NAGAKESARA

Botanical Name— Mesua ferrea Linn.

Family- GUTIIFERAE

Synonyms— Ahi Puspa, Ibha, Kanakãhva, Kañcanãhvaya, Kiñijilkam, Kesaram, Cãmpeyam, Natam, Nagam, Naga Kiñjilkam, Naga Puspam, Naga renuka, PaficabhUvayam, Piñjaram,Phani pannagam, Rukmam, Suvarnam, Hema pusam.

Classification according to Caraka, Susrutha & Vagbhata

 Names in different languages

Morphology

 
(i) Mesua ferrea Linn—

It is a medium sized tree; bark ash-coloured.

Leaves- 8- 12 by 3-4 cm. oblong-lanceolate, acute acuminate, glabrous above and glaucous beneath, petioles 6-8 mm. long. Flowers- white coloured, 2-2.5cm. deameter, axillary or terminal, stamens are numerous, golden-yellow coloured.

Fruit- 2.5-3 cm. long.Ovoiad.seed- 1-4, angular, smooth, chestnut brown in colour.

Distribution & Habitat.

eastern Himalayas, Bengel, Assam, eastern and western ghats and Andaman Islands.

(ii) Ochrotarpus longifolius Benth & Hook f—(tree)

Leaves- thickly coriaceous, 16-20 cm. by 5-6.5 cm., oblong, obtuse, glabrous, petioles 6 mm. long. Flowers- numerous, in short fascicles on tubercles from the axils of fallen leaves, orange red coloured; stamens many, sterile in female flowers

Fruit 2.5 cm. long. obliqualy ovoid, single seed.

Distribution & Habitat

Along western ghats of Konkan and Malabar area, Tamil nadu.

 Chemical constituents

 
(i) Mesua ferrea— Mesuol , Mesuaxanthofle B- and euxanthofle 4- a1kylcoumnu0l MammeiSin ,Mamiflegin & mesuol from seed oil (Phytochem. 1971,10,1131). mesuaferrofle glycoside- cyclohaxodione- mesuaferrol, sitosterol. Octadecatriefloic and hexadecanolic acids are present in seed oil

 
(ii) Ochrocarpus longifolius— Mammca surgia,Kosterml. 4- alkylated coumarins- Surangin A and B. Squalene, Cycloartenol, campesterol, stigmasterol and bsitosterol. Vitexjn and mesojnositol

Important Yogas or Formations

Kanakasava,catujataka,eladichurna,kesaradi kasayam.

Properties—

Rasa Kasäya, Tikta

Guna Rüksa,  Tiksna, Laghu

Virya - Usna/Anusna

Vipaka - Katu

Karma - Kapha- Pittahara Pramãthi, Grãhi, Paean,

Visahara, otha hara, Kandughna, Ku!haghana

Indications-. Raktaras Raktatisãra, Rakta Pradara, Kustha, Visarpa, Jvara, Chardi, Vãta rakta, sopha, Vãta roga, siro roga, Trsnã, Visa roga,

Clinical Studies

 
(1) It found to be useful in female patients suffering from Sveta pradara (vaginal monaliasis).

Important research work going on

1.Anti fungal activity

2.Anti bacterial activity

(1) Rakta Aras— Naga kesara cürna (2-3gm) shall be administered orally along with butter and sugar (C.S.Ci.14/210)

(2) Hikkã— Nagakesara cürna (2-4gm) is given orally with honey and sugar along with (S.S.Ut.50/24)

(3) Rakta Pradara— Nagakesara cürna is to orally administered while consuming plenty or butter-milk daily

(4) Sveta Pradara— Naga kesara is soaked in the buttermilk and administered orally for 3 days (V. S. & Y. R.)

(5) Rakta Atisãra— Nãga kesara cUrna with sugar (V. S.)5.

(6) Pumsavana— The lady who wants to have a female child should consume Nagakesara along with ghee (5gm dose daily) during the period of ovulation (Rtu kãla)- (R. M.)

(7) GarbhaStapana Powders of Naga kesara and Püga (beetle nut) are mixed together and given orally (Va.Se.)