Indian Medicinal Plants/Natural Order Laurineæ

Vern. : — Dâlchîni, kirkiria, kikra, talisputar, silkanti (Hind.) ; Chotâ sinkoli (Nepal) ; Nupsor (Lepcha) ; Dopatti (Ass.) ; Zarnab (Arab.) ; Tejpât (Dec.) ; Talisha-pattiri (Tam.) ; Talisha-patri (Tel.).

N.B. — " The word tamali occurs in the Râja Nighantu, and tejpât is apparently derived from the Sanskrit tvach " (Watt).

Habitat: — Tropical and sub-tropical Himalaya, from near the Indus to Bhotan and Sikkim, Silhet and Khasia Hills.

A moderate-sized, very aromatic, evergreen tree. Bark thin, compact, brown, wrinkled, with an aromatic taste. Wood reddish-grey, splits and warps, moderately bard, close-grained, scented. Leaves usually 4-5in. long, very variable in breadth, glabrous, 3-nerved, opposite or nearly so, often alternate on the same branch. Petiole ½in. long ; the young foliage pink. Flowers in. diam. ; perianth silky, of 6 unequal lobes, in fruit breaking off transversely about the middle. Fruit black when ripe, succulent, ½in. long, supported by the thickened pedicel at the base of perianth with short truncate teeth. The lobes are ribbed longitudinally. " Perfect stamens 9, the 6 outer eglandular with 4-celled anthers opening inwards, the inner 3 with 2-glands at the base, and 4-2-celled anthers ​ opening outwards, innermost or fourth series of 3 short staminodes. Ovary free. Style filiform " (Kanjilal).

Uses : —In the Punjab, the leaves are used in rheumatism, being considered stimulant ; also in colic and diarrhœa. The bark is given for gonorrhœa. " Given in decoction or powder in suppression of lochia after childbirth, with much benefit." (Dr. Ratton, in Watt's Dict.)

Mr. D. Hooper writes : — " In collecting barks from wild trees belonging to the genus Cinnamomum, an inexperienced native is likely to mistake the species of Litsaea for the proper tree. The fragrant bark of the species of Litsaea is something like Cinnamon, but is very poisonous, as it contains an alkaloid which acts on the muscular system like strychime."

The leaves contain an essential oil of a lemon-yellow colour, and a clove- like peppery odour. Sp. Gr, at 15° C, 1.0257; phenol content 78 per cent.; soluble in 1-2 volumes and over of 70 per cent, alcohol. It is closely allied to the ordinary oil from Ceylon cinnamon leaves. (J. Ch. I. for 15th Jane, 1910 p. 715.)

Syn. :— Laurus obtusifolia, Roxb. 339.

Vern. : — Tejpat, ramtejpat, kinton (Beng.) ; Phat-goli (Kumaon) ; Bara singoli (Nepal) ; Nupsor (Lepcha) ; Patichanda (Ass.) ; Dupatti (Mechi.) ; Krowai (Magh.) ; Looleng-kyaw (Burm.).

Habitat :— Central and Eastern Himalaya ; Nepal, Sikkim, Assam, Silhet and the Khasia Hills.

An evergreen tree. Bark grey, moderately hard, shining. The bark of the roots resembles cinnamon (Gamble). This is a large robust plant, the largest-leaved of the Indian species. Leaves quite glaucous beneath, elliptic oblong, obtuse, acute or acuminate, 3- nerved, nerves not impressed above ; nervules faint or distinct ; petiole short, robust. Flowers small, ¼in. diam., often crowded at the ends of the much-branched, crowded panicles, with long peduncles. Perianth sub-silky, pubescent ; lobes persistent in fruit. Stamens and ovary sparsely hairy or glabrous. Fruit small, ellipsoid or sub-globose, ⅓-½in. long, succulent. Peduncle and calyx ⅓-½. long, the latter ⅓in. broad in fruit. ​ N. B— Col. Beddome, Dr.Dymock and others believe this to be a variety of C. Zeylanicum.

