Economic Importance

MARKETED PRODUCTS

CENTELLA ASIATICA
(GOTU KOLA)

Centella asiatica is a medicinal plant with a long history of therapeutic use. It is a creeping plant which has its origin in tropical and subtropical climates. In India and Indonesia it has a long history of use, healing wounds and slowing the progression of leper. Furthermore, it is considered to prolong life and to increase energy and sexual potency.

Based on many indications of the traditional medicine, it was accepted in France in 1880. British physicians used it in Africa for leper treatment. In the 70s, Italian and European investigators found evidence that this plant may significantly improve the symptoms caused by hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

Parts used

The dried and fragmented aerial parts of Asian Centella (L.) Urban (Asian herb Centella) are used.

Indications:

1. Skin:

According to the WHO and various clinical studies, the Centella preparations are indicated for external use as healing substance, particularly to accelerate the healing of postraumatic or postsurgical wounds, as well as for second and third degree burns and the prevention of gravidic stretch marks. Furthermore, they prevent the formation of hypertrophic scars. Also for the treatment of the psoriasis and skin damage of simple herpes.

2. Vascular and lymphatic pathologies

Various clinical studies indicate its application for chronical venous insufficiency, varicose veins, venous hypertension, and its use for the prevention of circulatory problems on medium and long distance flights.

Other recent studies confirm its usefulness in diabetic microangiopathy. Some clinical tests suggest the action against stretch marks and cellulitis, for its diuretic action and improvement of lymphatic circulation.

3. Action on the nervous system

Asian Centella increases the cerebral levels of GABA, which explains its traditional use as ansiolytic and anti-convulsive.
Centella has been used for the treatment of the syndrome of concentration deficit and in cases of feeble-mindedness, although its action mechanism in these pathologies is not known.

4. Anti-tumor action

Probably due to its immune-stimulating properties it produces immunological cytolysis which explains the benefits observed in cancer patients.

5. Peptic ulcer desease

It may be used orally for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers due to stress. Its benefit is apparently due to the immune-modulating active components that act at the gastrointestinal level.

Other traditional practices

Healthy Skin

Alert

Bright

Charming

Traditional values among the Indians

Application of pegaga paste on babies as a body scrub to further improve their complexion

Selected recipes..

How to make vallarai thoveyal???

Vallarai thoveyal is a very simple dish prepared by the Indians and its taken in a form of ulam similiar to the Malays.


Ingredients

Pegaga/vallarai
Onion
Garlic
Salt to taste
Grated coconut
Chillies (Cabai burung)


Mix all the ingredients together and blend to form a paste. No water should be added. Preferably use pestle and mortar instead of blender. You may add tamarind (asam jawa) to further improve the flavour. Store the paste in fridge. Thaw the paste for about half an hour before usage.

This recipe is brought to you by my grandmother;

Panjavarnam Krishnan

Etnobotany values of pegaga at varying locations throughout the world

Madagascar

A crystallized substance, asiaticoside, was found, thought at first to be a glucoside.
It has been shown that it is an ester. The compound broke down the leprosy nodules, perforating ulcers and lesions on fingers and early eye lesions. It has been suggested that this medicine probably dissolve at the waxy covering of the leprosy basillus so that it becomes fragile and can be easily destroyed either by the body.

India

The plant is valued in indigenous medicine for treatment of leprosy and skin diseases and also to improve memory.

A cold poultice of the fresh herb is used as an external application in rheumatism, elephantiasis and hydrocele.

For treating leprosy and other skin diseases it is given as an ointment or dusting powder.

Internally it has been valued as a tonic and is used in bronchitis, asthma, gastric catarahh, leucorrhoea, kidney troubles, urethritis and dropsy.

A decoction of very young shoots is given for haemorrhoids. It is used for Blood Conditions, Brain and Nervous System Conditions, Cardiovascular Conditions Gastrointestinal Conditions, Glandular Conditions, Immune System Conditions, cough problems, Liver Conditions, Respiratory Tract Conditions, and Tissue Development.


