NAG KUDA (Kuruttu pala)
| Name in Malayalam | : | കുരുട്ടുപാല |
| Name in Hindi | : | नागरकुडो |
| Botanical Name | : | Tabernaemontana alternifolia |
| Medicinal part | : | Leaf, Root ,stem, Fruit |
| Medicinal properties | : | The roots yield the drug deserpidine, which is an antihypertensive and tranquilizer. |
Description
Nag Kuda is small tree native to Western Ghats, a species of plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is endemic to India. growing up to 2-5 m tall. Its oppositely arranged leaves are elliptic-oblong, 23 cm long, 6.5 cm wide, prominently nerved.Characteristics:
Small trees, to 8 m high; bark corky with shallow fissures, latex milky. Leaves simple, opposite, 13-18 x 4-7 cm, elliptic-oblong, apex acuminate, base acute, lateral nerves 12-15 pairs, intercostae reticulate; petiole 2 cm long. Cymes terminal or axillary; peduncles to 4 cm long. Flowers pedicellate. Calyx 4 mm long, lobes short, oblong, obtuse. Corolla white, tube cylindric, 25 mm long, dialated at mouth, villous inside; lobes 15 mm long, oblong, obtuse, apex crisped. Stamens included; anthers sagitate at base, linear. Carpels distinct. Follicles yellow, 5 x 1.5 cm, beak acuminate; aril red. White flowers are borne in corymb-like cymes. Sepals are 5, thick, fused at the base. Flowers have a narrow tube which flares into a flat flower. Five stamens do not protrude out. Fruit is quite interesting - it consists of two boat-shaped orange pods, up to 4 cm long, with recurved beaks.Medicinal uses:
This plant is used in Ayurveda. The roots yield the drug deserpidine, which is an antihypertensive and tranquilizer. Their leaves possess significant antibacterial and poor antifungal activities. Keywords: Antibacterial, Antifungal, Medicinal plants, Tabernaemontana heyneana. Medicinal plants, since times immemorial, have been used in virtually all cultures as a source of medicine
