Embelia

January 22nd, 2008

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Botanical Name: Embelia Ribes and robusta (BURM.)
Family: N.O. Myrsinaceae
Synonyms: Viranga. Birang-i-kabuli.
Latin Names: Embelia ribes
English Name : False Black Pepper, Flase Pepper
Sanskrit /Indian Name: Krimighna,Tandula,Vidanga
Part Used: Dried fruits.
Habitat: India, Indian Archipelago, Tropical Asia, Southern China, East Africa.

Description: A straggling shrub, almost a climber. The plant possesses petiolate leaves and has small, whity-pink flowers in racemes at ends of the branches. The berries (the drug) are minute, round, spherical fruits (not unlike peppercorns) and
vary in colour from red to black - those of E. Ribes have ovate, lanceolate smooth leaves and warty fruits, and are often sold to traders to adulterate pepper, which they so much resemble as to render it almost impossible to distinguish them by sight, or by any other means, as they possess a considerable degree of the spice flavour. The fruits of E. robusta, however, are longitudinally finely striated. Both fruit have often a short stalk and calyx fivepartite, removing this, a small hole is found in the fruit. The reddish seed, enclosed in a brittle pericarp, is covered by a thin membrane; when this is taken off, the seed is seen covered with light spots which disappear after immersion in water. The seed is horny, depressed at the base and has a ruminated endosperm. Taste, aromatic and astringent, with a slight pungency, owing to a resinous substance present in them.

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Embelia consists of the dried fruit of Embelia Ribes, Burm. f., and of E. robusta, Roxb. (N.O. Myrsineae); shrubs indigenous to India, the islands of the Indian Archipelago, and to East Africa. The drug consists of spherical fruits about 4 millimetres in diameter. They vary in colour from red to nearly black. The fruits of E. robusta are finely striated
longitudinally, those of E. ribes are warty. In both fruits a short stalk is often present, and a small five-partite calyx, and when these are removed they leave a small hole in the fruit. The pericarp is brittle, and encloses a reddish seed, which is covered with a thin membrane; on removing this the seed is seen to be covered with light spots, which disappear upon soaking in water.

Constituents: The chief constituent of the drug is embelic acid, C18H28O4; this substance, which is present to the extent of about 2.5 per cent., is obtainable in golden-yellow lamellar crystals, melting at 142Â°. .
Embelic acid, found in golden-yellow lamellar crystals (this acid is soluble in chloroform, alcohol and benzene, but not in water) and a quinone, Embelia.

Reported to contain: embelin (active principle), quercitol, fatty ingredients, an alkaloid christembine, a resinoid, tannins and a minute quantity of of volatile oil.

Medicinal Action and Uses:Utilised in traditional medicine in the Malay Peninsula, India and Indo-China.

Anthelmintic, specially used to expel tapeworm, which are passed dead. In India and the Eastern Colonies the drug is given in the early morning, fasting, mixed with milk, and followed by a purgative. The dose is 1 to 4 drachms. The seeds are also made into an infusion, or ground to powder and taken in water or syrup, and being almost tasteless are not an unpleasant remedy.

Embelia fruit is used in India and in the Eastern Colonies for its anthelmintic properties; it is especially useful for tape worm, one or two teaspoonfuls of the powdered fruit being administered in milk on an empty stomach, and followed by a purgative.

Dose.â€”4 to 16 grammes 60 to 240 grains).

Ammonium embelate is an effective taenicide for children: dose, 3 grains; adult dose, 6 or more grains.

The berries of E. robusta are considered cathartic.

Petroleum ether extract of seeds 0.5 percent (v/w) admixed with green gram prevented damage caused by C. chinensis for a period of 90 days.

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Other Species:
E. Basaal, an Indian variety, with larger elliptical leaves, more or less downy, is useful in various ways. The young leaves, in combination with ginger, are used as a gargle for sore throats, the dried bark of the root as a remedy for toothache, and the ground berries, mixed with butter or lard, made into an ointment and laid on the forehead for pleuritis.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/e/embili10.html
http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/bpc1911/embelia.html
http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/aboutayurveda/cahe.htm
http://www.fao.org/docrep/x2230e/x2230e11.htm