Oroxylum indicum (L.) VENT.

English Name : Indian Trumpet

Family : Bignoniaceae

Origin : India

Description

It is a small, deciduous and soft wooded tree with few branches and a small open crown. The bark is soft, light, brownish-grey and corky outside. Leaves are opposite, 3-pinnate near base, 2-pinnate about the middle and simply pinnate towards apex, very large upto 150 cm in length, rachis stout and cylindric; leaflets 2 to 4 paired, ovate or elliptic, acuminate, entire and glabrous with a rounded or cordate base. The flowers are white or purplish and numerous in large and erect racemes. The fruits are flat and straight capsules. Seeds are many, and are surrounded by abroad transparent white papery wing.

Habitat
Open forested areas of India (except the more arid parts of western India).

Parts Used : Seed, fruit and bark (from stem and root).

Herb Effects
Laxative (seed); astringent and diaphoretic (root bark); diuretic (bark); alleviates spasms (fruit); anthelmintic, carminative and antiarthritic.

Active Ingredients
Oroxindin (seed); oroxylin-A, baicalein and chrysin (stem and root bark).

Medicinal Use
The root-bark is used as an astringent and tonic and also in diarrhoea and dysentery. The stem bark is used in acute rheumatism. In the form of an infusion, it is used as a diaphoretic. The fruits are used as carminative and stomachic, while the seeds are used as purgative. The roots are used in dropsy and the leaves are reputed as an emollient. Tender fruits are described as carminative and stomachic.

Dosage
1 and 2 grams per day, decocted in water, preferably with meals.

Reference