Uses : — Dr. Kurz says the aroma of the bark is variable, and the bark of the root of the Martaban plant is as aromatic as the best Ceylon cinnamon. Dr. Gimlette says in Nepal, the bark is used in dyspepsia and liver diseases.

Vern.:— Jangli-darchini (Hind.) ; Kattu-karuraf pattai (Tam.); Adavi-lavanga-patta (Tel.); Sikivabo, looleng-kyaw (Burm.).

Habitat : — Tenassarim, Mergui, etc.

A large tree. Bark grey, smooth, with horizontal, wavy bands, ¼-½in. thick. Wood light, yellowish-brown, moderately hard, shining, smooth, scented (Gamble). Branchlets nearly glabrous. Leaves opposite, as a rule, glabrous, very variable in breadth, 3-8in. lanceolate, oblong or linear-oblong, rarely ovate and rounded at base, shining above, 3-nerved, nerves continued up to the tip ; sometimes acute at base. Panicles slender, long peduncled, often exceeding the leaves, silky, pubescent. Flowers about 1/10in. long. Fruiting perianth rather spreading when dry, ⅓in. diam.; lobes persistent. Fruit ⅓in. long, base sunk in the perianth.

Uses: — Dr. Kurz remarks that he does not know in what this species should differ from the true Cinnamon. The inner bark possesses in the fresh state a powerful cinnamonic odour and taste, and by careful drying and preparation appears capable of affording Cassia ligna of good quality. The seeds, bruised and mixed with honey or sugar, are given to children in dysentery and coughs, and combined with other ingredients in fevers.

Sir George Watt writes : — " It would seem probable that much of the economic information given in works on Economic Botany, under this species, should be transferred to the C. Zeylanium of Western and Southern India."

Syn. :— Laurus cinnamomum, Roxb. 336. ​ Vern. : — Dâlchînî (H.) ; Karruwâ (Tam.) ; Sanalingu (Tel.) ; Lavanga-patte, dâla-chînî (Kan).

Habitat : — Deccan Peninsula ; also Burma, Malay Peninsula and Ceylon.

A large tree, all parts very aromatic. Bark brown rough, ½ to ¾in. thick. Wood light-red, moderately hard. Leaves, as a rule, opposite, thick, coriaceous, glabrous, upperside shining, underside dull, 3-5 basal nerves. Young foliage pink. Panicles as long as or not much longer than the leaves, sometimes terminal. Flowers grey-silky, 1/6-1/5in. diam. Fruit dark-purple, elongate, ellipsoid, ⅔-1in. long, supported by the much enlarged perianth.

Use : — The bark is officinal in the British Pharmacopeia.

Three oils are obtained from C. zeylanicum : the bark yields essential oil of cinnamon, to the extent of ⅓ to 1 per cent. ; from the leaves is expressed a brown viscid essential oil, sometimes exported from Ceylon as "Clove Oil" (it has a somewhat similar medicinal value to the true oil of cloves) ; and from the root a yellow oil which is specifically lighter than water and has a strongly camphoraceous flavour. In their report for April-May, 1904, Schimmel & Co. discuss several reactions for distinguishing between Ceylon cinnamon oil and cassia oil, with which the former is not infrequently adulterated. [Cf. Gildemeister and Hoffmann, Volatile Oils, 1900, 377-92.]

Vern. : — Kama, bahena, tikhi (Malayálam).

Habitat : — North. Kanara.

An evergreen shrub. Branches slender. Wood rather thinly coriaceous, very faintly reticulate beneath. Leaves 5-8in. long, 1½-3in. broad, oblong-lanceolate, 3-5-nerved, lateral nerves ⅔in above the base. Petiole ¾-lin. Panicles shorter than the leaves Fruiting peduncle long, slender for the size of the fruit, which is much the largest of the genus. Fruiting perianth apparently fleshy together with the thickened pedicel nearly lin. long, broadly funnel-shaped, very shortly 6-toothed. Fruit lin. long, globosely oblong.

