Ixora coccinea Linn.

Family Rubiaceae.

Habitat South -western Peninsular India. Cultivated throughout India.

English Jungleflame Ixora.

Ayurvedic Bandhuka, Paaranti.

Siddha/Tamil Vetchi, Thechii.

Folk Rukmini, Rangan.

Action Herb—astringent, antiseptic, blood-purifier, sedative, antileucorrhoeic, antidiarrhoeal, anti-catarrhal. Used in dysmenorrhoea, haemoptysis, bronchitis. Root—astringent, antiseptic (used against scabies and other skin diseases). Flowers—prescribed in dysentery and dysmenorrhoea.

The saponifiable fraction of the petroleum ether extract of roots exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw oedema in albino rats.

The leaves contain a triterpenoid, lupeol, which shows anti-inflammatory activity. The crude alcoholic extract and the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited antigenic activity.

The flowers contain an essential oil (0.5%) which possesses antimicrobial activity. Flower contain leucocyanidin glycoside.

The plant substrate removes heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium and mercury from polluted water.