Medicinal and pharmacological activities

Antiulcerogenic activity: The antiulcerogenic activity of the fresh juice of C. asiatica wasstudied against ethanol-, aspirin-, cold restraint stress- and pyloric ligation-induced gastric ulcers in rats.

When given orally at doses of 200 and 600 mg/kg twice daily for 5 days, the drug showed significant protection against all the above experimental ulcer models. This effect was thought to be due to the strengthening of mucosal defensive factors.

Oral administration of Centella extract (0.05, 0.25 and 0.50 g/kg) before ethanol administration significantly inhibited gastric lesion formation (by 58-82%) and decreased mucosal myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in a dose-dependent manner. It prevented gastric mucosal lesions by strengthening the mucosal barrier and reducing the damaging effects of free radicals.

Spasmolytic activity: Activity was demonstrated when tested in vitro on isolated guinea pig ileum.

Wound-healing activity: A titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA), containing asiatic acid, madecassic acid and asiaticoside, and its separate components were evaluated for their effects in the wound chamber model. TECA-injected wound chambers were characterised by increased dry weight, DNA, total protein, collagen and uronic acid contents.

Peptidic hydroxyproline was also increased, showing an increased remodelling of the collagen matrix in the wound. The three purified components ofTECA were all able to reproduce the effects of the complete drug. The activity of asiaticoside was studied in normal and delayed-type wound healing.

In guinea pig punch wounds topical applications of a 0.2% solution of asiaticoside produced a 56% increase in hydroxyproline, 57% increase in tensile strength, increased collagen content and improved epithelialisation.

In streptozotocin-diabetic rats, where healing is delayed, topical application of a 0.4% solution of asiaticoside over punch wounds increased hydroxyproline content, tensile strength, collagen content and epithelialisation, thereby facilitating healing.

Asiaticoside was also active by the oral route at 1 mg/kg and is thought to be the main active constituent of Centella asiatica. Asiaticoside enhanced antioxidant levels at an initial stage of wound healing which may be an important contributory factor in the healing properties of this constituent.

The extract also protected skin against radiation injury. Immunomodulatory activity: An alcoholic extract showed stimulatory effect on the reticuloendothelial system (RES) in mice and an in vitro study of the aq ueous extract demonstrated a positive effect on both the classic and alternative pathways of complement activation.

Antitubercular activity: An injection of 0.5 ml of a 4% solution of hydroxyasiaticoside was given in guinea pigs, inoculated 15 days preyiously with tubercle bacillus. It reduced the number of tubercular lesions in the liver, lungs, nerve ganglions and spleen and decreased the volume of the spleen over that of untreated control animals, thereby displaying antitubercular activity.

Psychoneurological activity: The alcoholic extract, when given orally to rats and mice treated with phenobarbitone, significantly prolonged sleeping time. In the maximum electroshock-induced convulsion test in rats, it significantly reduced the duration of individual convulsions. In a behavioural test it reduced the duration of the immobilityphase, indicating sedative, antidepressive and analgesic actions.

Antimicrobial activity: Asiaticoside at a concentration of 10 mglml showed antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas pyocyaneus and Trichoderma mentagrophytes.

Antiviral activity: The alcoholic extract showed antiviral activity against Herpes simplex type II virus.Antilarval activity: A new triterpenoid glycoside 3-0-[ a- L-arabinopyranosyl] 2a,3 p, 6p ,23a - tetrahydroxyurs-12-ene- 28-oic acid exhibited dose-dependent growth inhibitory activity against larvae of Spilarctia obliqua.


According to Hartwell (1967–1971), the flowers, leaves, and roots are used in folk remedies for tumors, the seed for abdominal tumors.

The root decoction is used in Nicaragua for dropsy. Root juice is applied externally as rubefacient or counter-irritant.

Leaves applied as poultice to sores, rubbed on the temples for headaches, and said to have purgative properties.

Bark, leaves and roots are acrid and pungent, and are taken to promote digestion. Oil is somewhat dangerous if taken internally, but is applied externally for skin diseases. Bark regarded as antiscorbic, and exudes a reddish gum with properties of tragacanth; sometimes used for diarrhea.

