Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/444

364 soap-nut tree is woody, very bard and quite inert. The root- bark and bark, however, contain the vegetable principle, saponin, and form froth-like soap, when bruised and agitated in water. I have used each of these drugs in decoction, and in large and repeated doses, and found them to be very mild expectorants and demulcents. As medicines, they are so weak, that I did not consider them worthy of being treated as such. (MOODEEN SHERIFF).

There are two forms of this plant : — (I) S. detergens Roxb. 332 ; (2) S. Acuminata Wall. Royle, 111. 139.

Sans. : — Phenila, Arista.

Vern. : — Rithá, dodan, kammar (H.) ; Dodan (Pb.) ; Itá (Uriya).

Habitat : — Cultivated throughout N. W. India, Bengal, Kumaon, Sylhet and Assam.

A handsome tree, attaining 60ft., deciduous. Bark grey, wood light yellow, rough, moderately hard, compact and close-grained. Leaves alternate, paripinnate, 12-20in. long. Leaflets 5-10 pair; opposite or alternate, 3½-6 by l-3in.. gradually smaller towards the apex of the rachis, lanceolate, acuminate, entire, coriaceous, glabrous ; lateral nerves numerous, petiolate 1/10-1/5 in. long. Inflorescence a terminal thyrsus or compound cymose panicle. Flowers small, regular, polygamous. Calyxlobes somewhat unequal, ciliate. Petals white, inserted in the centre of the disk ; filaments 8, white, woolly ; anthers versatile. Ovary usually 3-ceiled. Fruit a fleshy globose, 1-seeded drupe ; ½-1in. diam. Seed smooth black, loose inside when dry. The saponaceous pericarp wrinkled and translucent in the dry fruit (Kanjilal).

Parts used : -~ The fruits and seeds.

Uses : — The fruits are used medicinally in salivation, epilepsy and as an expectorant. They are also recommended for the cure of chlorosis (Watt).

Honnigberger states that seeds pounded with water, are said often to put an end to an epileptic paroxysm, a small quantity being introduced into the patient's mouth.