Carissa spinarum L.
| Synonym : | Carissa congesta Wight Antura edulis Forssk. Arduina edulis (Forssk.) Spreng. Carissa diffusa Roxb. Carissa hirsuta Roth |
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| Bangla Name : | Karamcha, Karancha. |
| English Name : | Karaunda. |
| Family : | Apocynaceae |
| Disease : | Antiscorbutic, stomachic and anthelmintic. |
| Description : | A large armed shrub, with long, stout, sharp, horizontal spines at the base of the branchlets. Leaves 3.8-7.5 cm long, coriaceous, elliptic or obovate, obtuse. Flowers white, in terminal corymbose cymes. Fruit 1.3-2.5 cm long, ellipsoid, fleshy, black when ripe. |
| Distribution : | Planted all over the country. |
| Chemical Constituents : | Roots contain four cardioactive compounds, carissone, ?-sitosterol, triterpene, carindone and lignan, carinol. Cardiotonic activity is due to the glucoside, odoroside H. Fruits are rich in ascorbic acid and salicylic acid. The plant also contains alkaloid |
| Uses : | The root is antiscorbutic, stomachic and anthelmintic. Decoction of the leaves is useful in early stages of remittent fevers. Unripe fruit is astringent, appetizer and antipyretic. Ripe fruit is cooling and acid, useful in bilious complaints. Root paste i |
| Habit : | Shrub |