Fig. 3: Leaves of Corchorus aestuans L.

4.1 Corchorus aestuans L. Synonym : Corchorus acutangulus Lam. Tamil Name : Perumpinnakkukkirai, Punaku, Peratti, kattuttuti Fig. 3: Leaves of Corchorus aestuans L. 4.1.1. Taxonomy Kingdom Subkingdom Super division Division Class Subclass Order Family Genus Species Plantae Plants Tracheobionta Vascular plants Spermatophyta Seed plants Magnoliophyta Flowering plants Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons Dilleniidae Malvales Tiliaceae Linden family Corchorus L. corchorus Corchorus aestuans L. jute

4.1.2 Distribution (corchorus aestuans in flora of pakistan @ efloras.org.html) It is an annual herb occurring in Pakistan, India, Sri lanka (ceylon), Bangla desh, Burma, Malaya, Indo-china, Australia, Tropical Africa, West indies and Central America. 4.1.3 Botanical description Stem - Erect spreading herb up to 30 cm tall; stems pubescent, long hairs mainly on one side of the branches and short curly hairs on the other side Leaves - Leaves thinly textured. Leaf blades 10-50 x 10-25 mm; petioles slender, 3-23 mm long, densely pubescent. Stipules hairy, linear, 2-8 mm long; long hairs on veins on abaxial surface Flowers - Inflorescence a reduced 2-3 -flowered umbel. Peduncle 0.3-2 mm long. Pedicel glabrous, 1-2.5 mm long. Calyx lobes shorter than corolla, 2-3.5 mm long, very narrow and glabrous outside. Petals 2.5-4.5 mm long. Stamens 10. Ovary cylindrical, ribbed and silky pubescent. Stigma fimbriate. Fruit - capsule ca. narrowly ellipsoid, straight, 8-20 x 3.5-6 mm. Apex of capsule with three bifid horns 2-5 mm long. Annulus prominent in young fruit. Seeds strongly angular, testa dull brown to reddish brown. 4.1.4 Chief constituents Aerial parts of Corchorus aestuans L. contains corchorusins C1, D1, D2 and D3 (Shashi et al., 1988). Corchorus aestuans capsule contains -sitosterol, lupeol, betulin, 2-methyl anthraquinone, scopoletin and corchoroside-a

(S.Ganapaty et al, 2012). Saikosaponins-like glycosides corchorusins A, B, C, D, C1, D1, D2 and D3 have been isolated from Corchorus acutangulus (S.B. Mahato, 2000). The fusidic acid together with known compounds -sitosterol, 2- methylanthraquinone and scopoletin from the leaf extract of Corchorus aestuans (D.ramadevi, 2012) 4.1.5 Indication The roots and leaves are said to cure gonorrhea and used in making an injection for urethral discharge. The seeds are stomachic and used in pneumonia (Rashmika et al., 2012; Pancho et al., 1995). The whole plant is said to possess anticancer, antipyretic and anticonvulsant activity (Khare, 2007). Further, it is used as tonic, stomachic, purgative, in fever and in obstruction of the abdominal viscera (Khan et al., 2006). 4.2 Corchorus trilocularis L. Synonyms : Corchorus trilocularis. Tamil Name : Talakkaippoondu Family : Tiliaceae Fig. 4: Leaves of Corchorus trilocularis L.

4.2.1 Taxonomy Plant profile for Corchorus trilocularis Kingdom Subkingdom Super division Division Class Subclass Order Family Genus Species Plantae Plants Tracheobionta Vascular plants Spermatophyta Seed plants Magnoliophyta Flowering plants Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons Dilleniidae Malvales Tiliaceae Linden family Corchorus L. corchorus Corchorus trilocularis L. wild jute 4.2.2. Distribution Corchorus trilocularis is widespread over tropical Africa and is also found in tropical and subtropical Asia and Australia. 4.2.3 Botanical Description Stem - Solid, cylindrical. Young branches are purplish, sparsely pubescent with band of hairs. Leaves - Petiole pubescent especially above, otherwise nearly glabrous. Leaves oblong to lanceolate, up to 12 3.5 cm, with rounded-obtuse base, hairless or hairy, particularly on the veins; margins crenate-serrate with a long bristle on the 2 lowermost teeth Flowers - 1.2 to 2 cm in diameter, light yellow color, with 5 free sepals and 5 free petals, stamens 40-60; sepals narrowly lanceolate, as long as the

petals (sepals more or less 1 cm long; petals 7-8 mm); stamens 5-6 mm; style 1 1/2-2 1/2 mm. Fruits - Fruit a slender, more or less erect, many-seeded capsule, straight or slightly curved, up to 7 cm long, 3-4-angled with a rough surface. Seeds - Seeds, 1-2 mm, angular, separated by septa or ridges 4.2.4 Chief constituents Two new tetracyclic triterpenoid trilocularol A and trilocularol A 3- glucoside and one pentacyclic triterpenoid tirlocularoside A were isolated from Corchorus trilocularis L., (Ahmed et al.,2003). 4.2.5 Indication Seeds are used in fever and for cleaning bowls. Antiinflammatory, demulcent. In traditional folklore medicine in India, Corchorus trilocularis is also used for syphilis (Ahirrao et al., 2009; Senthilkumar et al., 2006; Ishtiaq et al., 2003).