Roots are bitter, act as a tonic to the body and lungs, and are emmenagogue, expectorant, mild diuretic and stimulant in paralytic afflictions, epilepsy and hysteria.

Etnobotany values among communities in Malaysia

Traditional use of pegaga among the Malays

-Leaves can be eaten raw.Whole plant is a vegetable need among the Malay community throughout Malaysia.List of favourite meals include:-

a)gulai lemak
b)ulam
c)kerabu
d)tonic drink


Traditional use of pegaga among the Indians

-Young leaves are eaten as vegetables either cooked or raw. The leaves can be boiled and consumed to prevent or cure urinary tract infection and stone.



Traditional use of pegaga among the Chinese

In Chinese folk medicine, a decoction of this herb is used for the treatment of colds, sunstroke, tonsilitis, pleurisy, urinary tract infections, infectious hepatitis, jaundice, and dysentery; as an antidote for arsenic poisoning, toxic mushroom and as an external poultice for snake bites, scabies, traumatic injuries, and herpes zoster.

Botany and Nomenclature of Pegaga

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Apiales

Family: Umbilliferae

Botanical Name: Centella asiatica

Description:-

A tailing herb of moist places with slender stems, rounded, simple leaves and inconspicious flowers in short clusters. The small fruits are laterally compressed schizocarps, each comprising two mericarps that split apart at maturity.

The stems are slender,creeping stolons, green to reddish green in colour, interconnecting one plant to the another. It has long-stalked, green, reniform leaves with rounded apices which have smooth textures with palmately netted veins.

The leaves are borne on pericladial petioles, around 20cm. The rootstock consist of rhizomes, growing vertically down. They are creamish in colour and covered with root hairs.
The flowers are pinkish to red in colour, borne in small, rounded bunches near the surface of the soil. Each flower is partly enclosed in two green bracts. The hermaphrodite flowers are minute in size (less than 3mm). with 5-6 corolla lobes per flower. Each flower bears five stamens and two styles. The fruit are densely reticulate, distinguishing it from species of Hydrocotyle which have smooth, ribbed or warty fruit. The crop matures in 3 months and the whole plant, including the roots is harvested manually.

Pegaga..Genetics

Chromosome Number Nature of Pollination

Description: A rhizomatous spreading herb with a basal stump. Leaves closely inserted; petioles to19cm long with fine white hair; lamina reniform with crenate margins, glaborous, to 5cm wide. Inflorescence, a flat top umbel of 3 flowers; bracts 2-3, purplish green and cup shaped; sepals 5; stamens 5; stigmas 2; ovary inferior round and flat, hairy with 2 locules. Capsules to 3mm in diameter and flat.

Breeding Methods

Pegaga plant can grow esily by its nature. However, this plant possesse some ornamental value as the leaves are present in large
amount, big in size and beautiful.

This plant can be propagated from:-

A)ROOTINGS
B) sEEDLINGS

PEGAGA!!! Origin...

Origin and Distribution

Pantropical, found over large parts of Africa, Madagascar, South America, North America, Asia and Australia
It found in swampy areas of India, commonly found as a weed in crop fields and other waste places throughout India up to an altitude of 600 m.

Pegaga (constituents)

Vernacular names:-

Pegaga, Indian pennywort, hydrocotyle, daun kaki kuda, Gotu Kola, Asiatic Pennywort, Luei Gong Gen, Takip-kohol, Antanan, Pegagan, Vallarai, brahmi, Rau Ma, Kuka kud and Bai Bua Bok

Parts Used:-

Leaves, roots and dried whole plant

Chemical Constituents:-

-Leaves contain vellarine, triterpenes asiatic acid, madecassic acid together with triterpenoid ester glycosides known as asiatiosides and brahminoside

-Whole plant contain alkaloid, glycosides, sterols, palmitik acid, stearic acis, philandrin,tanin, sterol, saponin, lignoceric acid, linoleic acid, fatty acis, flavanoids and brahmic acid