Use. : — From the root bark, as also the leaves, an oil is prepared and used as an external medicine (Rheede). ​

Vern. :— Mallígiri, marisgiri (Nepal) ; Rohu (Lepcha) ; Gunserai (Assam) ; Gundroi (Cachar).

Habitat .-—Central Himalaya, from Nepal and Kumaon, eastward to Assam, Khasia Hills and Sylhet.

A tree with branches, stout, smooth, black when dry. Leaves very variable, 3-5in., alternate, elliptic or lanceolate, caudate, acuminate, penni-nerved, thickly coriaceous, often glaucous beneath, brown when dry; nerves erecto-patent ; petiole ½-lin., slender. Panicles axillary, 2in. long ; peduncle very slender, glabrous; flowers very shortly pedicelled, 1/16in. diam., sparsely pubescent without, villous within. Stamens hairy. Ovary glabrous.

Use : — The wood may be used as a substitute for Sassafras. It seems worthy of more attention than has been awarded to it. (Ph. Ind.)

Syn. : — Laurus porrecta, Roxb. 340.

Vern. :— Kayo-gadis (Mal.).

Habitat : —Malay Peninsula, from Tenasserim to Penang.

A large tree. Branches stout, black when dry, with very smooth bark. Leaves alternate, elliptic, ovate or oblong, sub- caudate-acuminate, penni-nerved, often glaucous beneath, extremely variable, the largest 8 by 4in., coriaceous ; others thinner, almost membranous and glaucous beneath ; base acute ; nerves spreading, the lowest pair sometimes longest. Petiole slender, 1-1½in. Panicles l-3in. long, with the young shoots enclosed in round, coriaceous, silky, caducous scales, black when dry, many-fid. Flowers 1/10in. diam., pedicelled. Perianth nearly glabrous without, pubescent within ; stamens very short, hairy. Ovary glabrous. Stigma discoid. Fruiting perianth ¼-⅓in. long, funnel-shaped, suddenly expanding into the fruit-bearing disk ; lobes broadly oblong, wholly deciduous. Fruit ⅓in. diam., globose, succulent.

Use : — The fruit yields an oil used in rheumatic affections. An infusion of the root is also employed as a substitute for Sassafras. ​

Vern. :— Pisi (Bomb.).

Habitat: — A small tree or shrub of Sikkim, and of the Eastern and Western Gháts of South India and in Kanárá and Sattára, and particularly at Mahábaleshwar.

A moderate-sized tree in evergreen forest. Bark light- brown, smooth. Wood light-brown, moderately hard, even-grained. Branchlets and young leaves usually densely, softly, rusty-tomentose or villous. Buds large, silky. Leaves whorled, coriaceous, elliptic, ovate-lanceolate, finely acuminate, glabrous and shining above, but often tomentose beneath when full grown; blade 5-7in., petiole ⅓-⅔in.; secondary nerves 6-8 pair, the lowest pair often extending almost to the middle of the leaf. Clusters of female flowers sessile. Fruit ellipsoid, seated on the campanulate, entire perianth-tube.

Uses : — A cold infusion of the leaves is mucilaginous, and is used in urinary disorders and in diabetes. The oil of the seeds, Pisa-tela, is used as an external application to sprains ; it is of a reddish colour, and has a fatty odour. (Dymock.)

Syn. : — Tetranthera apetala, Roxb, 734.

Vern. : — Garbijaur, singrauf, medh, ménda, bark = maidâ-lakrí (Hind.) ; Kúkúr chita, ratún, garur, bark = maidà-chhâl (Beng.) ; Suppatnyok (Lepcha) ; Medasak, chandna, gwâ, riân, medachob, bark = méda-lakrî, maidasak (Pb.) ; leaves = chickanâ (Bomb.); bark = Mirio (Goa) ; Maida-lakadî (Mar.); mushaippé- yetti, pishin-pattai (Tam.) ; Narra alagi, nara mamidi, meda (Tel.).

