Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/361

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N. 0. SIMARUBEÆ.
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the Western Peninsula, and the Carnatic, in the Bombay Presidency, widely distributed over the Thânâ, Kaira, Panch Mahals and Guzerat districts, occasionally met with in Rajputana, common on the Coromandel Coast.

A tree 60-80ft. Leaves 1ft or more, glandular-hairy ; leaflets very numerous, very coarsely toothed, on long petioles, very unequal at base. Flowers larger than in A. glandulosa, on longish pedicels, in large lax often on very much branched, panicles. Petals ovate-lanceolate, commonly reflexed. Filaments short, half the length of anthers. Samara large copper-red longer than in A. glandulosa, 2in. by ¼in., strongly veined, blunt or pointed at both ends, always once or twice twisted at base.

Parts used : — The bark and leaves.

Medicinal uses : — The bark is aromatic and used for dyspeptic complaints. It is also regarded as a tonic and febrifuge in cases of debility. Expectorant and anti-spasmodic, given in chronic bronchitis and asthma.

" In Bombay the bark and leaves are in great repute as a tonic, especially in debility after child-birth. In the Concan the juice of the leaves is usually administered in khir, or the juice of the fresh bark is given with cocoanut juice and treacle, or with aromatics and honey ; it is said to stop after-pains" (Dymock.)

Used also as an astringent in diarrhœa and dysentery.

" Mr. Narayan Daji separated an acid principle which he named Ailanthic acid. This acid may be given in doses of 1 to 3 grains, and is said to be tonic, and alterative. In large doses, it causes nausea and vomiting, and is purgative. He recommended its use in dyspepsia with constipation" (G. Bidie.)

Its bark is used as a febrifuge and tonic. Narain Daji isolated from it an acid principle which he named ailanthic acid. He also found a bitter, non crystallisable principle. It belongs to a neutral class of substances related toquassin, and may probably prove to be identical with cedrin and samaderin, which have been obtained from other members of the Simanibaceae.

J. Ch. Industry, 1895, p. 985,