The powdered seeds are taken as snuff in cases of violent headache arising from cold (Mr. Mukerji).
The boiled seeds are said to possess powerful aphrodisiac properties (Surg.-Major Houston).
The seeds reduced to a paste are used for contusions and to reduce inflammation.
If the leaves are steeped in warm mustard-oil and applied over the seat of pain in rheumatism much benefit will be derived (Surgeon-Major W. Wilson).
The juice of the fresh leaves, mixed with some bland oil, and applied externally, seems to relieve local pain (Surg.-Major B. Gupta).
Abrin, which has been subjected to tryptic digestion and the proteids salted out, gives no biuret reaction ; its poisonous characters remain unaltered, and it agglutinates red blood corpuscles as intensely as the unaltered abrin which contains proteids. Abrin, whether united to proteids or not, gives a precipitate with antiabrin blood serum. Abrin corresponds on the whole with ricin, but differs from it, in that its agglutinating properties are resistant to pepsin — hydrochloric acid, even more resistant than its poisonous action.
J. Ch. S. 1902, A I. 408.
378. Cicer arietinum, Linn., h.f.b.l, ii, 176, Roxb. 566.
Vern : — Chanâ, bût (H.) ; Chhola (B.) ; Chana, harbharâ (Bomb.) ; Kadalai (Tam.) ; Senagaloo (Tel.) ; Kadala (Malay).
The vinegar — Chanakâmla (Sans.) ; Chane-ka-sirkah (H.) ; Chana-amba (Bomb.) ; Kadalai-kàdi (Tam.)
Habitat: — Commonly cultivated in the Northern Provinces and Nilghiris.
An annual herb, viscose, much-branched. Leaves pinnate, rigid, l-2in., with usually a terminal leaflet. Leaflets close, oblanceolate or oblong. Stipules small, with a few long teeth. Corolla scarcely half as long again as the Calyx. Flowers in axils of the leaves ; peduncle ½-¾in. Calyx ¼-⅓-, teeth linear, 2-3 times the tube. Pubescence of pod short and fine. Pod oblong, ¾-lin., turgid, narrowed into the persistent style. Seed solitary generally ; exceptionally double one upon the other, without septal division.
