Dimorphocalyx glabellus: a vulnerable tree of Odisha

Finally I found the vulnerable plant species, Dimorphocalyx glabellus at Barbara Reserve Forest, India. I got skin infection during exploration work. Burning sensation is nothing compare to the happiness after getting this plant first time..... The plant is too beautiful with amazing flowers and fruits.......... Need conservation of such valuable resources for future.



Dimorphocalyx glabellus is a species of family Euphorbiaceae. It is a small evergreen tree endemic to Sri Lanka. It is known as "Weli wenna" in Sinhala and "tentukki" in Tamil. Leaves are lanceolate, oblong, tapering base, acuminate apex, dull dark green, margins entire to slightly dentate. Bark is cinnamon-gray; twigs slender. Flowers white. Fruits are capsule.

Validation of Traditional Therapeutic Claims through Phytochemical Screening and Antibacterial Assessment: A Study on Mahakaal (Trichosanthes tricuspidata L.) From Similipal Biosphere Reserve Forest, Odisha, India



Algerian J. Nat. Products, 2:3 (2014).


Sanjeet Kumar et al., 2014.

Abstract
 
Similipal Biosphere Reserve forest is situated in the district Mayurbhanj, Odisha, enriched with the different types of vegetation along with aboriginals. These aboriginals have unique skills in using traditional therapeutic medicines. They use wild plant and their parts in traditional herbal formulations to cure different diseases. Trichosanthes tricuspidata, locally known as Mahakaal is very common to be used as herbal medicine. Fruits of Mahakaal have sound traditional therapeutic values. It has been using against asthma, skin infections, muscular pain and killing the head lice.  Phytochemical screening of fruit extracts revealed the presence of major bioactive compounds such as Tannin, Saponin, Flavonoids, Phenolic compounds, Terpenoids etc which indicate its sound pharmacological properties. Antibacterial assessment of fruit extracts also showed excellent activity against two Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria. Methanol extracts showed highest zone of inhibition (1.51 cm) against Streptococcus pyogenes caused skin infections. The experimental works validate the traditional therapeutic claims