By Dr Renita D'Souza
presentation
Ixora coccinea is an Ayurvedic medicinal plant used as a natural remedy for diarrhea, painful periods, white vaginal discharge, loss of appetite, nausea, ulcers and gonorrhea etc. It is used in skin diseases and acts as the best blood purifier. This plant is commonly known as Flame of the Jungle/Flame of the Forest. It has beautiful red flowers which are enriched with medicinal values. It is the national flower of Suriname. Yellow flower varieties are also available. A traditional remedy practiced in South India where infants are given 2-3 drops of tender leaf juice of Ixora coccinea as an immunity booster. The plant substrate removes heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury from polluted water.
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Botanical name – Ixora coccinea
Family – Rubiaceae
Botanical description
Ixora coccinea is a dense, multi-branched evergreen shrub with hardwoods. The leaves are glossy, leathery, simple, opposite, sessile and elongated along the entire margin. Red/yellow flowers in dense corymbose cymes. Fruit round, red/yellow/white, with a single fleshy seed.
distributed
Ixora coccinea is found in the southern part of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It is also cultivated as an ornamental plant.
Pharmacological activities
Ixora coccinea possesses astringent, antiseptic, blood purifying, sedative, antileukorrhoeic, antidiarrheal, anti-catarrhal, antioxidant, antibacterial, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, antinociceptive, antimutagenic, antineoplastic and chemopreventive activity.
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varieties
There are mainly 3 types based on the color of the flowers.
1. Yellow
2. Red
3. White
Therapeutic indications
diarrhea
Dysentery
Chronic ulcers
wound
fever
Skin diseases
Acne, spots
Leucorrhoea
Dysmenorrhea
Hemoptysis
Catarrhal bronchitis
Loss of appetite
Hiccup
Redness of the eyes
Used part
Leaves, Flowers, Roots, Bark, Fruits
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Legal remedies
Fresh juice of Ixora flowers is applied to the eyes to treat eye redness.
The flowers are soaked in lukewarm water and this water is used to bathe babies to prevent skin diseases.B)
polemic
Although many of the scholars of Ayurveda consider Bandhuka as Pentapetes phoenicea, some consider it as Ixora coccinea.
Raja Nighantu mentions 4 types of Bandhuka – Asitha (Black), Sitha (White), Pitha (Yellow) and Raktha (Red).
Charaka Samhitha Chikitsa Sthana 23/181 – Bandujiva is mentioned in visha chikitsa. Nasya with Bhandujiva root, Bhaargi and black variety of Surasa is given in Nasya form when the poison has reached the head.
Sushrutha Samhitha – It is mentioned that bhandhukas are seen in the autumn season (Su Su 6/36).
He has also mentioned its application as a paste along with other ingredients in the treatment of black spot and prickly eruptions on the face caused by the use of poisoned cosmetics. (Su. Has 1/61).
read – Charaka Visha Chikitsa Chapter 23 of Chikitsa Sthana
Sanskrit verses
Medicinal properties of Bandhuka
Quality (Guna) – Laghu (easy to digest)
Action (Karma) – Graahi
Jwarahara (RN)
Grahapishachaashmana (RN) – drives away evil
Prasadana (RN)
Effect on Dosha –
Shleshmala – Increases kapha dosha.
Vatapittahara – Libra weighed Vata and Pitta dosha.
Chemical components
Ixora coccinea contains phytochemicals such as lupeol, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, sitosterol, rutin, lecocyanadin, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins and glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin. (or)
research
Antidiarrheal activity – A research study conducted on the antidiarrheal activity of the flowers of Ixora Coccinea Linn. in albino Wistar rats have proven that aqueous extracts of I. coccinea flowers have significant antidiarrheal effect.
Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities – A research study done to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Ixora coccinea root has proven that the root of I. coccinea has a strong antioxidant activity and has also shown significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and negative bacteria.
Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic activities – The study conducted to evaluate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of ethanol extract of Ixora coccinea L. (IC) leaves concluded that IC leaves possessed analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity.
Classical categorization
Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Pushpavarga
Kaiyadeva Nighantu – It will grow
Madanapaala Nighantu – Karpuradi varga
King Nighantu – Karaveeradi Nighantu
Formulations
Paranthyadi Thailam – It is a herbal oil that is mainly used in the treatment of dermatitis, spider bites, etc
Karapan taylam – It is an Ayurvedic oil that is mainly used in the treatment of skin disorders
Scientific classification
Kingdom – Plants
Division – Angiosperm
Class – Eudicots
Order – Gentianales
Family – Rubiaceae
Genus – Ixora
Type – I. coccinea
Vernacular names
English name – Jungle Geranium, Forest Flame, Jungle Flame
Sanskrit name – Bandhujivaka, Paaranti
Hindi name – Rugmini
Kannada name – Kepula
Bengali name – Rangan
Malayalam name – Thetti, Techi, Chethi
Tamil name – Sinduram, Vedchi
Telugu name – Koran, Mankana
Assamese name — Rangan, Rogiyal-phul, Ronga-rangan
Sanskrit Synonyms
Bandhuka, Bandhujiva,
Maadhyaahika, Madhyandina
Sharatpushpa,
Bandhubandhooka,
Raktaka, Rakta, Raktapushpa, Raagapusha,
Haripriya
Ostapushpa
Arkavalabha
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