Habitat :— Widely distributed throughout India.

A moderate-sized evergreen tree, 20-50ft., very variable in foliage and inflorescence. Bark lin. thick, brown. Wood greyish-brown or olive-grey, moderately hard, shining, close and even-grained. Inner bark viscid. Branchlets and inflores​ cence more or less pubescent, sometimes almost glabrous. Leaves subterminal on branches, alternate, 3-6in., thin oblong glabrous above, sparingly pubescent beneath ; tip acute, obtuse or rounded ; nerves 8-10 or 12 pair, joined by finely reticulate veins. Petiole ½-2in. long. Flowers in umbels, corymbose or racemose, usually long pedicelled, few or many, ¼in. before opening, white or yellowish ; perianth very incomplete, or 0. Pedicels clustered on a stout or slender common Peduncle, ¼-3in. long. Bracts 4, more or less tomentose. Stamens 9-20 or more, filaments clothed with long, soft hairs. Fruit ¼in. diam., pea-sized, globose, on the small thickened perianth-tube.

Uses : — The feebly balsamic, mucilaginous bark is one of the best known and most popular of native drugs. Dymock states that it does not appear to have been mentioned by Sanskrit writers, and is only briefly noticed in Muhammadan works. He considers it probable that the drug has been adopted by Muhammadan physicians in India as a substitute for an Arabian drug, called Maghath, the botanical source of which is uncertain. At the present time it is largely employed as a demulcent and mild astringent in diarrrhœa and dysentery. According to Irvine, it is also esteemed as an aphrodisiac in Patna. Fresh ground, it is used either dry, or triturated in water or milk, as an emollient application to bruises, and as a styptic dressing for wounds. It is also supposed to be anodyne, and to act as a local antidote to the bites of venomous animals.

The oil from the berries is used in rheumatism ; the leaves are mucilaginous and have a pleasant odour of cinnamon (Watt).

Chem. comp. — This bark, an authentic specimen of which was supplied by Mr. Hollingsworth of the Madras Medical College, gave, on an airdried sample, 4.6 per cent, of ash, and 14.2 per cent, of alcoholic extract, affording very strong reactions with alkaloidal tests. On separating the alkaloid, it was found to agree with the characters of Laurotetanine, an alkaloid which has been discovered by M. Greshoff in three species of Litsæa in Java, and in several other plants of the natural order Laurineæ. Laurotetanine is crystalline, and has a strong tetanic action on animals ; it is sparingly soluble in ether, more readily in chloroform. It is precipitated by sodium carbonate from solutions of its salts, but readily redissolves in an excess of potash or soda, and is precipitated by the usual alkaloidal reagents. ​ It gives a dark indigo-blue coloration with Erdtnann's reagent, a pale rose-red with pure sulphuric acid, and a reddish-brown with nitric acid. A base, which seems to be identical with laurotetaniue, is also found in the varieties of Tetranthera, Notophccbe, Aperula, Actinodaphne and Illigera pulchra. It is also possible that Laurotetaniue is the alkaloid discovered in 1886 by Eijkman in Haasia squarrosa, Z. et M. (Meded. uit S'Lands Plantentuin, vii, p. 77-10l.)-(Pharmacog. Ind. III., 2l2.)

The seeds yield a solid white fat called in Java Tang kala fat. The fat melts at 42° and has acid values ranging from 3.3 to 8.8 ; specific gravity at 40°, 0°1734 ; saponification value, 268.2 ; iodine value 2.28 ; Reichert-Meissl value, 1.47 ; Hehner value, 76.1. The fat appears to contain olein 2.6, laurim 96.0 per cent. (A. Schroeder, Archiv. Pharm., 1905, 243, 628.)

