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| Latin Name |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Celastrus paniculatus
Willd. (Celastraceae) |
Climbing Staff
Tree, Intellect Tree,
Black-Oil Plant |
Jyotishmati,
Katabhi, Jyotishka, Kanguni |
Kondgaidh,
Malkangni, Sankhu |
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| Habitat |
It grows almost all over
India, up to an altitude of 1,800 m. It is also found in the
Middle and South Andamans.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
A large, woody,
climbing shrub. The leaves are ovate, oblong-elliptic; the flowers
are unisexual, small, greenish white or yellowish green; the
capsules are globose, yellow, 1-6 seeded and transversely wrinkled;
the seeds are ellipsoid or ovoid, yellowish- or reddish-brown
in color, enclosed in scarlet aril, which stains yellowish orange.
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| Principal
Constituents |
The seeds are reported
to contain the alkaloids celastrine and paniculatin.
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| Pharmacology |
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The oil obtained from the seeds of the plant produced sedation
in the rats in a dose of 1g/kg intramuscularly. On intraperitoneal
administration, the same dose of oil produced sedation but the effect
was not so marked. The oil showed anticonvulsant activity in rats.
The oil (as emulsion in between 80 and water), at a dose of 50-100
mg/kg, produced a gradual fall in the blood pressure of cats. At
a dose of 20mg/kg, the oil produced a fall in cardiac output, bradycardia
and a marked increase in pulse pressure on isolated heart lung preparation1.
The oil of Celastrus paniculatus was fractionated into polar and
semipolar compounds and these fractions were injected to rats for
one month. Serum transaminases (SGOT and SGPT), alkaline phosphatase,
calcium, creatinine, uric acid and blood urea of treated rats were
estimated. These oil fractions were not found to be harmful in the
long run2.
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| Indications |
The seeds constitute
the drug; they are bitter, and have an unpleasant odor. They possess
emetic, diaphoretic, febrifugal and nervine properties and are used
for sharpening the memory; and also used to cure sores, ulcers, rheumatism
and gout.
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| Product
Range |
Abana (HeartCare),
Geriforte (GeriCare / StressCare), Himcolin, Mentat (MindCare),
Mentat syrup, Muscle & Joint Rub, Anxocare, Geriforte Aqua, Geriforte Vet.
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| References |
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- Gaitonde et. al., Curr.Med. Pract., 1957, 1, 619.
- Bidwai, P.P. et. al., Fitoterapia, 1990, v. 61(5), 417-424.
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