-The volatile oil contain pcymol,caryophyllene and farnesene

Samples of the Indian plants collected from different places showed the presence of the following glycosides:

-indocentelloside

-brahmoside

-brahminoside

-asiaticoside

-thankuniside

- isothankuniside

-The corresponding triterpene acids obtained on hydrolysis of the glycosides are

indocentoic, brahmic, asiatic, thankunic and isothankunic. These acids, except the

last two, are also present in free form in the plant apart from isobrahmic and betulic

acids. The presence of mesoinositol, a new oligosaccharide, ‘centellose’, kaempferol,

quercetin and stigmasterol, have also been reported.

Pharmacological Action
(Scientifically proven)

-In term of wound healing: the triterpenoids are thought to stimulate the production of human collagen I, a protein associated with wound healing.

-Several trials are available that have shown efficacy in the treatments of wound, ulcers, burns and the prevention of scars.

-Animal experiments showed anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Small clinical studies indicate a positive action on patients with venous sufficiency

-Asiaticoside and related triterpenoids are selectively toxic to the tubulin (which forms the spindle during cell division) and as a result prevents or slows down cell division

-They are generally tonic

-Studies have shown that tablets made from this plant, when taken orally over 12 weks by mentally retarded children, produced significant capabilities in them. Madasiatic acid and brahmic acid have been isolated from the plant

Pharmacology studies conducted in India

The main active ingredients in Brahmi (pegaga)are :-

0

Bacoside A and B.

-Bacoside A assists in release of nitric oxide that allows the relaxation of the aorta and

veins, to allow the blood to flow more freely through the body. Therefore Brahmi is r

revered for strenghtening the immune system, improving vitality and performance

and promoting longevity.

-Bacoside B is a protein valued for nourishing the brain cells, as a result Brahmi

improves mental clarity, confidence, intelligence and memory recall. It has been

widely used by students and older people alike.

-Asiaticosides stimulate the reticuloendothelial system where new blood cells are

formed and old ones destroyed, fatty materials are stored, iron is metabolized, and

immune responses and inflammation occur or begin.

-The primary mode of action of Centella appears to be on the various phases of

connective tissue development, which are part of the healing process.

-Centella also increases keratinization, the process of building more skin in areas of

infection such as sores and ulcers. Asiaticosides also stimulate the synthesis of lipids

and proteins necessary for healthy skin.

Finally centella strengthens veins by repairing the connective tissues surrounding veins and decreasing capillary fragility.

Economic Importance(mungai)

Industrial uses of moringa oil

The oil content of de-hulled seed (kernel) is approximately 42 %. The oil is brilliant yellow. It is used as a lubricant for fine machinery such as timepieces because it has little tendency to deteriorate and become rancid and sticky. It is also useful as a vegetable cooking oil. The oil is known for its capacity to absorb and retain volatile substances and is therefore valuable in the perfume industry for stabilising scents. The free fatty acid content varies from 0.5 to 3 %.
What development potential for Moringa products.

The seed oil of Moringa contains approximately 13 % saturated fatty acids and 82 % unsaturated fatty acids. It has a particularly high level of oleic acid (70 %) . Other vegetable oils normally contain only about 40 % oleic acid.


Moringa as a source of biogas

Moringa plants (approximately 30 days old) were milled together with water. The fibre was separated by filtration through a mesh with 5 mm pores and the liquid fraction produced was then added to a biogas reactor. With an average feed of 5.7 g of volatile solids the gas production was 580 liters of gas per 1 kg of volatile solids. The average methane content of the gas was 81 %.

Moringa as a forage plant

The nutritional characteristics of the Moringa tree are excellent so it can easily be used as a fresh forage material for cattle. The leaves are rich in protein, carotene, iron and ascorbic acid and the pod is rich in the amino acid lysine. Another important advantageous characteristic of Moringa is its high productivity of fresh material per unit area compared with other forage crops (see below; Productivity of Moringa plantations). Moringa is especially useful as a forage for cattle both economically and productively given the problems facing typical cattle breeders (70 % of the national herd in Nicaragua is in the hands of these small cattle producers). Major among these problems are:

a) Low availability of feed during the dry season, which extends from December through May.
b) Lack of capacity for pasturing animals as farmers generally own small areas and these are typically not well worked or managed.
c) Nutritional imbalances caused by a lack of access to proteins, carbohydrates and minerals.
d) Farmers have little control over the reproductive activities of their animals either as regards timing of mating or quality of sire.

