830 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



783. Cosmostigma racemosum, Wight., h.f.b.i , 

 iv. 46. 



Vern. : — Gharahuvon (Can.) ; Shendvel, Shenclori, Marvel, 

 Marvivel (Mar.) ; Vattu-valli (Mai.) ; Gharphul (Goa). 



Habitat : — The Western Ghats, from the Konkan southward. 

 Sylhet. Chittagong. Ceylon, low country, rather common. 



A shrubby climber. Stems stout, cylindrical, often len- 

 ticillate, glabrous. Leaves 3-5in., ovate, cordate, or rounded 

 at base, acuminate, subacute, glabrous pedicels ; cymes at first 

 umbellate or corymbose, but lengthening out into racemes 

 2-2J in. long; no bracts. Sepals oval, obtuse, ciliolate. Corolla 

 greenish-yellow, speckled with red dots ; about lin. diam., 

 lobes ovate obtuse. Follicles 2J-3in. Seeds fin., broadly 

 ovate (Trimen). " Corolla fin. diam., fleshy, speckled with 

 brown. Follicles 7in. long by ljin. diam., lanceolate or linear- 

 oblong, obtuse, smooth " (J. D. Hooker). 



Uses : — This large woody climber, running over high trees, 

 has a medicinal reputation on the Western Coast, where its leaves 

 are used to cure ulcerous sores, Ghara ( 3T¥ ) and the root-bark is 

 administered internally in Vataka ( 3Z% ) a disease in which 

 white lumps of undigested food are passed. Useful in dyspepsia 

 accompanied by a febrile condition and absence of bile in 

 the stools. The authors of the Pharmacographia Indica have 

 tried the root-bark of this plant in such cases, given in five 

 grain doses, three times a day, and have found it to be a most 

 efficient cholagogue ; it had no purgative effect, but restored 

 the natural colour of the stools after the usual remedies (mineral 

 acids, podophyllin, enonyrium, etc.) had been abandoned in 

 despair. The flowers of this plant are sweet and eaten by 

 the natives. A biscuit was made with the powder of two ounces 

 of the root and given to a dog without any ill effects (Pharma- 

 cographia Indica, Vol. II., p. 449.) 



An ether extract of the powdered root contained some free crystalline 

 fatty acids, soluble in cold rectified spirit and aqueous alkalies. Petroleum 

 ether dissolved the fatty acids from the extracts, leaving a small quantity of 

 an acid resin. An alcoholic extract, in addition to a resin, contained a sugar, 



