Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/456

376 A native article of diet, known as amchúr or ambosi (Bom.), is made of green mangoes which have been skinned, their stones removed and the pulp cut up into pieces and dried in the sun, is recommended by the Inspector-General of Prisons, North- Western Provinces and Oudh, as a good and cheap antiscorbutic for native troops (Dr. Emerson).

The flowers of the mango are used either in the form of tea or powder for catarrh of the bladder. The powder is also used in the form of fumigation against mosquitoes (Brazilian Drugs, Ph. J., Oct. 25, 1884).

Introduced into America in the form of fluid extract, either from the fruit or the rind, Astringent with a specific tonic action on mucous membranes. Its effects are great in diphtheria and other malignant throat diseases. The fluid extract applied locally is very useful in hæmorrhages. (I. M. G. February 1883, p. 56).

The kernels of the seeds contain 47.5 per cent, of water, and 5.2 per cent, of fat, which melts at 36°C. ; acid value, 12.3 ; Saponification value, 175 ; iodine value, 54.5 ; Reichert-MeissI value, 0.2. The bulk of the fat consists of oleodistearin. By adding alcohol to the ether solution of the fat until turbidity occurs, this crystallises out in fine needles ; m. pt. about 44°C ; readily soluble in ether, sparingly so in alcohol.

[J. Ch. I. May 31, 1911, p. 634].

The gum contains 16.57 per cent, of moisture and 3.357 per cent, of ash, and the dry substance is soluble in water to the extent of 39.36 per cent., the solution having [a]d— 25.33°. The gum contains an oxydase, yielding a red colour with guaiacol solution.

It contains 71.42 per cent, of sugars, including 25.33 of galactose, and 35.095 of pentoses (arabinose was also separated).

The portion insoluble in water contains moisture 10.51 ; and in the dry substance, galactose 32.08 ; pentoses 42.87 ; total galactoses, 86.28 per cent., having aD+64.89°.

(P. Lemeland, J. Pharm. Chim. (1904) J. Ch. S. Vol. LXXXVI, pt. II., p. 583.

Vern. : — Kajú (H.) ; Hijli-bádám (B.) ; Kottaimundi, Rolla mávu (Tam.) ; Kájúcha-bi, kájú (Mah.); gidi-mamedi, munda-