Vern. :— Meda, gwa, singraf, sangrau, marda, kat marra, kakúri, kerauli, patoia, katmoría, papria, katmedh, kari, rand-kari (Hind.) ; karkawa, karka (Dehra Dun) ; Boro kúkúr-chita (Beng.) ; Pojo (Santal) ; Sualu (Assam) ; Huara (Kachar) ; Ratmanti, kadmero (Nepal) ; Suphut (Lepcha) ; But, mugasong (Michi) ; Bolbek (Garo) ; Mendah, kari, kjera, toska, leja. (Gond.); Leinja (Kurku) ; Rian, gwá, harein, bark = meda lakri (Pb.) ; Ranamba (Mar.) ; Nara mamúdí, nara (Tel.).

Habitat : — From the Punjab and the Salt Range along the foot of the Himalaya, eastwards to Assam, and southwards to the Satpura Range.

A middle-sized evergreen tree. Bark dark-grey, smooth when old, exfoliating in corky scales. Wood olive-grey, soft, not durable, is readily attacked by insects. Branchlets under-side of leaves and inflorescence, with soft brown or rust-coloured pubescence. Height of tree 20-40ft. Branches rather stout. Leaves extremely variable, the largest (Ava ; Wallich) 16 by 9in., usually rusty brown when dry, rarely green, glossy above ; nerves strong beneath, 8-10 pair, joined by parallel transverse veins, petioles ½-lin. Male flower heads 1/6-1/5in. diam. before opening in sessile or nearly sessile clusters. Flowers 5-6 in each head, sessile or on short hairy pedicels. Involucre of 5 rounded membranous bracts. Fruit ¼in. ovoid, long seated on the persistent base of the perianth. Ovary in ​ male flower or with a slender style and small stigma. Stamens 9-13, filaments hairy.

Uses : — Ainslie writes : " The bark is mildly astringent, and has a considerable degree of balsamic sweetness." " It is used by the hill people in the cure of diarrhœa." Stewart writes : — " The bark with that of Tetranthera Roxburghii, Nees (Litsæa sebifera, Pers , var. proper) is officinal, being considered stimulant, and after being bruised, applied, fresh or dry, to contusions, and sometimes mixed with milk and made into a plaster." Campbell confirms the above, writing : " The powdered bark is applied to the body for pains arising from blows or bruises, or from hard work ; it is also applied to fractures in animals." The seeds yield an oil which is used medicinally. The medicinal properties above enumerated are very similar to those of the better-known, and more largely employed, L sebifera, Pers., the venacular names for which also strongly resemble —and, indeed, in certain dialects are identical with— those of this species.

Vern. — Pisi (Mar.).

Habitat. — The Concan and Canara, on the Ghats and Mahableshwar Hills.

A large tree, glabrous, except the brown velvety inflorescence, and very minute hairs occasionally on underside of leaves; branches stout. Bark smooth, greyish-brown. Wood yellowish-grey, moderately hard. Leaves l-2in. broad, l-2in., often of a purplish or brown glaucous hue beneath, greenish above with impressed nerves, coriaceous, elliptic, oblong or oblanceolate, alternate, rarely ovoid, acute or acuminate, very finely, but distinctly, reticulate and sometimes puberulous beneath, with 10-13 pairs of strong nerves ; petiole ⅓-½in. Female umbels shortly pedicelled ; flowering nearly ½in. diam., 6-8-fid, in stout sub -erect racemes, l-3in. long. Male heads ¼-½in. diam. before opening. Perianth grey-silky. Perianth-tube oblong, turbinate in flower. Stamens (of female) reduced to 2 glands and a ligule. Fruiting umbels sometimes solitary or corymbose. ​ Fruit ellipsoid (unripe), ½in. long, seated on the entire or irregularly lobed, turbinate, thickly pedicelled perianth tube.

Uses :— A cold infusion of the leaves is mucilaginous, and is used in irritation of the bladder and urethra. The oil of the seeds, Pisa-taila, is used as an application to sprains and itch (Pharmacog. End. Vol III., p. 213;.

