Botanical name : Salvadora persica Linn (S. persica L. var. wightiana
Verde., S. indica Wt.)
Family : Salvadoraceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Peelu, Lakhupeelu, Pilukaa, Sransi, Angaahva, Tikshnavrksha
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa    : Tikta, Kashaya, Madhura
Guna   : Lakhu.
Virya   : Ushna
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English     : Mustard tree. Salt Bush tree, Tooth Brush tree
Hindi        : Pilu, Jhak
Malayalam    : Uka, Ukamaram
Unani     : Miswaak, Araak.
Distribution – Arid regions, on saline lands and in coastal regions and in black cotton soil in peninsular India and Sri lanka. 
PLANT DESCRIPTION
An extensively branched evergreen shrub or small tree grows up to 10 meters in height. Leaves somewhat fleshy, grayish green, oval, oblong, main nerves 5-6 pairs; flowers small, greenish yellow in axillary and terminal compound lax panicles; fruits globose, smooth, red when ripe.  
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, vata, asthma, bronchitis, cough, scurvy, constipation, worm infestation, hemorrhoid and poisons. Plant has anti-inflammatory, hypoglycaemic, and antibacterial properties The fruits are aphrodisiac, carminative, emollient, purgative and cures urinary and biliary calculi and arthritis. Leaf decoction used for cough and asthma, poultice in painful piles and tumours; juice in scurvy. Flowers are stimulant, laxative, and applied in painful rheumatic conditions They are useful in gastric problems, constipation, oligospermia and sexual weakness. Tender twigs are used as toothbrush. Seeds are diuretic; purgative and seed oil applied locally on rheumatic swellings. .
Useful part    :    bark, leaves, shoots, fruits
CHEMICAL CONTENTS
The root gave elemental gammamonoclinic sulphur, benzyl glucosinolate, salvadourea (a urea derivative), m-anisic acid and sitosterol. Benzyl isothiocyanate, isolated from the root, exhibits antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus-1 which affects oral region. (The root is used in many parts of the world as a tooth brush.) Root bark and stem bark contain trimethylamine. Myristic, lauric and palmitic acids are the major acid components of the seed fat.
Dosage _ Fruit - 3–6 g powder; 50 – 100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)

Photo : Dinesh Valke