Morinda citrifolia Health Dictionary

  1. Health Encyclopedia
  2. Morinda Citrifolia

Morinda Citrifolia: From 1 Different Sources

Linn.

Synonym: M. bracteata Roxb.

Family: Rubiaceae.

Habitat: Sub-Himalayan tracts, Darjeeling, Konkan and the Andamans.

English: Indian Mulberry.

Ayurvedic: Ashyuka, Akshi, Atchy.

Siddha/Tamil: Nunaa, Togaru.

Action: Fruit—emmenagogue, antileucorrhoeic, antidysenteric, anticatarrhal (used in throat infections and asthma). Root and leaf—cathartic, febrifuge, anti-inflammatory (used in gout). Root—anticongestive, hypotensive. A decoction is given to regulate menstruation.

The heartwood yielded anthraqui- nones—alizarin and its glycosides, nor- damnacanthol. Leaves contain ursolic acid and beta-sitosterol. Fruits gave asperuloside and caproic acid.

The lyophilized aqueous extract of roots was evaluated for analgesic and behavioural effects in mice; positive results were observed confirming a sedative property without exhibiting any toxic effects.

Ethanolic extract of the plant showed significant antimicrobial activity.

Morinda coreia Buch.-Ham., M. tinctoria Roxb. (dry forests throughout the greater part of India) is considered as the wild form or a varient of Morin- da citrifolia and is known by the same vernacular nemes. The root bark gave the insecticidal glycoside, morindin-6- primeveroside, which was found lethal on cockroaches and houseflies topically.

Morinda umbellata L. (Bihar, Khasi Hills and Peninsular India) is also known as Nunaa in Tamil Nadu.

A decoction of root and leaves is used for diarrhoea and dysentery. The root bark contains a considerable amount of rubichloric acid and small quantities of anthraquinones.
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Abies Pindrow

Royle.

Synonym: A. pindrow Spach. A. webbiana Lindl. var. pindrow Brandis. Pinus pindrow Royle.

Family: Pinaceae.

Habitat: Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Tehri-Garhwal and other areas of northern India, at altitudes of 2,100-3,600 m.

English: Pindrow-Fir, Silver-Fir, The West-Himalayan Low-Level Fir.

Ayurvedic: Taalisha (related sp.).

Folk: Badar, Morinda, Raisalla, Ransla.

Action: Uses similar to those of A. webbiana.

Terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides and steroids of the leaf were found to have mast cell stabilizing action in rats. Terpenoids and flavonoids offered bronchoprotection against his- tamine challenge in guinea pigs. The ulcer protective action of petroleum ether, benzene and chloroform fraction has been attributed to steroidal contents. Terephthalic acid demethyl ester (TADE), isolated from the leaf, exhibited protection against inflammation and bronchospasm in guinea pigs. Ethanolic extract of leaves showed significant anxiolytic effects on all the paradigms of anxiety, barbiturate hypnosis potentiation.

Pindrolactone, a lanostane-based triterpene lactone, isolated from the leaves, showed mild activity against Gram-positive bacteria but exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria E. coli.... abies pindrow

Abies Webbiana

Lindl.

Synonym: A. spectabilis (D. Don) Spach.

Pinus webbiana Wall.

Family: Pinaceae.

Habitat: The Himalayas from Kashmir to Assam at altitudes of 1,600-4,000 m.

English: Indian Silver Fir, The West-Himalayan High-Level Fir, The East-Himalayan Fir.

Ayurvedic: Taalisa, Taalisapatra, Taalisha, Patraadhya, Dhaatriparni, Dhaatripatra.

Unani: Taalisapattar.

Siddha/Tamil: Taalispatri.

Folk: Badar, Chilrow, Morinda, Raisalla, Taalispatra. (Tallispatra, Taalispatri and Talespattre are also equated with the leaves of Cinnamomum tamala Nees.)

Action: Expectorant, bronchial sedative, decongestant, anticatarrhal, antiseptic, carminative.

Key application: Fir (Abies alba Miller) needle oil—in catarrhal illness of upper and lower respiratory tract (internally and externally); externally in rheumatic and neuralgic pains. Contraindicated in bronchial asthma and whooping cough. (German Commission E.)

A biflavonoid, abiesin, n-triaconta- nol, beta-sitosterol and betuloside are present in the leaves.

The essential oil from leaves contains alpha-pinene, l-limonene, delta- carene, dipentene, l-bornyl acetate and l-cardinene as major constituents.

Dosage: Needles—2-6 g powder. (API Vol. IV.)... abies webbiana

Picea Smithiana

Boiss.

Synonym: P. morinda Link. Abies smithiana Lindl.

Family: Pinaceae.

Habitat: The Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon at altitudes of 1,500-3,500 m.

English: West Himalayan Spruce.

Folk: Roi, Rhai, Raghaa, Kathela, Kandre, Morindaa. Spruce (trade).

Action: Essential oil—antiseptic. Used in bath salts, room sprays and deodorants.

Key applications ? Fir Needle Oil, obtained from Picea abies, synonym P. excelsa)—externally and internally, for catarrhal illness of the upper and lower respiratory tract; externally, for rheumatic and neuralgic pains. (German Commission E.)

The oil contains alpha-pinene, l- alpha-phellandrene, dipentene, bornyl- acetate, cadinene, S-guaiazulene and a bicyclic sesquiterpene. The oil distilled from the leaves collected in Gul- marg had a ester content of 23.2% (as bornyl acetate). The bark contained 4.22% tannin.

Picea abies has been introduced at Manali (at 1,890 m). It yields an ole- oresin which is used in plasters and ointments. The essential oil is used in... picea smithiana

Health encyclopedia icon Health Encyclopedia

Recent Searches