, in terminal corymbs. Petals ovate or oblong, obtuse or acute; claw ¼ as long as the limb. Berry ovid or globose, 2-3 in. diam.; rind hard, rough, with numerous white specks; very variable. Seeds ¼ in, long; numerous, reinform, in a yellow pulp.

Parts used:—The bark, leaves, and root-bark.

Uses:—The bark is demulcent, antipyretic, sedative, alterative, and tonic; and the fresh leaves and root-bark are rubefacient.

The bark is useful in some cases of urinary complaints and fever, and in some mild forms of skin diseases in which sarsaparilla is generally resorted to. It also relieves vomiting and other symptoms of gastric irritation. The fresh leaves and root-bark, particularly the former, are very efficacious in all the affections in which mustard poultice is indicated.

"Bruised well with a little vinegar, lime-juice or hot water and applied to the skin in the form of a poultice or paste, the fresh leaves of C. religiosa act as a rubefacient and vesicant so efficiently that I do not hesitate in saying that they are not only much superior to the mustard seeds in this country, but also quite equal, if not superior, to the flour of that drug imported from Europe. From 5 to 10 or 15 minutes is the time required for them to produce their full effect as a rubefacient, and if kept longer than this in contact with the skin, they begin to act as a vesicant. The existence of one or two plants of C. religiosa in each Hospital and Dispensary will certainly save them from the cost of the supply of Europe mustard for external use. The plant grows well with ordinary care."

"The fresh root-bark of this plant is also a very good rubefacient and vesicant, but it is rather too dear and not procurable in large quantities. The bark of the stem is very thick (from 1 to 2 inches when fresh, and from ½ to 1 inch when dry), greenish brown on the outer side, and grey or pale-white internally and on the inner side, and almost tasteless and odourless. It is one of those barks which can be easily reduced to a coarse powder, immediately after its removal from the stem." (Moodeen Sheriff).

The bark of the stem and root of this plant constitute the principal medicine of the Hindoo Pharmacopœia for calculus affections. It is said to promote the appetite, decrease the secretion of the bile, act as laxative and remove disorders of the urinary organs. (U. C. Dutt).

In Bombay, the leaves are used as a remedy for swelling of the feet, and a burning sensation in the soles of the feet. The leaf-juice is given in rheumatism in the Concan, in doses of ½ to 3 tolas, mixed with cocoanut juice and Ghi. In caries of the bones of the nose, the leaf is smoked and the smoke exhaled through the nose. The bark and the leaf pounded and tied in a cloth are used as a fomentation in rheumatism (Dymock).

90. Cadaba indica, Lamk. h.f.b.i. i, 172.

Syn. : — Stroemeria tetrandra Vahl Roxb. 267.

Vern. :— Kodhab (Sindh, and Hindi); Habab (Bomb.) Chemoodda (Tel.).

Habitat : — Western Peninsula, Sind, Concan, Deccan and Coromandal Coast, on old walls and in waste dry places.

A shrub often straggling or half-climbing, much-branched, glabrous or pubescent. " Bark brown, sometimes rough, with horizontal lenticels. Wood white, moderately hard, close-grained. Pores small, numerous, in long radical strings between the fine, wavy medullary-rays, usually one or two rays without pores between the string. Faint, rather distant, concentric lines which may be annual rings" (Gamble). Leaves simple, 1-l½ in., ovate or oblong, acute, obtuse or mucronate. Flowers yellowish white or greenish white, 1 in. diam.; corymbs few-flowered, terminal; bracts small, subulate. Sepals ovate; claw of petals narrow. Petals 4, limb oblong, ovate; Stamens 4. Disk process ¾ in. curved pink, smooth, fimbriate. Fruit cylindric, dehiscent, 1-l½ in. long, irregularly torulose; pulp orange. Flowers October-March.

Uses:—The leaves and root are considered deobstruent and anthelmintic, and are prescribed in decoction in uterine obstructions (Murray. 55.)

