Vanda tessellata
Vanda tessellata | |
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Vanda tessellata illustration | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
Tribe: | Vandeae |
Subtribe: | Aeridinae |
Genus: | Vanda |
Species: | V. tessellata |
Binomial name | |
Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook. ex G.Don | |
Synonyms | |
Vanda tessellata is a species of orchid occurring from the Indian subcontinent to Indochina. It is a medicinal plant.
Description
It is an epiphytic perennial, stem 30-60 cm long, stout, scandent by the stout, simple or branching aerial roots. Leaves succulent, 15-20 cm, long, linear, recurved, complicate. Flowers in 6-10 flowered racemes, reaching with the peduncle 15-25 cm long. Sepals yellow, tessellated with brown lines and with white margins. Petals yellow with brown lines and white margins, shorter than the sepals. Lip 16 mm long, bluish, dotted with purple. Capsules 7.5-9 cm long, narrowly clavate-oblong with acute ribs.
Medicinal uses
The roots are alexiteric and antipyretic; useful in dyspepsia, bronchitis, inflammations, piles and hiccup. Externally the root is used in rheumatism and allied disorders and diseases of the nervous system. It is also remedy for secondary syphilis and scorpion-sting. Juice of the leaves is given in otitis and the paste as febrifuge. The roots possess significant anti-inflammatory activity.[1] A novel aphrodisiac compound ( 2,7,7-tri methyl bicyclo [2.2.1] heptane) has been found in the orchid in 2013.[2]
Chemical composition
The plant has an alkaloid, a glucoside, tannins, β-sitosterol, γ-sitosterol and a long chain aliphatic compound, fatty oils, resins and colouring matters. Roots contain tetracosyl ferrulate and β-sitosterol-D-glucoside.[1][3]
Traditional practices
In the Yunani system, the root is used as a tonic for the liver and brain; effective against bronchitis, piles, lumbago, toothache, and boils of the scalp; it also is said to lessen inflammation and heal fractures. The root is said to be fragrant, bitter and useful in rheumatism and allied disorders, in which it is prescribed in a variety of forms. It is also used in the composition of several medicated oils for external application in rheumatism and diseases of the nervous system. In Chota Nagpur, the leaves are pounded into a paste and then applied to the body during fever. A compound decoction of this root is administered in cases of Hemiplegia as some Indian physicians consider it useful in rheumatism and all nervous diseases. The leaves are pounded and the paste is applied to the body to bring down fever; the juice is dropped in the ear for the treatment of Otitis media and other inflammatory conditions. The roots are used in Dyspepsia, Bronchitis, Rheumatism, and also in fever; they are reported to possess antibacterial and anti-tubercular properties. The herb is also used for Sciatica. The leaves are used by the Santhal girls for making anklets.
References
- 1 2 Ghani, 2003
- ↑ A Subramoniam, A Gangaprasad, P K Sureshkumar, J Radhika and B K Arun (18 April 2013). A novel aphrodisiac compound from an orchid that activates nitric oxide synthases ' International Journal of Impotence Research , (18 April 2013) doi:10.1038/ijir.2013.18
- ↑ Rastogi & Mehrotra, 1990
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