4- Chauduri & Ghosal 1970. Triterpenes and sterols of the leaves of Arundo donax.
Appart from alkaloidal content in different parts of the plant, leaves also contain the following triterpenes and sterols (all soluble in petroleum ether/naphtha):
Triacontane (Major component of C30-C32n-Alkanes (M+, m/e450,436,422)
Triacontanol (m/e 420 (M-18 ), 392)
α -Amyrin acetate ( m/e 468 (M+), significant peaks at m/e 453,408,393,218,203,199 ). Alkali hydrolysis to α -Amyrin
β-Amyrin acetate.(m/e 468 (M+), significant peaks at m/e 453, 408, 393, 218, 203, 199): alkali hydrolysis to β-amyrin,
Friedelin (m/e 426 (M+), significant peaks at m/e 341,302,273.)
Stigmasterol.
(m/e 412 (M+))
β-Sitosterol. (m/e 414 (M+))
Campesterol. (m/e 400 (M+) )
5-
Indian Medicinal Plants 2007 Springer
Ayurvedic Names: Nala, Potgala, Shuunya-madhya, Dhamana.
Siddha/Tamil Names: Korukkai.
Action: Rhizome—sudorific, emollient, diuretic, antilactant, antidropsical; uterine stimulant (stimulates menstrual discharge), hypotensive.
Dosage: 50-100 ml root decoction. (CCRAS*) (No mention of how concentrated or from how many grams root)
* Source cited in document: Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha,
New Delhi
6-Plants for a future: Arundo donax
Other medicinal use: A paste of the root is applied to the forehead to treat headaches[272]. Boiled in wine with honey, the root or rhizome has been used for treating cancer[269]
Edible uses:
Edible Parts: Leaves; Root.
Edible Uses: Rhizome - raw or cooked[84]. The rhizome can be dried and ground into a powder to make bread, usually in conjunction with cereal flours[7, K]. It can also be roasted or boiled[84]. Leaves - cooked as a potherb[84]. They are very bitter[177]. The young shoots are used[177].
Other uses
Brooms can be made for terminal panickles; Plants are grown alongside irrigation canals to check soil erosion; The plant can be grown as a windbreak screen; If cut down, the culms branch and in this form the plants can be used as a hedge; The leaves can be woven into mats etc, whilst the split and flattened stems are used to make screens, walls of houses etc; A yellow dye is obtained from the pollen; The stems of the plant have a multitude of applications. They are used as plant supports for vines and other climbing plants; and to make clarinets, bag-pipes etc; They are also used as pipe stems, for roofing, to make screens, walking sticks and in basketry; They are used to make the reeds of clarinets and organ pipes; The stems can be harvested as desired at any time of the year; The fibre from the stems can be used to make a good quality paper; This plant is currently (1995) under investigation at Rosewarne in Cornwall as a potential commercial paper crop for small-scale industries in SW. England[K]; Because of rather high yields from natural stands, the plant has been suggested as a source of biomass for energy production;. Dry cane yields of ca 10, 15, and 20 tonnes per hectare were reported respectively from infertile, partly fertile and fertile soils; According to the phytomass files annual productivity ranges from 10 to 59 tonnes per hectare; A particular type of cellulose is obtained from the plant; In Italy, the plant is used in the manufacture of rayon; Arundo donax might also serve to clean soil contaminated with heavy metals
Cultivation and propagation details also in this linked page.
Sources cited in page:
[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
[7]Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
[84]Coyle. J. and Roberts. N. C. A Field Guide to the Common and Interesting Plants of Baja California.
[177]Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption.
[269]Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops
[272]Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal
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