infectoria Roxb., F. arnottiana Miq, F. lacor Buch-Ham and F. talboti King (cf. Nadkarni, 1954,
Singh and Chunekar, 1972; Kapoor and Mitra, 1979; Sharma, 1983).
The bark contains tannin, wax and saponin. Bark is antibilious. Powdered leaves and bark is
found very good in rheumatic headache. The bark and leaves are astringent, refrigerant, acrid and
stomachic.
3. Ficus benghalensis Linn.
Eng: Banyan tree; San: Nyagrodhah, Vatah; Hin: Bat, Bargad; Ben: Bar, Bot; Mar: Vada;
Mal: Peral, Vatavriksham; Tam: Alamaram, Peral; Kan: Ala; Tel: Peddamarri; Guj: Vad
Banyan tree is a laticiferous tree with reddish fruits, which is wound round by aerial
adventitious roots that look like many legs. It is found in the Sub-Himalayan tract and Peninsular
India. It is also grawn throughout India. It is widely used in treatment of skin diseases with pitta and
rakta predominance. Stem-bark, root -bark, aerial roots, leaves, vegetative buds and milky exudate
are used in medicine. It improves complexion, cures erysepelas, burning sensation and vaginal
disorders, while an infusion of the bark cures dysentery, diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, menorrhagia,
nervous disorders and reduces blood sugar in diabetes. A decoction of the vegetative buds in milk is
beneficial in haemorrhages. A paste of the leaves is applied externally to abcesses and wounds to
promote suppuration, while that of young aerial roots cure pimples. Young twigs when used as a tooth
brush strengthen gum and teeth (Nadkarni, 1954; Aiyer and Kolammal, 1957; Mooss,1976). The
drug forms an important constituent of formulations like Nalpamaradi Coconut oil, Saribadyasava,
Kumkumadi taila, Khadira gulika, Valiyacandanadi taila, Candanasava, etc. (Sivarajan et al,
1994). The aerial roots are useful in obstinate vomiting and leucorrhoea and are used in osteomalacia
of the limbs. The buds are useful in diarrhoea and dysentery. The latex is useful in neuralgia,
rheumatism, lumbago, bruises, nasitis, ulorrhagia, ulitis, odontopathy, haemorrhoids, gonorrhoea,
inflammations, cracks of the sole and skin diseases (Warrier et al, 1995).
It is a very large tree up to 30m in height with widely spreading branches bearing many aerial
roots functioning as prop roots. Bark is greenish white. Leaves are simple, alternate, arranged often in
clusters at the ends of branches. They are stipulate, 10-20cm long and 5-12.5cm broad, broadly
elliptic to ovate, entire, coriaceous, strongly 3-7 ribbed from the base. The fruit receptacles are
axillary, sessile, seen in pairs globose, brick red when ripe and enclosing male, female and gall
flowers. Fruits are small, crustaceous, achenes, enclosed in the common fleshy receptacles. The
young bark is somewhat smooth with longitudinal and transverse row of lenticels. In older bark, the
lenticels are numerous and closely spaced; outer bark easily flakes off. The fresh cut surface is pink
or flesh coloured and exudes plenty of latex. The inner most part of the bark adjoining the wood is
nearly white and fibrous (Warrier et al, 1995).
The bark yields flavanoid compounds A, B and C; A and C are identified as different forms
of a leucoanthocyanidin and compound B a leucoanthocyanin. All the 3 were effective as
hypoglycaemic agents. Leaves give friedelin, β-sitosterol, flavonoids- quercetin- 3 - galactoside and
rutin. Heart wood give tiglic acid ester of ψ taraxasterol. Bark is hypoglycemic, tonic, astringent,
antidiarrhoeal and antidiabetic. Latex is antirheumatic. Seed is tonic. Leaf is diaphoretic. Root fibre is
antigonorrhoeic. Aerial root is used in debility and anaemic dysentery (Husain et al, 1992).
.4. Ficus religiosa Linn.
Eng:Peepal tree, Sacred fig; San:Pippalah, Asvatthah; Hin:Pippal, Pipli, Pipar; Mal:Arayal Ben:
Asvatha; Tam: Arasu, Asvattam; Kan: Aswatha; Tel: Ravi; Mar: Ashvata, Pimpala
Peepal tree or Sacred fig is a large deciduous tree with few or no aerial roots. It is common
throughout India, often planted in the vicinity of the temples. An aqueous extract of the bark has an
antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. It is used in the treatment
of gonorrhoea, diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhoids and gastrohelcosis. A paste of the powdered bark
is a good absorbent for inflammatory swellings. It is also good for burns. Leaves and tender shoots
have purgative properties and are also recommended for wounds and skin diseases. Fruits are laxative
and digestive. The dried fruit pulverized and taken in water cures asthma. Seeds are refrigerant and
laxative. The latex is good for neuralgia, inflammations and haemorrhages (Warrier et al, 1995).
Decoction of the bark if taken in honey subdues vatarakta (Nadkarni, 1954; Aiyer and Kolammal,
1957; Mooss, 1976; Kurup et al, 1979). The important preparations using the drug are Nalpamaradi
taila, Saribadyasava, Candanasava, Karnasulantaka, Valiyamarma gulika etc (Sivarajan et al,
1994).