Moringa kernel and meal as animal feed

The kernels of Moringa can be crushed and its water extract used for purification of water, and the water extract is a viable replacement coagulant for chemicals such as aluminium sulphate (alum) in developing countries. As moringa oil can be used for human consumption, the water extract of seed meal (obtained after extraction of oil) has been used to purify water. This residue is still active as a coagulant. We determined chemical constituents, organic matter digestibility, gross and metabolizable energies, rumen degradable and undegradable nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen, pepsin degradability of proteins and presence of anti nutritional factors in kernels, seed meal (fat-free kernel) and in the residues obtained after removal of water soluble coagulants from kernels and seed meal obtained from the Moringa plant.

Amino acid composition of these four fractions of kernels has also been analysed. This information together with reported above for the Moringa forage will pave the way for better utilization of different fractions/residues of Moringa, which are generated as by-products in the process of extraction of oil, growth hormones and coagulants, as animal feed.

Recipes

How to make fried munggai vege??

Fried mungai vege is a very nutritous meal and can be prepared easily

Ingredients

Young mungai leaves
Dried chillies
Biji sawi
Onion
Garlic
Grated coconut
Salt to taste


1) Firstly, heat the pan and pour about 2 table spoon of oil (any cooking oil)

2) Next, put in dried chillies, onion, garlic and the biji sawi. Stir till the onions turned brown

3) Then, add the vege and sprinkle about 3ml of water

4) Finally add in the grated coconut annd salt followed by a vigourous stir.

Turn off the heat and your mungai vege is all set for a nutritious lunch :)

This recipe is brought to you by my mom:-

Vijayaletchemy Kandasamy

Dictionary

List of unfamiliar terms and their meanings

Antibiotic-Destroys or inhibit microorganisms

Anticoagulant-Prevents blood clotting

Anti fungal-Combats fungal infection

Anti inflammatory-Reduces inflammation

Antimicrobial- Destroys or inhibits microorganisms

Antioxidant- Prevents oxidation and breakdown of tissue

Antiseptic-Destroys or inhibits microorganisms that cause infection

Antiplasmodic- Relieves muscle spasm or reduces muscle tone

Antitussive- Soothes and relieves coughing

Carcinogenic-Causes cancer

Cream- A mixture of water and fat or oil that blends with the skin

Decoction- Water based preparation of bark, roots, berries or seeds simmered in
boiling water

Detoxicfication- The process of aiding removal of toxins and waste products from the
body

Diaphoretic-Induces sweating

Diuretic- Stimulates urine flow

Hyponotic-Induces sleep

Hypoglycaemic- Lowers blood glucose level

Infusion- Water based preparation in which flowers, leaves, or stems are brewed in a
similiar way to tea

Laxative-Promotes evacuation of the bowels

Ointment- A blend of fats or oils that form a protective layer over the skin

Pectoral-Acts on the lungs

Poultice- Herbal preparation usually applied hot to affected area to alleviate pain and
reduce swelling

Purgative-A very strong laxative

Sedative- Reduces activity and nervous excitement

Spasmolytic- Relaxes muscles

Stimulant- Increases rate of activity and nervous excitement

Source: Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.

Preparation of medicinal remedies

INFUSIONS

An infusion is the simplest way to prepare the more delicate aerial parts of plants, especially leaves and flowers, for the use as a medicine or as a revitalizing or relaxing drink. It is made in a similiar way to tea, using either a single herb or a combination of herbs, and may be drunk hot or cold.

