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Weniwel |
| Vernacular Name: Sinhala: Weniwel; Eng: False calumba, Ceylon calumba root, turmeric tree; Hin: Jhari-huldi; | |
| Description: Woody climber, roots and stems yellow inside. Stem-bark longitudinally fluted, whitish-grey in colour. Leaves alternate coriaceous, shining above, minutely whitish tomentose beneathl petiole long, inserted not far from the bae of laminal basal nerves 3-5. Inflorescence in paniculate raceme, borne in the mdl of fallen leaves, flowers unisexual Drupe globose. | |
| Propagation: By seeds and vegetative methods. | |
| Part Used: Stems and roots. | |
| Chemical Constituents: The stems and the roots contain the alkaloid berberine l.5—3%. | |
| Uses: Berberine is antibacterial. The stem, the roots and the purified berberine are used in treating diarrhoea, bacillary dysentery, enteritis, jaundice, pyrexia and dyspepsia. An eye- lotion berberine chloride is effective for opthalmia. | |
