Erythrina variegata Linn.

Family : Fabaceae

Synonym(s) : Erythrina indica (Lam.), Erythrina variegata L. var. orientalis (L.) Merr.

English Name : Indian coral tree, Tiger's claw

Origin : Tropical Asia

Description

Prickly tree attaining a height of 60 ft. Bark is smooth, yellowish or greenish grey, shining, peeling off in thin papery flakes; branchlets are armed with small dark coloured conical prickles up to the third or fourth year; leaves are trifoliate; leaflets are 4-6 inches long and nearly as broad; flowers are large, coral red and occur in dense racemes; pods are torulose, 6-12 inches long and contain up to 12 seeds; seeds are oblong, smooth and red to dark purple or brown.

Habitat

Forests of India

Parts Used : Leaf, bark, flower and plant

Herb Effects

Diuretic, laxative, anthelmintic, galactagogue and emmenagogue(leaf); anticonvulsive, alleviates spasms, relaxes smooth muscles and depresses the central nervous system (bark).

Active Ingredients

Erysopitine, erysodienone, erysonine, erysotrine (bark); beta-sitosterol (plant).

Medicinal Use

As an antidote (bark and flower), for dispersing venereal buboes and for relieving pain in joints, for the relief of ear-ache and as anodyne in tooth-ache (leaf).

Dosage

Erythrina bark: 6 and 12 grams, boiled in water as a decoction.

Reference