Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/538
Uses: — The root of this plant is used medicinally as a refrigerant, demulcent, diuretic, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, alterative, anti-diarrhœatic and anti-dysenteric. It is used chiefly as
a demulcent in veterinary medicine. Baden-Powell says that it prevents confluence of small-pox. Tho root is used in impotence in the form of a preserve. Tuberous roots pickled ; shoots eaten as vegetable. (Kanjilal).
| Chem. comp.-- The powdered roots were separated into— | |
|---|---|
| Water extract | 52.43 |
| Crude fibre | 33.65 |
| Moisture | 9.46 |
| Ash | 4.46 |
| Total | 100.00 |
The amount of saccharine matter, estimated as glucose, in the water extract was 7.14 per cent. Some of this extract was boiled and filtered and evaporated down to a soft consistence and allowed to remain for three months under a bell jar. At the end of that time no crystalline substances had formed, indicating the probable absence of crystalline sugars, mannite, and asparagin.
1275. A. adscendens, Roxb., H. f.b.i. , vi., 317 ; Roxb. 291.
Vern. :— Suféd músli, satávar (H) ; Khairuwa (N.-W. P.); Sápheta musali, dholi musali (Bomb.) ; Dholi musali, saphéd- musli, ujli-musli (Guj.) ; Saféda-musali (Mar.).
Habitat :— The Western Himalaya, in the Punjab, from Murree eastward to Kumaon, the Dieu and Sal forests.
A sub-erect shrub, with stout terete stem and grooved, rough angled, ascending branchlets ; spines ½-¾in. straight. Cladodes 6-20-nate, ½-¾in- slender, filiform, soft, terete, suberect or curved. Racemes many-fid, l-3in. long, copious, often bearing cladodes at tip of branches of racemes. Pedicels 1/12-¼in jointed above or below the middle. Flowers white, fin. diam. Bracts minute. Perianth segments spreading; anthers medium-sized. Ovules many in each cell. Berries ¼-⅓in. diam., 1-seeded.
Uses ; — The tuberous roots used as demulcent and tonic and as a substitute for Salep Tonic, demulcent. Said to be useful in diarrhœa, dysentery and general debility.