An evergreen tree with a straight, cylindrical trunk up to 15 m tall with rough, dark grey bark. Branches tomentose when young. Leaves thickly coriaceous, pubescent beneath, broadly oblong, obtuse, with rounded base. Flowers small, greenish white, in axillary and terminal panicles. Fruits (drupes) ovoid or globose, black, 8 to 12 cm in diameter; stones hard.
Herb Effects
Anticancer and stimulates respiration and the cardiovascular system (aerial part); as a tonic (seed); aphrodisiac (kernels)
Chemistry
Active Ingredients
Oleic, palmitic, linoleic and stearic acids, along with amino acids (seed).
Chemistry
of Active Ingredients
Name
CAS#
IUPAC Name
Formula
Structure
Oleic acid
8046-01-3
octadec-9-enoic acid
C18H34O2
Palmitic acid
66321-94-6
hexadecanoic acid
C16H32O2
Pharmacology
Medicinal Use
Snakebite antidote (bark); and in skin diseases (seed paste); to treat intrinsic haemorrhage, diarrhoea with blood and as tonic; in case of fever and burning sensation (kernels).
Reference
Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.
Uniyal et al., Medicinal Flora of Garhwal Himalayas. Sharma, Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants.