Embelia tsjeriam-cottam, commonly known as vidanga, bhasmaka, krimighna, or vaivilangamSharma, Y.A.S.H.A.S.W.I.N.I., Venugopal, C.K., Hegde, R.V., Hegde, L.A.X.M.I.N.A.R.A.Y.A.N. and Manjunath, A.V., 2011. Propagation of Embelia tsjeriam-cottam, a critically endangered medicinal plant species. Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences, 33(4), pp.463-469. is a species in the family Primulaceae.
Distribution Its native distribution extends from the Indian Subcontinent through South-Central China to Indo-China. In India, it occurs across the western and southern states, including Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.Bhattacharjee SK. 2000. Handbook of Medicinal Plants. Pointer Publishers Jaipur
Phenology Flowering occurs during February and March, while fruiting begins in April and lasts until July.
Uses The dried berries are primarily used in medicine; they are acrid, astringent, and carminative, making them beneficial in treating constipation, colic, indigestion, flatulence, and piles. Additionally, a seed paste is applied externally to manage ringworm and other skin infections.Sivarajan VV and Indira B. 1994. Ayurvedic drugs and their plant sources. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi. The berries are abundant in quinones such as embelin, rapanone, homoembelin, himorapanone, and vilangin.Khare CP. 2004. Encyclopedia of Indian Medicinal Plants. ISBN Publications New Delhi. Embelin has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties.Vite, M.H., Nangude, S.L. and Gorte, S.M., 2011. Anti-inflammatory effect of ethanolic extract of Embelia tsjeriam cottam. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, 3(4), pp.101-102.
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