Ingredients:-


Standard Quantity

Cup :-1 tsp (2-3 g) dried or 2 tsp (4-6 g) fresh herb (or mixture of herbs) to a cup of water (this make 1 dose)

Pot:-20 g dried herb or 30 g fresh herb(or a mixture of different herbs) to 500 ml of water

Standard dosage

Take 3-4 doses (500ml) each day

Storage

Store in a covered jug in a refrigerator or cool place for up to 24 hours

How to prepare?

1) Place the herb in the strainer of the tisane cup and place the strainer in the cup. Fill the cup with freshly boiled water

2) Cover the cup with the lid and infuse for 5-10 minutes before removing the tisanr strainer. Add a teaspoon of honey to sweeten , if desired


DECOCTIONS

Roots, bark, twigs and berries usually require a more forceful treatment than leaves or flowers to extract their medicinal constituents. A decoction involves simmering these tougher parts in boiling water. Fresh or dried plant material may be used and should be cut or broken into small pieces before decocting. like infusions, decoctions can be taken hot or cold.

Standard Quantity

20 g dried or 40 g fresh herb (or mixture of herbs) to 750 ml cold water, reduced to about 500 ml after simmering (this makes 3-4 doses)

Standard Dosage

Take 3-4 doses (500ml) each day

Storage

Store in a covered jug in a refrigerator or cool place for up to 48 hours

How to prepare?

1. Place the herbs in a saucepan. Cover with cold water and bring to boil. Simmer for about 20-30 minutes, untill the liquid is reduced by about one third

2. Strain the liquid through a sieve into a jug. Pour the required amount into a cup, then cover the jug and store in a cool place

Etnobotany values among various countries throughout the world

Brunei Darul Salam

Uses:-
1) The leaves of moringa are pounded and the juice are taken; The seeds and leaves are cooked and eaten : to alleviate hypertension

Philippines
Uses:-
1) A decoction of the roots is administered to delirious patients in addition to being an antiscorbutic, and an external cleanser of sores and ulcers

2) Roots of Munggai are chewed and applied on snake bite to prevent the poison from spreading 3)Young leaves are used as galactagogue 4) Oils from the seeds is applied to treat gout and rheumatism


Indonesia

Uses:-
1)The root is considered to be tonic, emmenagogue and antiscorbutic and is used both externally and internally to treat cold, lameness and beri beri

Ethnobotany values among the various communities in Malaysia

Traditional uses of kacang kelo among the Malays

1) Leaves eaten as a vegetable : Stimulate lactation in mothers

2) Pound the leaves finely and apply on the breast : To treat engorged breasts and to
stimulate milk flow

3) Oil from the seeds : Applied on joints to treat rheumatism

4) Pound the dry roots till powdery and apply as talcum powder on the stomach of
mothers after childbirth : to relieve itchiness

5) Mix the crimson coloured sap with water and apply it to the neck: medication for
flu

Traditional uses of murunggai among the Indians

1) Leaves are eaten as fried vegetables : to improve eye sight

2) Stems of the tree are boiled in water. The boiled munggai water taken habitually :
provides cooling effect for the body : taken by diabetes and hypertension patients
on a regular basis

3) Munggai flower boiled with milk : Provides instant relief for headaches


Traditional uses of moringa oleifera among the Chinese

No information obtained

Botany and Nomenclature of Drumstick..

Family : Moringaceae (monogeneric)
Botanical Name : Moringa Oleifera Lam

Common spesies available:-

i) M. Oleifera
-leaves are usually tripinnate, leaflets are 12-18mm long, petioles are yellow or white
without red streaks and trees are medium sized.

ii) M. Concanensis
- leaves are usually bipinnate, leaflets sre 15-30mm long, petioles with red streaks
or redish base and the trees are large sized.

Description of the tree

Mungai...Genetics!

Chromosome Number

The tree is reported a true diploid with 2n=28. The presence of a higher gametic chromosome number (n=14) leads to evolutionary process of allopolyploidisation or a possible diploidisation.

Nature of pollination

The flowers are bisexual, oblique, stalked, axillary and heteromorphic. The plant is highly cross pollinated due to heteropolymorphism and is entomophilous, bees being the pollinators.