91. C. farinosa. Forsk. h.f.b.i, i. 173.

Habitat::-Dry places in the Punjab, at Multan and in Sindh.

A straggling, much-branched shrub. Wood white, soft, even-grained; Pores small, single or few or many in radial strings between the rays, there being usually a few rays without pores between each pair that contains them. Medullary rays very fine, regular, numerous. Leaves ¼-½ in. rarely 1 in., hoary, ovate or oblong, obtuse. Flowers as in C. indica, but petals very narrow, 4, spathulate. Stamens 5. Fruit ½-1½ in. cylindric (Hooker, f. and Thorns.): — "Delessert's Icones represent 6 stamens, we find 5 only. Fl. B. I. Vol. I, p. 173.

Uses : — It is used medicinally in Sindh.

92. Capparis spinosa, Linn. H.F.B.L, I. 173.

Syn. : — C. Murrayana, Graham,

Vern. : — Kabra, ber (H.); ulra Kanta (Kumaon); Kaur, Kiari, bauri, ber, bandar, bassar, Kakri, Kander, taker, borar, Keri, Kaba, barari (Pb).; Kalvari (Sind.); Kabar (Bom). Habitat: — Hot Western Himalayan Valleys eastward to Nepal, Sindh, the Punjab, and Western Peninsula in the Mahabaleswar hills.

A diffuse, prostrate or trailing shrub. Buds long; green branches and young shoots pubescent or covered with soft caducous white, green or yellowish tomentum. Stipulary thorns yellow, hooked or nearly straight. Leaves orbicular or broadly ovate, entire, mucronate, 1-2 in. diam.; petioles 3/10 in. long. Flowers 1-3 in. across, white, large showy, axillary solitary; pedicels 1-2 in. long, thickened in fruit; filaments long, slender, purple. Ovary on a slender, filiform gynophore. Fruit 1-3 in. long, many-seeded, oblong, ribbed on a stout gynophore, bent downwards when ripe, irregularly dehiscent, crimson inside; seeds numerous, uniform.

Parts used:—The root and root- bark.

Uses:—The author of the Makkzan-ul-Advia considers the root-bark to be hot and dry and to act as a detergent and astringent, expelling cold humours; it is therefore recommended in palsy, dropsy, and gouty and rheumatic affections; the juice of the fresh plant is directed to be dropped into the ear to kill worms, just as Cleome juice is used in India; all parts of the plants are said to have a stimulating and astringent effect when applied locally (Dymock). In Kangra, the macerated roots are applied to sores (Stewart). Ainslie notices its use as an external application to malignant ulcers.

"The dried bark of the root is considered diuretic, and was formerly employed in obstructions of the liver and spleen, amenorrhœa, and chronic rheumatism." (United States Dispensatory).

The flower buds contain caper-quercitrin, having the formula C₂₇H₃₀O₁₆. On hydrolysis, this yields caper-quercetin C₁₃H₁₂O₇ , in addition to glucose and isodulcitol. The amount of sugar formed on hydrolysis is as follows:—

Sugar as isodulcite, Quercetin, per cent. per cent. Caper-quercitrin ... ... 56.73 ... 49.61 J. Ch. 8. LXVI, pt. I. (1894), p. 299,

93. C. Zeylanica, Linn, h.f.b.i., i. 174.

Syn. :— C. acuminata, Roxb.]] 424, Clarke's Ed,

Vern.:—Wâgeti or Govindphal (Concan). Kalokera (B.) Authoondy kai (Tam.).

Habitat:—Common in the Carnatic and Malabar; occasional in the Western Deccan.

