Deciduous tree or large shrub; leaves sessile or subsessile, broadly ovate to elliptic-oblong, abruptly acuminate, often unequal, rounded or obtuse at base, lateral nerves 10 to 15 pairs, arching near the margin; flowers white, bracts small, follicles 20 to 42 by 0.8 to 1.2 cm; seeds up to 1 cm long, linear-oblong, coma about twice as long as seeds, seeds brown.

Acrid, antidysenteric, anthelmintic, astringent, reduces fever, tonic and increases the secretion of gastric juices (bark); slows down the growth of certain bacteria related to tuberculosis (conessine in bark) antiperiodic, aphrodisiac, bitter, carminative, expectorant, febrifuge.

Herbal Monograph

Conessine, connessimine, conkurchine, kurchine, holarrhinene, conarrhinine and isoconcessimine (bark alkaloids).

In dysentery and diarrhea (especially that which is caused by an amoeba) (bark and seed); in jaundice and stones within the bladder, to treat fever, bleeding piles, leprosy and skin diseases, cough, calculi, gravels, wound and diabetes. Bark-powder is used in abdominal and glandular tumours. Fruit has anticancer, anti protozoa, hypoglycaemic, astringent and febrifuge properties.

Do not take during pregnancy

Sharma, Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants.