Botanical name : Vateria indica Linn (V. malabarica Bl.)
Family : Dipterocarpaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Sarja, Sarjaka, Karsya, Sasyasumbara, Devdhuupa, Marich-patraka. Chhaagakarna. Ajakarna, Shaala
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Katu
Guna : Lakhu.
Virya : Ushna
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : White Damar, Indian Copal-Tree, Malabar Tallow tree, Piney Varnish-Tree.
Hindi : Saphed dammar, Kahruba
Malayalam : Vella pain, Vella kunturukkam, Velutta kunturukkam
Unani : Raal
Distribution – Peninsular India, from Kanara to Trivandrum and in Coorg, growing naturally in the evergreen forests in Western Ghats.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A tall, evergreen tree grows up to 30 m in height with grey thick bark. Leaves simple, alternate, elliptic-oblong or ovate, rounded at the base, thick and coriaceous. Flowers white, fragrant, in large drooping panicles; fruits ovoid, rough, pale brown, 3-valved capsules, valves one-seeded; seeds reddish white or cream-colored. Resin exude out from cut stem surface is collected and used as medicine.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant bark pacifies vitiated vatha, kapha, cough, asthma, leprosy, skin crupnons, wounds, ulcers, otorrhoea, dysentery, urethrorrhea and anaemia. The resin is useful in chronic bronchitis, tubercular glands, haemorrhoids, migraine amenorrhea, dismenorrhea, diarrhea and vitiated conditions of vata. Seed oil is useful in arthritis and neurogenic pain.
Useful part : Bark, Resin, Oil
CHEMICAL CONTENTS
The bark contains polyphenols—dlepi- catechin, levorotatory isomers of fisetinidol, fzelechin; and bergenin. Resin is a complex mixture of several triterpene hydrocarbons, ketones, alcohols and acids, along with small amounts of sesquiterpenes. On distillation, the oleoresin gave an essential oil (76%), consisting of phenolic constituents and azulenes. The essential oil shows marked antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gramnegative micro-organism. The leaves and roots contain bergenin and hope phenol. The seed also contain bergenin. Hope phenol showed fungicidal activity. The plant exhibited anti-ulcerogenic activity in rats. The fruit shell contains 25% tannins.
Dosage _ Resinous exudate—1–2 g (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Vol. IV.)
Photo : Dr. Eby Abraham MD
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