Erythrina variegata L. (= E. indica Lam.)

DeFilipps, Robert A. & Krupnick, Gary A., 2018, The medicinal plants of Myanmar, PhytoKeys 102, pp. 1-341 : 84

Erythrina variegata L. (= E. indica Lam.)

Names.

Myanmar: kathit, in-kathit. English: Indian coral tree.

Range.

Tanzania to India, Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands (var. Erythrina variegata orientalis ).

Conservation status.

Least Concern [LC] ( IUCN 2017).

Uses.

Bark: Used as an antipyretic and, in a decoction, to treat liver problems. Bark, Leaf, Root: Used to treat dysentery and inflammation.

Notes.

In India the bark is used for convulsion and for paralysis of the tongue (given with roots of two other plants); also for pimples, cough and cold, and snakebite ( Jain and DeFilipps 1991). In China the leaf is used as an anthelmintic, antisyphilitic, diuretic, emmenagogue, lactagogue, and laxative; leaf juice for earache, toothache, and worms. Stem-bark is employed as an analgesic for arthritis, neuralgia, and rheunmatism; also as a febrifuge, cholagogue, expectorant, ophthalmic, hepatic, and vermifuge ( Duke and Ayensu 1985). Perry (1980) notes that the bark and leaves are the parts most often used. She discusses the uses of the species in Indo-China, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.

Chemical constituents include hydrocyanic acid in the stems, leaves, fruit, and roots; and two alkaloids, erythraline and hypaphorine, in the seeds. Resins, fixed oils, fatty acids, hypaphorine, betaine, choline, potassium chloride, and potassium carbonate are present in the bark ( Perry 1980). The poisonous alkaloid fraction shows anti-convulsive activity, inhibits neuromuscular activity, weakens the smooth muscles, and paralyzes the central nervous system; HCN occurs in most parts of the plant. The bark is bacteriostatic against Staphylococcus aureus ( Duke and Ayensu 1985).

References.

Nordal (1963), Perry (1980).