Alocasia indica (Lour.) Spach |
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Botanical Name |
: |
Alocasia indica (Lour.) Spach |
English
Name |
: |
Giant Taro |
Synonym(s) |
: |
Alocasia macrorrhiza (Linn.) G. Don, |
Family |
: |
Araceae |
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General Info
| Description |
 |
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A robust perennial herb up to 5 m in height found wild and cultivated all over India. Aerial stems stout, 2 m or more long, leaf blades 60 cm-1 m long, erect or spreading, ovate, sagittate with 1.35 m long, sheathing petioles; flowers fragrant, spadix and spathe 23 cm long on a 30 cm long peduncle, berries 0.75-1 cm in diam. |
| Herb Effects |
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Diurectic; styptic and astringent (leaves) |
Chemistry
| Active Ingredients |
|
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Campesterol, ß-sitosterol, cholesterol and phytosterol-like compound (tubers) |
| Chemistry
of Active Ingredients |
|
|
|
 |
Name |
CAS# |
IUPAC Name |
Formula |
Structure |
 |
|
| Campesterol |
474-62-4 |
17-(5,6-dimethylhept
an-2-yl)-10,13-dimet
hyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,1
2,14,15,16
,17-dode
cahydro-1H-cyclopent
a[a]phenanthren-3-ol |
C28H48O |
|
| Beta-sitosterol |
5779-62-4 |
17-(5-ethyl-6-methyl
-heptan-2-yl)-10,13-
dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9
,11,12,14, |
C29H50O |
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Pharmacology
| Medicinal Use |
|
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Useful in inflammation and diseases of the abdomen and spleen (rootstock); to stings of giant nettle. The juice of the petiole is dropped into the ears of children for otorrhoea. For stomach ache (rhizome). |
| Contraindication |
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The leaves, stalks, tubers and roots contains high concentration of soluble oxalates, and prolonged use of these in diet may lead to calcium deficiency and oxaluria. |
| Reference |
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 Sharma PV. Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants.
Kamboj SS. Shangary S. Singh J. Kamboj KK. Sandhu RS. New lymphocyte stimulating monocot lectins from family Araceae. Immunol Invest1995 Aug;24(5):845-55. |
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