Palaka payyani

In Ayurveda, it is included in sopha hara and vathahara drugs.

SI Name: Oroxylum indicum
Family: Bignoniaceae

General discription:
Oroxylum Indicum Vent., a member of family Bignoniaceae is mostly sighted along the river banks or slopes of the hills. Except in the western drier area, the plant is distributed throughout India and South East Asia. The use of this plant for the treatment of various ailments is part of the local tribal communities’ knowledge of various tribes in Manipur such as Anal, Kuki, Mao, Maram, Tanghkul and Zeliangrong.

Sanskrit Name:
Syonakam, Sodana, Deergha vriksha, Pruthu sumbha, Dundukam.

Distribution:
It is mostly seen in Rain forests.

The medicinal properties of Oroxylum indicum:
The decoction of the bark is taken for curing gastric ulcer and a paste made of the bark powder is applied for mouth cancer, scabies and other skin diseases. The seed is ground with fire-soot and the paste applied to the neck for quick relief of tonsil pain. Also, a paste made of the bark is applied to the wounds of animals to kill maggots. Decoction of the bark is given to animals for de-worming. The sword-like fruit or a branch of the plant is used by the farmers to kill crabs in wet paddy fields.

Potential anti-cancer properties:
During a botanical exploration tour to Senapati district (1999) which is situated in the northern part of Manipur, Mr.A.A.Mao of the Botanical Survey of India, learned from Maram Naga villagers that a man of about 50 years of age, Pashi Maram had been diagnosed with cancer in 1995. He underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for one month and his family was informed that due to the advanced stage of the disease, he would live a maximum of six months more. On the advice of a Tangkhul Naga whom he had met in Imphal, Pashi Maram then took an herbal decoction of the bark of Oroxylum indicum. Surprisingly after coming home, he led a normal life till 2000 with intakes of only pain relief medicines and analgesics along with the herbal medicine. But in January, 2001 he passed away.
RasadiGunas:
Rasam: Tiktham, Kashayam, Madhuram
Gunam: Lakhu, Rooksham
Veeryam: Ushnam
Vipakam: Katu

Useful parts:
Root, Bark

PAATHIRI

SI Name: Stereospermum suaveolens
Family: Bignoniaceae

Sanscrit names:
Paadala, Krishnavrinda, Tamrapushpi, Kuberakshi, Madhubhoothi.

Distribution:
Seen in Kerala forests.

Rasadi Gunas:
Rasam: Thiktham, Kashayam
Gunam: Lakhu, Rooksham
Veeryam: Ushnam
Vipakam: Katu

Useful part:
Root, Flower, Bark

Antihyperglycemic and Antioxidant Activities of Medicinal Plant Stereospermum suaveolens in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats:


The ethanol extract of Stereospermum suaveolens (EESS) bark was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic in addition to antioxidant effects in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats by acute and subacute models at dose levels of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, given orally. The ethanol extract showed a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels when compared to the standard drug, oral Glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg body weight). The serum of rats treated with ethanol extract showed decreased levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and increased level of total proteins. EESS showed reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level and significantly increased the body weight (P < .001), glycogen, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities, compared with STZ diabetic control in a dose-dependent manner. This finding shows that the ethanol extract of Stereospermum suaveolens exhibits potent antihyperglycemic and antioxidant properties.

KUMIZHU

SI Name: Gmelina arborea
Family: Verbenaceae

Distribution:
Almost all forests in India.Mostly seen in watery areas of hills and valleys.Native to tropical moist forest from India, Burma, and Sri Lanka to southern China, Gmelina is widely introduced, e.g. in Brazil, Gambia, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Malaysia, Malawi, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, and Sierra Leone

