Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels.
| Synonym : | Averrhoa acida L. Cicca racemosa Lour. Phyllanthus longifolius Jacq. Tricarium cochinchinense Lour. Cicca disticha L. Phyllanthus distichus Muell-Arg. |
|---|---|
| Bangla Name : | Arboroi, Harbori, Noari, Neur. |
| English Name : | Star Gooseberry, Country Gooseberry. |
| Family : | Euphorbiaceae |
| Disease : | Astringent, appetizer, tonic , bronchitis, biliousness, urinary concretions , piles, t, vomiting and constipation. |
| Description : | A small deciduous tree, 6-9 m high, with very robust branches and slender leafy branchlets, bark very rough. Leaves pinnately distichous, 5-7.5 cm long, leaflets obliquely ovate, acute. Flowers minute, most densely clustered, clusters axillary or in slender racemes from the thick branches. Fruits globose, fleshy, acid, 3-4-lobed, generally 6-8 grooved. |
| Distribution : | Occasionally planted throughout the country. |
| Chemical Constituents : | Fruits contain ascorbic and tartaric acids and tannin. Root bark contains tannin (18%) gallic acid, saponin, lupeol and a crystalline substance (Chopra et al., 1992). Stem bark contains a phytosterol, different from lupeol (Ghani, 2003). |
| Uses : | Fruits are astringent, appetizer and tonic to the liver, used in bronchitis, biliousness, urinary concretions and piles, useful in thirst, vomiting and constipation. The root and the seeds are cathartic. |
| Habit : | Small tree |