PDR for Herbal Medicines

442/JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Juniperus communis

See Juniper

Juniperus sabina

See Savin Tops

Justicia adhatoda

See Malabar Nut

Kadsura japonica

See False Schisandra

Kalmia latifolia

See Mountain Laurel

Kamala

Mallotus philippinensis

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the glands and

hairs covering the fruit.

Flower and Fruit: The tree has dioecious flowers. The male

flowers are in threes in the axils of the bracts, while the

female flowers are on longer, heavily branched, lateral

boughs. Both flowers are covered by rust-red matted hairs.

The fruit is a 3-lobed, pea-sized capsule from which a red,

mealy powder is obtained, which consists of minute glands

and hairs.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Mallotus philippinensis is an 8 to 10
m high tree with a diameter of 90 to 120 cm. The bark of the
slender branches is pale, and the younger ones are covered in
rust-red matted hairs. The leaves are alternate and have
articulate petioles, which are 2.5 to 5 cm long. The leaf blade
is rusty tomentose, 8 to 15 cm long, ovate with two
inconspicuous basal glands. It is entire-margined, coriaceous
and glabrous above with very prominent ribs below.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to India, Ethiopia, Saudi
Arabia, China and Australia.

Production: Kamala fruit skins are from the fruits of

Mallotus philippinensis, covered in hairs and glands. The

fruit is collected in the uncultivated regions and cleaned.

Other Names: Kameela, Kamcela, Spoonwood, Rottlera

Tinctoria

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Phloroglucinol derivatives (red to yellow, 47 to 80%): chief

constituents include rottlerin (ca. 1%), isorottlerin (ca.

0.1%), 3-hydroxy rottlerin, 3,4-dihydroxyrottlerin, meth-

ylene-bis-methyl phloroacetophenone and their resinous

polymers, that arise through auto-oxidation

Bergenin

Tannins

EFFECTS

The drug has an anthelmintic and purgative effect.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Indian Medicine: Internally, Kamala is used to treat tape

worm infestations (ascarides, rectal worms), constipation,

kidney and bladder stones, leprosy lesions and as a

contraceptive; externally for parasitic skin diseases and

wound infections of the ear.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The drug is used orally as a powder

or liquid extract.

Daily Dosage: For worms: adults: 6 to 12 gm drug in 2 to 3

portions at 30 minute intervals; young children: 1.5 gm drug;

school children: 3 gm drug. Preparations can be sweetened

with honey prior to administration.

Storage: Keep tightly sealed, dry and protected from light

LITERATURE

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Lounasmaa M et al., (1975) Planta Med 28:16.

Widen CF, Puri HS, (1980) Planta Med 40:284.