al, 1973), 3,3’-biplumbagin(Chitranone), zeylanone and iso-zeylanone and a coumarin,
elliptinone (Sankaram et al, 1976, 1979). It also contains 1,2(3)-tetrahydro-3,3’-biplumbagin
and plumbazeylanone. The leaf is antirheumatic. Root is appetiser, sudorific, relieves pain,
vasicant, diuretic, caustic, antidiarrhoeal and expellent of phlegmatic tumours. Root is uterine
stimulant. Root and fruits have antiimplantation activity. Plumbagin induces antiimplantation,
has abortifacient and antiovulatory activity and causes selective testicular lesions in dogs. It
is also a mitotic inhibitor. In lower concentration it behaves like a spindle, poison but in
higher concentration it exhibits radiomimetic, nucleotoxic and cyclotoxic effects. It also has
antibacterial, antifungal and anticoagulant activities and shows antagonism to amphetamine
hyperactivity in mice.
3. P. auriculata Lam. syn. P. capensis
Eng: Blue flowered Leadwort; Mal: Neelakotuveli
The blue flowered Leadwort is often grown in gardens throughout India (Moos, 1976;
Chunekar, 1982; Sharma, 1983). It is a native of Cape Province in South Africa. It is a
constituent of many Ayurvedic drugs (KAU, 1991). The plant is a subshrub growing to a
height of 1-1.5m. Leaves are elliptic to obovate, 3-4 x 1.5-2cm. Inflorescence is a raceme of
length 3-4cm. Corolla is blue to violet. Stamens are 5 in number. Flowers and fruits may be
upto 12 in number (Matthew, 1995).
Agrotechnology
The plant is grown in tropical to subtropical ecosystems. Warm humid tropical
climate is most suited. They come up well in almost all types of deep and well drained soils.
It is propagated vegetatively by stem cuttings. Three stem cuttings of size 15cm long are
planted in polybags of size 14x10cm. IAA and IBA treatments will improve rooting of
cuttings. The land is to be ploughed well. About 4 tonnes of FYM are to be applied, mixed
thoroughly and seed bed of size 50cm breadth, 1.5cm height and convenient length are to be
prepared. On these beds pits are taken at a distance of 25cm and the rooted plants are
transplanted from the polybags. Regular irrigation and weeding are to be carried out. In the
second year with the onset of monsoon, seedbeds are again refreshed after adding about 4
tonnes of FYM. At the end of second year tubers are collected. Care should be taken to wear
gloves, else the chemical plumbagin present in the roots will cause burning sensation. The
collected tubers are washed, tied into bundles and marketed. Plumbago yields about 7-10t
tubers/ha with good management (Prasad et al, 1997).