DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
MEDICINAL PLANTS
Baliospermum solanifolium (Burm.) Suresh
Common name: Wild castor
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Baliospermum
Species: solanifolium
Malayalam Name: Danthi, Dantika, Nagadanthi.
Tamil Name: Nakatanti and Kattamankku:
Synonyms
Baliospermum montanum (Willd.) Müll.Arg.
Croton roxburghii Wall
Description:
It is a stout under shrub
Leaves: Simple, elliptical to oblong, and sometimes palmately 3–5 lobed. The upper leaves are small, while the lower leaves are large.
Flowers: Numerous, arranged in axillary racemes with male flowers above and a few females below. The flowers are unisexual, with male flowers having 14–25 free stamens and female flowers having a 3-lobed ovary.
Fruit: A capsule
USES:
Ayurvedic medicine:
Respiratory complications: A decoction of the leaves is used to treat asthma and other respiratory issues
Bronchitis: The root is used to treat bronchitis
Purgative: The roots are used as a purgative, anthelmintic, and diuretic
Jaundice: The roots are used to treat jaundice
Rheumatism: The oil from the seeds is used externally to treat rheumatism
Stimulant: The seeds are used externally as a stimulant
Hepatoprotective: The methanol extract of the roots has shown significant hepatoprotective activity
Anti-allergic: The crude extract and isolated compounds have shown anti-allergic activity