Indian Medicinal Plants/Natural Order Aristolochiaceæ

Vern. :— Alpam (Mal.).

Habitat : — Deccan Peninsula ; in the western forests, from the Southern Concan southwards.

An erect slender shrub, 6-10ff. Bark smooth, yellowish. Twigs swollen above the nodes. Young parts finely pubescent. Branches angled. Leaves distichous, 5-7in., linear-lanceolate, acute at base, attenuate, very acute, entire, glabrous above, minutely pubescent and paler beneath, 3-nerved at base, veins, prominent beneath. Petiole very short, stout. Flowers purple or greenish on rather long pubescent pedicels, in shortly stalked, irregularly umbellate cymes. Bracts small, linear. Perianth segments over ¼in., ovate, pubescent, concave. Capsule 3-4in., obtuse, 4-seeded. Seeds acute at both ends, deeply rugose. Leaves slightly aromatic when bruised (Trimen).

Uses : —The juice of the leaves, like that of many plants of this Natural Order, is valued as an antidote in venomous snake bites, especially in that of the Cobra. Fra Bartolomeo (Voyage, ​ p. 416) quotes a Malabar proverb, to the effect " as soon as Alpam enters the. body, poison leaves it." (Ph. Ind.) This is regarded as one of the most powerful antidotes to poison known on the West Coast. The whole plant mixed with oil and reduced to an ointment is said to be very efficacious in psora or inveterate ulcers (Drury).

Habitat : — Silhet.

A low, herbaceous plant. Stem creeping below, and rooting, then ascending, 6-12in., simple angular, geniculate, tomentose. Leaves densely tomentose beneath 4-6 by 2½-4in., 1-3, oblong or ovate-cordate smooth, opaque above, 6-9-nerved at the base and penni-nerved beyond ; the first pair of basal nerves not reaching the middle of the leaf. Flowers in simple spikes, ½-¾in. diam. ; bracts oblong persistent. Perianth-lobes rounded-cordate, acute. Stamens 6. Capsule 2in. long, straight ; Seeds ½in. long, 3-gonous, rugose.

Use:— It possesses intense bitterness, and, according to Horsfield, is employed by the Javanese as an emmenagogue (Ph. Ind.).

Sans :— Dhûmrapatra.

Vern. : — Kiràamâr gandân or gandatî (Hind, and Dec.) ; Addu-tina-pally (Tam.); Gadidegada-para-áku (Tel.) ; Gandhâtî, kidâmârî (Bom.); Kadapara (Tel.).; Atutinâppâla (Mal.) ; Paniri (Uriya).

Habitat: — Deccan Peninsula, northward to Bundelkund, and Scinde.

Perennial herbs, quite glabrous. Roots slender. Stem or branches slender, 12-18in., angled, striate. Leaves 1½-3in. long and broad, widely and shallowly cordate at base or reniform, tip obtuse or subacute, margins flat or waved, glaucous beneath. Petiole 1-1½in. Peduncle short ; bracts usually orbicular, variable in position, sometimes basal. Flowers solitary. ​ Perianth 1-1¾in., base globose, tube cylindric, erect, slender, lip erect, linear, as long as the tube, dark-purple with rootute edges, villous, with purple hairs. Anthers six. Stylar column 6-lobed. Fruit a pyriform capsule, lin. long, many grooved. Seeds triangular, cordate.

Uses: — Every part of this plant is nauseously bitter, which remains long, chiefly about the throat. For a purging with gripes, two of the fresh leaves are rubbed up in a little water, and given to an adult for a dose, once in 24 hours (Roxb).

It is well-known by its Hindustani name Kirâ-mâr, from its supposed anthelmintic, properties, and also probably from the fact of the expressed juice of the leaves being applied to foul and neglected ulcers, for the purpose of destroying the larvœ of insects. A belief in the anthelmintic virtues of the leaves is common amongst the natives. In Dalzell and Gibson's Flora of Bombay (p. 225), it is spoken of as possessing " a merited reputation as an antiperiodic in intermittent fevers." Emmenagogue properties are also assigned to it. Dr. J. Newton reports that in Scinde the dried root, in doses of about a drachm and-a-half, in the form of powder or in infusion, is administered during labours to increase uterine contractions (Ph. Ind.).

The leaves are applied to the navel to move the bowels of children, and are also given internally in combination with castor oil as a remedy for colic.

Dr. Hove states that the root and leaf are remarkably bitter, and yield a thick yellowish juice, which is mixed with boiled milk and given in syphilis, and combined with opium is used with great success in gonorrhœa. Ainslie notices the application of the leaf, when bruised and mixed with castor oil, to obstinate psora (the carpang of the Tamils.)

The native doctors in Bombay make a paste, with water, of the plant, along with the seeds of Barringtonia acutangula, Celastrus paniculata, and black pepper, and rub the whole body with it for the cure of malarial fevers.

The evidence collected by Dr. Watt (Diet. Ec. Pr. India, i. 314) shows that it is the opinion of several European phy​ sicians in different parts of India that the plant has a decided action upon the uterus, and increases or induces uterine contractions. There appears to be no doubt as to its anthelmintic properties. (Dymock).

