The following points highlight the top four types of drugs obtained from barks and its uses. The types are: 1. Cinnamon 2. Quinine 3. Asoka Tree 4. Arjun Tree.
Type # 1. Cinnamon:
Cinnamomum zeylanicum B1., of family Lauraceae; Eng. Cinnamon; Hindi—Dalchini.
This is native of Sri Lanka but grown in the Nllgirls, South Kanara, Malabar, Assam and Kumaon.
Uses:
The bark is aromatic, cordial, astringent, carminative and stimulant; it is given in diarrhoea, nausea, gastric irritation, flatulence, vomiting, spasmodic affections of the bowels, toothache, paralysis of the tongue and labour caused by defective uterine contractions. It is administered in the form of a powder, infusion or decoction.
A paste made of the bark is applied to the temples to get relief from neuralgic pains and severe headaches. The oil obtained from the stem bark is used as a carminative, antiseptic and astringent.
Type # 2. Quinine:
Cinchona calisaya Wedd., C. ledgerina Moens. ex Trimen; C. officinalis Linn; C. robusta How., C. succirubra Pavon ex Klotzsch. of family Rubiaceae; Eng. Quinine; Hindi—Kunain.
The quinine tree is native to the Andes of South America. In India it is found in West Bengal, the Khasia hills, Nilgiris, South India, Sikkim and Madhya Pradesh.
Uses:
Quinine is one of the most important drugs known and it is the only adequate cure for malaria. Quinine is obtained from the hard thick bark of above mentioned species of Cinchona. The most important constituent of Cinchona bark is quinine, a very bitter, white, granular substance.
In addition to its use in the treatment of Malaria, it is a valuable tonic and antiseptic. It is also used in the treatment of other fevers. Some 29 other alkaloids have been isolated from the bark, including cinchonidine, cinchonine, and quinidine, all of which are useful in medicine.
Type # 3. Asoka Tree:
Saraca indica Linn, of family Caesalpiniaceae; Eng. Asoka tree; Hindi—Ashot, Sanskrit, Hindi and Bengali—Asok; ashoka; Marathi—Ashoka; Gujarati—Ashopalava; Telugu—Asoka; Tamil—Asogam; Kannada—Asokadamara; Malayalam—Asokam; Oriya—Oshoko; Khasi Hills— Dieng-sohkyrkha.
This is a spreading evergreen tree; native of India; commonly found in Central and East Himalayas, Bengal and West Peninsula.
Uses:
The bark is astringent. Its decoction is given in uterine disorders, especially in menorrhagia and leucorrhoea. The decoction is also an efficacious remedy for piles and dysentery. The dried flowers are given in diabetes. The dried flowers of it are fried and used even by common people in Kerala.
Type # 4. Arjun Tree:
Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight and Am., of family Combretaceae; Eng. Arjun tree; Hindi—Arjuna.
A tree, commonly found in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and the Western Peninsula.
Uses:
The bark is astringent, febrifuge, cooling, cardiac stimulant, cholagogal, lithontriptic and vulnerary. It is an excellent remedy for heart diseases. The decoction with milk is given every morning on an empty stomach. The decoction is also used for cleaning sores and ulcers.