A rigid wiry, much-branched shrub, glabrous, armed; shoots sometimes puberulous. Leaves broad, ovate to lanceolate, usually acute and mucronate, reticulate beneath; ½-1½ in. coriaceous, shining above, sometimes pubescent beneath (H.f. and Th.). Brandis says: — " Leaves ovate-lanceolate, pale beneath, 1¼-4 in.; secondary and reticulate tertiary nerves prominent." Flowers 2 in. diam., solitary, axillary or 2-3 on a short shoot; sepals 4, free, mostly imbricate in bud. Petals 4; 2 lower petals yellowish, changing to red-brown; pedicels 1-2 in., slender. Brandis says the petals are white, with a basal blotch of yellow which turns purple. Trimen says the flowers are white; the 2 upper petals, usually with a basal blotch of yellow, afterwards purple; anthers pale blue. Stamens numerous, inserted on a small disc. Filaments longer than the petals. Ovary oblong, pubescent, on a slender gynophore. Fruit 2 in., ovoid, smooth; bright scarlet when ripe, fleshy; orange-pink when ripe, says Trimen. Seeds many, embedded in pulp, colytedons convolute.

Uses : — The root is reported to be a cooling medicine in the Concan (Dymock). The green fruit is sliced, dried, cooked and eaten in Ceylon, says Trimen. The people of Bombay do the same.

94. C. Heyneana, Wall, h.f.b.i., i. 174,

Vern. :— Chayrukha (H.).

Habitat : — From South Concan and Canara to Travancore,

An erect, much-branched evergreen shrub, with minute straight stipulary thorns. Young parts red, floccose. Leaves ovate, lanceolate, acute coriaceous dark green, shining above, reddish, strongly ribbed and veined beneath. Blade 3-6 in. by ½-3/10 in.; petiole about 2/5 in. long, stout. Flowers large, 3 in, across, solitary or in terminal bracteate, short racemes; bracts linear, red-tomentose, pedicels 1½ in. long. Petals pale blue or white, the lower two each with a yellow spot at the base. Filaments as long as the petals. Gynophore 1-1½ in. long; ovary tomentose. Fruit ovoid, beaked, size of a large olive.

Uses: — The leaves are used for rheumatic pains in the joints, and its flowers as a laxative drink. (Voigt. 74.)

95. C. aphylla, Roth, h.f.b.i, i. 174.

Sans. : — -Karira.

Vern. : — Karil, Karer Kurrel, lete, Karu (H.); Kari (Behar, Bom.); Kirra Kerin, Karil, Karia, Karis, teuti, delha pinju (Pb.), Kiral, Kirrur, dora Kiram, Kiram, Kirad (Sind.); Ker (Guz.); Kera, Karil (Mar.); Karyal (Deck).

Habitat:— In the arid desert tracts of the Punjab, Rajputana, Guzerat, the Deccan and S. Carnatic.

Shrubs dense, much-branched, glabrous, with thorns in pairs, straight; leaves (only on young shoots) glabrous, linear, pungent, buds pubescent. Branches slender, glabrous. Flowers 1 in. diam., red-brown, in many-flowered corymbs, on short shoots. Outer sepals subvalvate, ciliate, inner saccate. Stamens 18-20. Fruit ½,2/3 in., glabrous, long beaked.

Parts used : — The shoots, fruit and bark.

Uses : — The bark is described by the Hindoo writers as bitter and laxative, and is said to be useful in inflammatory swellings (U. C. Dutt.) The fruit is eaten pickled in Bombay by Hindus, Bhatias especially.

In the Punjab, the top shoots and young leaves are made into a powder and used as a blister (Stewart); it is also used in boils, eruptions and swellings, and as an antidote to poison; also in affections of the joints (B. Powell).

According to Surg.-Major Calthrop, the fruit when eaten causes obstinate constipation. It is used largely in the Harriana and Karnal Districts as an astringent.

The top shoots and young leaves are very efficacious in relieving toothache when chewed. (Murray, Plants and Drugs of Sindh, p. 154) The fruit is pickled by Banyas of Bombay, i.e., natives of Surat.

Dr. Dymock says that the plant possesses somewhat similar properties to C. spinosa,

96. C. sepiaria, Linn., H.F.B.I., I. 177. Roxb, 425,

Sanskrit— Kâkâdani, Gridhranakhi.

