Botanical name : Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb. ex DC ) Wall, ex Guill & Pern
Family : Combretaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Dhava, Dhurandhara, Shakataahya, Indravrksha
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Katu
Guna : Guru,
Virya : Ushna
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Axle-wood, Button tree, Ghatti tree
Hindi : Dhava, Dhaura, Vakali
Malayalam : Vellanava, Vella nava, Muzukkanjiram.
Unani : Dhaawaa
Distribution : Throughout India in deciduous forests
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A moderate to large sized deciduous tree, grows up to 30 m in height with a clear bole of 15 m and with greenish or grayish white smooth bark exfoliating in irregular thin scales. Leaves elliptic or sub-orbicular, obtuse at the apex, rounded or sometimes cordate at base, glabrous when fully grown, midrib prominent, pink, main nerves 6-10 pairs arching, prominent on the lower side, leaves turning red before falling. Flowers sessile in small dense heads; fruits small, many in a globular head, yellowish-brown, winged, hooked with the persistent calyx containing one seed.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant root pacifies vitiated kapha, vata and abdominal disorders. The bark cures vitiated conditions of kapha and vata, wounds and ulcers, inflammations, diabetes, haemorrhages, haemoptysis, diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhoids, skin diseases, liver diseases, and general debility. The fruits pacify vitiated conditions of kapha and pitta, diarrhoea and dysentery.
Useful part : Roots, bark, leaves, fruits
CHEMICAL CONTENTS
The leaves, bark and heartwood yield quinic and shikmik acids; leaves contain gallotannin (90–95% of the tannins). The young leaves and shoots contain 50% tannins (dry basis). The bark contains 12–18% tannins. Heartwood contains gallic acid, ellagic acid, its derivatives, quercetinandmyricetin. The gum is mainly the calcium salt of a complex, high molecular weight polysaccharic acid (ghattic acid). The gum is a substitute for Gum arabic.
Photos : Dr. Eby Abraham MD.
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