Chem. comp. — The dried and powdered red fruits of this tree yielded to other 31.6 per cent, of extract consisting mainly of crystalline fats. Petroleum ether separated this extract into a soluble fatty portion, and an insoluble neutral reddish resin. The petroleum ether solution left on evaporation some fatty acids melting at 30° and solidifying at 35°, but which, on crystillization from boiling alcohol and pressure between filtering paper, afforded some purely white crystals melting at 42.5. The fatty acids would appear to consist of lauric acid with a small admixture of oleic acid.

The resin in the fruits was associated with a volatile oil to which the fragrance is due. The alkaloid detected in the spirituous and the watery extracts of the drug had the reactions of laurotetanine. The dried fruits left after ignition 4.77 per cent, of mineral matter.

The seeds contain 31.6 per cent, of fat extracted by ether. The fat melted at 39° and afforded white crystals melting at 42.5 , consisting of lauric acid.

Habitat: — Temperate Himalaya ; Nepal and Sikkim, A middle-sized very aromatic tree, deciduous, quite glabrous, excepting the hairy pedicels. Shoots terete, smooth, quite black when dry, often very stout Leaves 3-7in., membranous, ovate or lanceolate, acute or acuminate. Petiole slender, ¼-1 in. Basal nerves three, short, not reaching the middle of the leaf. Umbels unopened, globose, ⅓in. diam., solitary or clustered, on slender pedicels, 1/6-½in. long. Bracts, outer membranous, glabrous, hemispherical ; inner narrower. Flowers on tomentose pedicels, ¼in diam., green, 5-7 flowers in each head. Sepals orbicular, nearly glabrous, very membranous. Stamens 9, filaments short, glabrous, seated on the unaltered 6-lobed perianth.

Use: — Yields excellent Sassafras (Kurz).

Sans. : — Akás Valli. ​Vern. : — Amarbeli (H.) ; Akásbel (B.) ; Alagjari (Santal) ; Akáswel, Amarvélla (Mar.); Kotan (Duk.) ; Cottan (Tam.); Paunch figa (Tel.) ; Acatsjabulli (Mal.).

Habitat : — From Banda to Bengal, and Chittagong and southwards to Travancore.

A filiform, twining, parasite, adhering to the host by suckers, quite glabrous ; young' parts puberulous. Stems slender. Branches numerous, forming a web of leafless cords over bushes. Spikes ½-2in. Bracts rounded, ciliate. Perianth twice the length of the rounded, ciliate bracteoles. Perianth segments, outer sepals small, rounded ciliate ; inner much longer, oblong or ovate. Fruit glabrous, globose, succulent, smooth (not ribbed , the size of a pea, crowned with perianth-lobes.

Uses :— - Sanskrit writers describe it as a tonic and alterative, and regard it as possessing the power of increasing the secretion of semen. (U. C. Dutt.)

The drug consists of the slender thread-like stems of the plant. It has a mucilaginous taste, but no odour. It is employed in Mauri tins in the form of decoction for intestimal derangement and as a tonic for scrofulous and rachitic infants. This is another eastern remedy whose use extends to Madagascar. In India, the powdered plant mixed with sesamum oil is used to strengthen the hair, and by ths Brahmins for cleansing inveterate ulcers, for which purpose it is mixed with butter and ginger. The juice mixed with sugar is considered a specific in inflamed eyes. (Treas. Bot., p 234.) Its properties are probably due to a mucilage. (Ph. 1. 12. 8. 82, p. 122.)

Chem. comp.—M. Greshoff has detected an alkaloid in this plant, having the following colour reactions sulphuric acid faint red, Eardrnann's reagent (sulphuric acid mixed with a little nitric acid) blue, nitric acid red-brown, Frohde's reagent dirty blue. Dr. Greshoff believes that on a closer investigation of this alkaloid, it will be found to be identical with laurotetanine described under Litsrea sebifera. (Pharmacog. Ind. III. 216.)

​

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)