Vern. :— Iliun, garua hins (Pb); Kanta-gur-Kâmai, Kalia Kara (B.); Kanti Kapali (Uriya); Kanthar (Guz.); Nella-uppi (Tell.); Kanthârrel (Marathi).

Habitat: — Dry places throughout India, from the Punjab and Sindh to Burma and Carnatic.

A straggling large, wiry-branched shrub or small tree. Branchlets pubescent, hoary or tomentose. Dark-brown, ⅛ in. thick, often studded with thorns in pairs. Wood white, hard, sometimes with occasional rings of dark liber-like tissue. Pores moderate-sized, scanty, in white rings. Medullary rings short, fine to moderately broad. Faint white concentric bands across the rays (Gamble). Thorns recurved, being modified stipules. Leaves ovate-oblong, obovate or oblong lanceolate, subacute or retuse, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, penni-nerved, downy (rarely glabrous) beneath; ¾-1¼ by ½-¾ in. ; petiole 1/12 in. Flowers white ⅓-½ in. diam., in many flowered sessile or shortly peduncled umbels; pedicels slender or filiform, ½-¾ in.; sepals oblong or ovate; petals narrow, oblong. Ovary ovoid, pointed; gynophore ¼-½ in. Fruit pisiform, black when ripe. Flowering time — February -May; "Rainy season" — says Kanjilal, in Upper India.

Uses : — Said by the Sanskrit writers to be useful in fevers caused by deranged bile and wind. Also considered alterative and tonic and useful in skin diseases (U. C. Dutt.)

The plant possesses febrifugal properties.

97. C. horrida, Linn. f. h.b.f.i, i. 178.

Syn. : — C. zeylanica, Roxb. 425,

Sans.:— Hunkaru. Vern. : — Ardanda (H. Sindh. and Deck.), Ulta-Kanta, bipuwa-Kanta (Kumaon); His, Karvila, hiungarna (Pb.); Karralurra (Oudh); Katerni (Gond.); gitoran (Ajmere). Burn asaria, Bagni, Bagnei Baguchi (Santal.); Bagrani (Monghyr); Oseriva (Uriya); Wâgatti, wâg, Tarti, Taranti (Bomb); gowindi (Mar;); Atanday, attandax, Katalli Kai {Tam.); Adonda, arudonda (Tel.).

Habitat : — Gangetic Valley, as far north as Saharunpore; Western Peninsula and Chittagong, Ceylon, Malaya and the Philippines.

A climbing shrub, with long divaricate branches, young shoots, with rufous scurfy tomentum. Leaves oval-lanceolate or oblong, obtuse, strongly apiculate, tomentose when young, afterwards glabrous and shining; petioles short, stipular spines recurved. Flowers rather large, 1½ in. diam.; supra- axillary, solitary or 2 or 3 together, above one another, in a vertical line; peduncle ½-¾ in., tomentose. Sepals rufous-tomentose outside. Petals twice as long, hairy. Stamens much longer than petals, Gynophore 1 in.; Ovary ovoid, apiculate, with 4 placentas. Fruit subglobose, 1¼ in. diam., on a greatly thickened stalk, many-seeded. Petals white, stamens crimson.

Parts used : — The leaves, root, and root-bark.

Uses : — In Northern India, the leaves are used as a counter-irritant and as a cataplasm in boils, swellings and piles (Atkinson.)

In Chutia Nagpur, the bark, along with native spirit, is given in cholera (Rev. A. Campbell.)

In Madras, a decoction of the leaves is used in syphilis, (Surg-Major Thompson). Watt II. 132.

The root-bark is sedative, stomachic and anti-idriotic; the leaves also slightly stomachic. The root-bark is useful in relieving some of the symptoms of gastric irritation, as vomiting and pain, and in improving appetite. It has also proved itself useful in a few cases of excessive perspiration, which it checked to a great extent. The leaves also possess the property of improving the appetite (Moodeen Sheriff).

PLATE No. 69.