Plant Name
Chrozophora hierosolymitana Spreng.
Syn.- Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) Raf.
Croton oblongifolium Sieber ex Spreng.
Botanical Info
An erect-ascending annual herb up to 75 cm. The plant has sparing, even, or dense stellate-pubescent.
Geography:
Spread from Spain and N.W. Africa eastwards to Arabia and N.W. India. It is a common weed found in fallow fields, on dry waste grounds, on sandy clay loam. It reaches evevation of up to 2300 m.
Chemical Content
Diterpenoids:oblonifoliol, 19-desoxyoblonifoliol, 3- desoxyoblonifoliol izopimara-7,15-diene, izopimara-7,15-dien-19-ol, oblonifolic, (-)-hardvic,, 11-degidro – (-)-hardvik and acetylaleuritic acids, forbol. Saponins. Alkaloids. Waxes. Roots, a cortex, seeds. Diterpenoids: oblonifoliol. Steroids: Sitosterin. Leaves. Flavonoids: meletin, meletin 3-galactoside, hyperfine, isoramnetin. Walls of fruits. Alkaloids. Seeds. A fat oil of 30 %.
Traditional Use and Activity
The plant is used as a silk and wool dye producing the shades of red, yellow and dark blue color depending on mordant. The plant is toxic.