Morphology:
Deciduous tree 12–30 m high and 60–100 cm in diameter. Bark light gray or gray-yellow, smooth, thin, somewhat corking, becoming brown and rough; twigs stout, often slightly 4-angled. Leaves opposite, broadly ovate, 10–20 cm long, 7–13 cm wide; base with 2–4 glands beneath, acuminate, entire, with 3 or 5 main veins from near base and 2–5 pairs of side veins, underneath velvety with yellow-brown hairs. Petiole 5–12 cm long, hairy. Cymes paniculate at ends of twigs, 15–30 cm long, branched, densely hairy. Flowers many, short-stalked, nodding, 4 cm long, densely hairy. Calyx bell-shaped, 5 mm long, 5-toothed; corolla bright orange-yellow or brownish-yellow, with short narrow tube, 2-lipped; stamens 4 in 2 pairs inserted near base of tube. Pistil with elliptical 4-celled ovary having 1 ovule in each cell. Stigma often slightly 2–4-forked. Drupes ovate or pyriform, 2–2.5 cm long, smooth, becoming orange-yellow, pulpy, with large egg-shaped stone, having 1–4 cells. Seeds 1–4 (Little, 1983).

Chemical constitutions:
The drupes are reported to contain butyric acid traces of tartaric acid and resinous and saccharine matter, the latter two also in the roots, which contain traces of benzoic acid. Root cotained alkaloids, benzoic acid, etc. Fruit contained sugar, tartaric acid, alkaloids.

Rasadi Gunas:
Rasam: Tiktham, Kashayam, Madhuram
Gunam: Guru
Veeryam: Ushnam
Vipakam: Katu

MUNJA

Included in "Dasamoola".Othervise known as "Agnimandha".

SI Name:Premna integrifolia.

Family:Verbenaceae.

RASADI GUNAS:

Rasam: Kadu,Tiktham,Madhuram.

Gunam: Laghu.

Veeryam: Ushnam.

Vipakam: Madhuram.

OUSHADHA GUNAM:

Vatha,Amavatha, Kapha roga, Nadeesoola, Agnimandyam, Vibandham, Prathisyayam - Nasanam.

vilwam

Latin name: Aegle Marmelos
Local Name: Bael, bhel, bilwa, belaphal, Bengal Quince
Parts Used: Fruits & Leaves

Distribution:

Bael tree is found throughout India in each and every place.

Introduction:

Bael is a very good source of protein which is 5.12 per cent of the edible portion. Fresh half-ripe Bael fruit is mildly astringent and is used for dysentery and diarrhea. The pulp may be eaten or the decoction administered. Bael is said to cure without creating any tendency to constipation. Bael leaves, fruits and root can be used as tonic and coolant with antibiotic properties ;

Remedies For:
Bael leaves are extremely useful for treating Diabetes, jaundice, cholera and asthma. Bael leaves are made into a poultice and used in the treatments of ophthalmia. Bael Leaf poultice is applied to inflammations - with black pepper for edema, constipation, and jaundice - with water or honey it is good for catarrh and fever.

Bael roots are sweet which cures fevers caused by tridosho, stop pain in the abdomen, the palpitation of the heart, poverty of seminal fluid and all types of urinary troubles and melancholia. Bael roots and the bark of the Bael tree are used in the treatment of fever by making a decoction of them. They are also useful in the disorders of vata, pitta and kapha.

Bael fruits are valuable for its rich nutritive, sweet, aromatic mucilage and pectin contents – very good for all kinds of stomach disorders. Bael Fruits are very useful in chronic diarrhea and dysentery, particularly in the case of patients having diarrhea, alternating with the spells of constipation. Sweet drink (sherbet) prepared from the pulp of the Bael fruits produce a soothing effect on the patients who have just recovered from bacillary dysentery.

The pulp from unripe Bael fruits are soaked in gingelly oil for a week and this oil is smeared over the body before bathing. The unripe and half-ripe fruits improve appetite and digestion (Jain, 1968; Jauhari, 1969). As per Indian Ayurvedic concept this oil is said to be useful in removing the peculiar burning sensation in the soles. Rind is used for acute and amoebic dysentery, griping pain in the loins and constipation, gas, and colic, sprue, scurvy.

Peoples in South India use the juice of bael leaves to get relief from wheezing and respiratory spasm. The leaf juice is mixed in warm water with a little pepper and given as a drink.