Croton tiglium, Kadalavanakku, Neervalam, Neervaram, Purging croton, കടലാവണക്ക്, നീർവാളം, നീർവാരം

Family: Euphorbiaceae
Vernacular names: Kadalavanakku, Neervalam, Neervaram, കടലാവണക്ക്, നീർവാളം, നീർവാരം (Malayalam), Purging croton (English), Dravanti (Sanskrit), Jamalgota (Hindi), Nervalam (Tamil)
Distribution: Native of China; introduced in India, also now naturalised
Description: Small trees. Leaves ovate, crenulate, rounded at base. Racemes sparsely stellate hairy. Flowers 5 mm across. Capsule 2 x 2 cm, obovoid; seeds dull white.
Habit: Tree
Habitat: Cultivated as medicinal plant
Flowering & Fruiting: November-January

Parts used: Root, bark, leaves and seeds
Properties & Uses: Whole plant possess purgative properties. Oil is a powerful hydragogue, cathartic and externally a vesicant, producing irritation, inflammation and pustular eruption. Seeds are vermifuge; useful in asthma. The roots are abortifacient. Wood is diaphoretic in small doses, but purgative and emetic in large doses. Plant extract is used in folk medicine for treating cancer. Seed oil exhibit analgesic, anti-fungal and anti-HIV activity
Systems of Medicines: Ayurveda, Folk, Unani, Homeo, Modern,
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