Seeds yield a fatty oil called ebony oil, a water soluble mucilage and saponins. Flowers gave isoquercitrin (6%), rutin (4.6%) and quercetin (small amounts).
Bauhinia variegata Linn.
Synonym B. candida Roxb. Family Caesalpiniaceae. Habitat Punjab, Western Peninsula
and Assam. Also cultivated in gardens.
English Mountain Ebony, Buddhist Bauhinia.
Ayurvedic Kaanchanaara, Kaanchanaaraka, Kanchanak, Kaanchana, Gandhaari, Sonapushpaka, Ashmantaka.
Siddha/Tamil Sivappumanchori.
Action Buds—a decoction is given in piles (also used against tumours), haematuria, menorrhagia. Dried
Family Caesalpiniaceae.
Belamcanda chinensis CL.) DC. 87
buds are used in diarrhoea, dysentery, worm infestation, piles and tumours. Root— carminative, used in dyspepsia and flatulence (a decoction is reported to prevent obesity). Bark—astringent, anthelmintic; used externally in scrofula and skin diseases. Seeds—possess human blood agglutinating activity. Leaf— antifungal.
Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicated the use of the stem bark in lymphadenitis and goitre. (Kaanchnaar Guggulu is prescribed for glandular swellings and goitre.)
Water-soluble portion of alcoholic extract of the plant showed preventive effect against goitre in rats.
Flowers gave flavonoids, kaempferol-3-galactoside and kaempferol-3- rhamnoglucoside. The stem bark yields hentriacontane, octacosanol and stigmasterol. Stem contains beta-sitosterol, lupeol and a flavanone glycoside.
Dosage Stem bark—20—30 g for decoction. (API Vol. I.)
Begonia laciniata Roxb. var. nepalensis A. DC.
Family Begoniaceae.
Habitat Tropical and sub-tropical regions, especially in America. Found in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur, ascending to an altitude to 2,100 m.
English Beefsteak Geraniums, Elephant’s Ear.
Folk Hooirjo (West Bengal), Teisu (Nagaland).
Action A decoction of the root is given for liver diseases and fever. The extract from succulent stalks is used for venereal diseases in folk
