Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/358

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.)

Syn. : — D. mucronata, Royle.