Chem. comp.— The plant contains a nauseous volatile substance, an alkaloid, and a large quantity of salts. The alkaloid is amorphous and gives no colour reactions with the strong mineral acids. The bitter concentrated tincture on standing deposited cubical crystals of potassium chloride. The ash calculated on the air-dried plant was 17.75 per cent., and strong alkaline fumes were given off from the plant when burning.

Sans. :— Rudrajatâ, Arkamula ; Sunanda ; Ishvari.

Vern.: — Isharmul, isharmûl-ki-jar (H. and Duk.); Isarmul (B.), Bhedi jane-tet (Santal) ; Sâpasand (Bomb, and Mar.) ; Arkmula, ruhimula (Cutch and Guj.) ; Peru-marindu, perum-kizhangu (Tam.) ; Ishvara-véru, dûla-gôvela, govila (Tel.) ; Karalekam, karukakpulla, karal-vekam, ishvarâ-muri (Mal.) ; Ishverivérû (Kan.) ; Ich-chura-muliver (Tam.).

Habitat : — Throughout the low country of India, from Nepal and lower Bengal to Chittagong ; and the Deccan Peninsula, from the Concan southward.

Shrubby, quite glabrous, twining, prostrate herbs. Stems slightly woody at base, branches slender. Leaves very variable, membranous, linear, ovate, obovate-oblong, or subpanduriform ; base cuneate or rounded ; basal nerves short ; in the narrowest form 4 by ½-⅓in, in the broadest 4-5 by 3in., abruptly or gradually obtusely acuminate or apiculate, often oblong and quite obtuse. Petiole ¼-⅓in., very slender. Perianth straight, greenish- white ; base globose ; tube shortly funnel-shaped ; mouth oblique, trumpet-shaped, gradually passing into short, oblong, obtuse, glabrous, purple and brownish lip. Flowers 1-3 ; corymbs short, pedunculate. Anthers 6 ; stylar column 6-lobed. Capsule 1½-2in. long, oblong, grooved. Seeds flat, triangular, winged.

Uses : — The root, which is very bitter, is held in much esteem by the natives as a stimulant, tonic, and emmenagogue, and is employed by them in intermittent fevers and other affections. ​ Nothing certain is known of its virtues ; but Dr. Kirkpatrick (Cat. of Mysore Drugs, No. 455) considers that its properties as a febrifuge are deserving of investigation ; and Dr. Fleming, judging from the aromatic bitterness of the root, is of opinion that it will be found useful in dyspepsia {Asiat. Researches, vol. xi.). Dr. Gibson regards it as valuable in bowel affections. From its sensible properties, and the high esteem in which it is held by the natives, it may be worthy of further notice. It is as an antidote to snake bites, however, that it has obtained most repute, and by the early Portuguese settlers was termed Raiz de Cobra, from its supposed efficacy in those cases, even in the bite of the Cobra de Capello. The leaves, and the expressed juice of the leaves, have more recently been brought to notice in the same class of cases by Mr. Lowther (Journ. of Agri.-Horb. Soc. of India, 1846', vol. v. pp. 138, 742, and vol. vii. p. 42.) (Ph. Ind.). It seems to be, however, more used by the native Madras physicians for snake-bite than in the Dekkan or Concan where I come from. I am not aware of the drug being experimented on by any European physicians. It is worth a trial on theoretical grounds certainly (K.R.K.).

In Bombay it is chiefly prescribed in the bowel complaints of children ; and in cholera it is regarded as a stimulant tonic, and is also applied externally to the abdomen. Babu T. N. Mukharji states that the juice of the fresh leaves is very useful in the croup of children, by inducing vomiting, without causing any depression.

Dr. S. M. Shircore of Moorshidabad states that it is undoubtedly used to procure abortion.

" With regard to the antidotal properties ascribed to Aristolochise, Dr. Hance remarks that undoubtedly no genus comprising a large number of species, widely diffused over both hemispheres, has been so universally credited with alexiteric properties as Aristolochia, and this, too, in all ages, and in every condition of society, alike by the wandering savage and the polished citizen or learned physician of a highly civilized commonwealth.* * * *

" Modern physicians seem with one accord to regard these plants as diaphoretics, stimulant tonics, and emmenagogues only; but the array of testimony from all quarters of the globe, and extending over a period of more than two thousand years, in favour of their alexiteric properties, is so overwhelming, that it is in my judgment incredible that these virtues should be imaginary."— (Ph. J. March 15, 1873, pp. 725-726.) ​Mr. R. Modlen concludes a paper " on the Aristolochiaceœ as antidotes to snake-poisons " in the Ph. J. for Nov. 20, 1880, p. 411, as follows :

" Although we English pharmacists may never be in a position to test this remedy, still it seemed to be one of sufficient interest to be noted. Strangely enough, the only place in this neighbourhood (Oxford) where I have seen an adder is the only locality for A. Clematis,"

According to the authors of the Pharmacographia Indica, the roots contain an alkaloidal principle.

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