Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/229

Rh N. O. ACANTHACEÆ. 979

Rhinacanthin is a dull cherry-red resinous substance, which contains no nitrogen, and does not reduce copper solution. It seems to be related to chrysophanic and frangulic acids. Two ultimate analyses gave a mean of carbon 67.55 per cent., hydrogen 7.36 per cent. The formula C14H18O4 corresponds with 67.20 C and 7.20 H. Its presence in the plant is said to be limited to certain intercellular spaces occurring in the bark, the cellular tissue of of this part appearing to be filled with an intensely red substance, supposed to consist of a compound of rhinacanthin with an alkali. It is obtained by exhaustion of the powdered root fibres with absolute alcohol, Rhinacanthin has the peculiarity of forming with bases beautiful red compounds that are easily decomposed by certain neutral solvents, such as petroleum spirit, which dissolves the rhinacanthin and assumes a yellow colour (Pharm. Zeitch f. Russl., Feb. 1881 ; Year Book Pharm., 1881, p. 197.)

Syn. : — Justicia Ecbolium, Linn., Roxb. 38.

Vern. : — Uda-jati (H.) ; Rán-aboli. Dháktaádulsa (Mar.).

Habitat : — S. Deccan Peninsula.

A low shrub, branches erect, cylindrical, thickened above the nodes, glabrous. Leaves large, 4½-6in., oblong, oval or lanceolate, tapering to base, acuminate, acute, entire to very faintly crenate, glabrous, shining and dark green above, paler and densely finely pubescent beneath. Petiole obscure. Flowers large, sessile in opposite pair. Spikes nearly sessile, 2-10in., 4-sided. Bracts ¾-⅞in., oblong-oval, aristate, glandular-puberulous, ciliate, semi-membranous, reticulate-veined. Bractlets subulate. Sepals linear, acuminate, glandular-pubescent. Corolla-tube l½in., slightly dilated and laterally compressed at throat, deflexed, hairy outside, upper lip about ½in. very narrow, strongly reflexed, lower lip about l½in. diam. ; lateral lobes oblong, acute, middle one oval obtuse. Capsule pubescent. Seeds white.

The colour of flowers, is, says Trimen from Ceylon, "pale bluish-green." J. D. Hooker says " greenish-blue or purple."

Use : — The roots are prescribed in jaundice and menor-rhagia (Dymock).

Syn. : — Justicia picta, Roxb. 39.

Vern. : — Pandhara adulsa (variegated variety); Kala adulsa (Dark variety) — (Konkan).