Breeding Methods

The trees can be propagated from:-
A) Seed
-Plants produce fruits of unpredicted quality

B) Cuttings
-Plants grow within few months in moist soil for fairly large size cuttings.

Breding methods used for vegetatively propagated crop:-
i) single plant selection
ii) mass selection
iii) exploitation and maintenance of vigour observed in transgressive segregants

The prospects of going for mutation breeding and polyploidy breeding are yet to be explored. Being a perennial tree vegetable, information on inheritance of qualitative, quantitative and threshold characters in the crop are rather limited.

Varieties available
in India...

Jaffna - produce fruits of 60-90 cm in length with a soft flesh and good taste
Chavakacherri murunga - produce fruits of 90-120 cm in length
Chemmurunga - bears red tipped fruits ,flower throughout the year and yield heavy
crops
Kadu murunga - trees growing wild, bearing small and inferior fruits
Palmurungai - friuts of thick pulp and has the best taste among the other varieties
Kodikal murungai - produce short fruits of 15-30 cm in length

DRUMSTICK!!! Origin...

Centre of Crop Origin

The Hindustan centre of crop origin is the cradle of many economically important vegetable crops. One of the vitamin rich mineral packed and nutritious vegetable of this tropical and sub tropical centre of crop origin, originally grown by Dravidians and later by Aryans in each and every home yard and presently getting extinct from cultivation, is called drumstick or as "Horse Radish Tree", "West Indian Ben" and "Never Die". The name drumstick derived from the shape of pod resembling the slender and curved stick used for beating the drum. Probably the name "radish Tree" was derived from the pendulous slender and thin shape of immature fruits of the tree resembling very much the silica of radish.

Origin and distribution

The tree is indigenous to North-West India. It is found growing wildly in the sub-Himalayan tract from river "Chinab" eastwards to "Sarda" and in the Tarai tract of Uttar Pradesh in India. Streches of the wild form of the tree can be seen at the Tarai belts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The tree is widely distributed in India, Egypt, Phillippines, ceylon, Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, Pakistan, Singapore, West Indies, Cuba, Jamaica and Nigeria.

Kelor/Mungai (Constituents)

Vernacular names:-

Sanskrit, Sigru ; Hindi, Sahinjan ;Sinhalase, Murunga English,Horseradish tree; Bengali, Sojna; Nepalase, Sobhanjan; Japanase, Wasabinoki; French, Moronguier; Unanai,Sahinjan; Tamil, Murungai.


Parts used:-

Bark, roots, flowers, leaves, seeds and gum.

Chemical constituents:-

-Bark contains a white crystalline alkaloid, two resins(one soluble and the other insoluble in ammonia), an inorganic
acid, mucilage(gum), and ash (8%).

-Seed husked on a low pressure yield a clear, limpid, almost colourless fixed oil known as beni or moringa oil. It contains 60% of liquid oil and 40% of white solid fat. Constituents of moringa oil are myristic acid (7.3%), palmitic acid (4.2%), oleic acid (65.8%), stearic acid (10.8%), behenic acid (8.9%) and lignoceric acid (3%).

-Alcoholic extract of fresh roots exhibit a strong antibiotic activity due to "ptergospermin" which is a reddish brown active oil.

-Pods and leaves were found to be rich in vitamin C content. The leaves yielded amino acids such as aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, glycine, threonine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, histidine, lysine, arginine, trytophan, cystine, methionine and carothene.

Pharmacological action:-
(Scientifically proven)

Generally: Antipasmodic, stimulant, expectorant and diuretic.

Bark: emmenagogue and even abortifacient

Flowers: stimulant, tonic, diuretic and useful to increase the flow of bile

Leaves and stem bark (juice): exhibit antibacterial and antitubercular activity

Root bark: antiviral effect against vaccinia virus, exhibit anti inflammatory and

analgesic activity

* Ethanolic extract of the whole plant showed anticancer activity against human epidermoid carcinoma of nasopharynx in tissue culture and lymphocytic leukemia in mice.