Biology:Anamirta cocculus
| Anamirta cocculus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Indian berry (Anamirta cocculus) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Menispermaceae |
| Genus: | Anamirta |
| Species: | A. cocculus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Anamirta cocculus (L.) Wight & Arn., 1834
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Anamirta cocculus (Marathi: काकमारी) is a Southeast Asian and Indian climbing plant. Its fruit is the source of picrotoxin, a poisonous compound with stimulant properties.
The plant is large-stemmed (up to 10 cm in diameter); the bark is "corky gray" with white wood. The "small, yellowish-white, sweet-scented" flowers vary between 6 and 10 millimeters across; the fruit produced is a drupe, "about 1 cm in diameter when dry".[2]
Chemical substances
_fruits_closeup_ruled.JPG)
The stem and the roots contain quaternary alkaloids, such as berberine, palmatine, magnoflorine and columbamine.[3] The seeds deliver picrotoxin, a sesquiterpene, while the seed shells contain the tertiary alkaloids menispermine and paramenispermine.[3][4]
Uses
Its crushed seeds are an effective pediculicide (anti-lice) and are also traditionally used to stun fish or as a pesticide.[2][5] In pharmacology, it is known as Cocculus Indicus.
Although poisonous, hard multum is a preparation made from Cocculus Indicus, etc., once used (by 19th century brewers)[6] to impart a more intoxicating quality ("giddiness") to beer than provided by the alcoholic content alone.[7][8] Charles Dickens referred to those engaging in such practices as "brewers and beer-sellers of low degree,... who do not understand the wholesome policy of selling wholesome beverage."[9] Although appearing in many homeopathic volumes and at least two brewers' guides, the use of such preparations was outlawed in England, during the mid-19th century, with fines of £500 for sale and £200 for use of the drug.[8]
The wood of the plant is used for fuel and carving.[2]
Common names
The English common names are Indian berry,[6] fishberry, or Levant nut[10] (both referring to the dried fruit, and to the plant by synecdoche) and coca de Levante in Spanish; it is variously known as ligtang, aria (Mindanao), bayati (Tagalog), and variations thereof throughout its natural distribution (the Philippines , East India, Malaysia, and New Guinea).
The name "fishberry" comes from the use of the dried fruit as a method of fishing, in which the fish is "stupified and captured"; this method, however, is considered "unsportsmanlike".[11]
References
- ↑ "Anamirta cocculus (L.) Wight & Arn.". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2023. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:26870-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wilma C. Dichoso, ed (May–August 2000). "Research Information Series On Ecosystems - Volume 12 No.2". Useful Plant Species with Toxic Substance. DENR. http://erdb.denr.gov.ph/publications/rise/r_v12n2.pdf. Retrieved June 9, 2012.[yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 R.Verpoorte (March 1981). "Studies on Indonesian Medicinal Plants V. The Alkaloids of Anamirta cocculus". Journal of Natural Products 44 (2): 221–224. doi:10.1021/np50014a013.
- ↑ Alfred H. Allen (1896). "Bitters of Cocculus Indicus". Commercial Organic Analysis - Vol.III Part III (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: P.Blakiston, Son & Co. p. 167. OCLC 64367571. https://books.google.com/books?id=IihLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA167. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
- ↑ James A. Duke (September 26, 1995). "Ethnobotanical uses". Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. USDA. https://phytochem.nal.usda.gov/phytochem/plants/show/129. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 E. Harris Ruddock (1874). Text Book of Modern Medicine and Surgery on Homœopathic Principles. London: Homœopathic Publishing Company. p. 833. OCLC 14853471. https://archive.org/details/b2040072x. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
- ↑ Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam Co. 1913. p. 953. http://machaut.uchicago.edu/?resource=Webster%27s&word=multum&use1913=on. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Henry Morley, LL.D. (1891). "Appendix (1841-1848): Management of the Food". Early Papers and Some Memories. London: Geo. Routledge & Sons, LTD. p. 373. OCLC 10078708. https://books.google.com/books?id=S2EEAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA373. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
- ↑ Charles Dickens (1852). "Constitutional Trials". Household Words - Volume XIV. Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz Jun. p. 299. OCLC 634265325. https://books.google.com/books?id=_-5LAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA299. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
- ↑ {{citation | mode = cs1 | title = Anamirta cocculus | work = Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) | url = | publisher = [[Organization:Agricultural Research ServAgricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | access-date = June 9, 2012 }}
- ↑ Lucius E. Sayre; B.S. (1907). "MENISPERMACEÆ - Moonseed Family: 25. Cocculus.". A Manual of Organic Materia Medica and Pharmacognosy (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: P.Blakinston's Son & Co. p. 100. OCLC 5302717. https://books.google.com/books?id=dKoUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA100. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
Wikidata ☰ Q2007832 entry
 |  |
