Botanical Name: Putranjiva roxburghii Wall
Family: Euphoriaceae
Introduction:
Latin name : Putranjiva = name of the plant, roxburghii= from Roxburgh – scientist’s name.
Rosaries of hard stones are used for protecting children from infections. Due to this misleading nomenclature, the “conception-promoting” property has been attributed to the drug in folk medicine.
Names in different Indian languages
| English | Child-life tree, Indian Amulet Plant, Spurious Wild Olive |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Jivputrak, jiyapota |
| Kannada | Aman, putranjiva |
| Malayalam | Putranjivi, puttilanji, ponkalam |
| Sanskrit | Putranjivah |
| Tamil | Karuvilai, kattuppacceri maram |
| Telugu | Putranjivika, kuduru |
| Unani | |
| Folk | Jiyaapotaa |
Synonyms
Putranjiva, Putrajivaka, Putrajiva, Yashtipushpa, Arthsaadhana
Drypetes roxburghii (Wall.) Hurusawa.
Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata
| Charaka | |
|---|---|
| Susrutha | |
| Vagbhata |
Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants)
Morphology
A medium sized tree, grows 8-12 m height
Leaves – simple, alternate, elliptic –oblong
Flowers- unisexual, axillary
Fruit – drupe
Distribution & Habitat
Throughout India
Chemical constituents:
Isopropyl, 3-butyl isothiocyanates, glucoputranjivin, glucocochlearin, glucojiaputin
Properties:
Guna : guru, ruksha;
Rasa : madhur, lavanna, katu;
Vipaka katu;
Virya : sheeta;
Karma –
Cakusya, vrishya, vistambi , garbadah, varnaya
Laxative
Srotogamitva:
Dosha : Vatakaphaghna.
Dhatu : Shukra,
Mala Purisha, mutra.
Indication:
Dah, trishna, slipada, vrana
Skin diseases, cough, cold
Part used:
Whole plant
Dosage:
Leaf juice 10-15 ml
Powder 2-4 g
Decoction 50-100 ml
External uses its paste is useful as an analgesic in
headache, inflammation and abscess.