Sanskrit name – Bhallataka
Botanical name – Semecarpus anacardium
Family name – Anacardiaceae
Identification No. – SDACH/HG/263
Vernacular names – Hindi: Bhilawa, Marathi: Bibba, Bengali: Bhela, Tamil: Serankottai, Telugu: Jeedi Mamidi
Synonyms –
भल्लातकं त्रिषु प्रोक्तमरुष्को ऽरुष्करोऽग्निकः ।
तथैवाग्निमुखी भल्ली वीरवृक्षश्च शोफकृत्
Bhav Prakash – Haridakiyadi varga
Habitat & Distribution – Found in tropical and subtropical regions of India, especially in the outer Himalayan tracts, Central India, and Western Ghats.
Morphology – Tree up to 15 meters tall; leaves alternate, obovate-oblong, glabrous; flowers in terminal panicles, greenish-white; fruit is a drupe, smooth, black when ripe, and nut is enclosed in a fleshy receptacle. The nut secretes a black, acrid juice.
Phytochemicals – Bhilawanols, Semecarpol, Anacardic acid, Biflavonoids, Cardol, Tannins, Phenolic compounds
Raspanchaka –
Rasa: Katu, Tikta, Kashaya
Guna: Laghu, Tikshna, Snigdha
Virya: Ushna
Vipaka: Madhura
Prabhava: Kushtaghna
Dosha Shamakta: Kapha-Vatahara
Karma (Rogaghnata) – Kushtaghna (anti-leprotic), Krumighna (anti-parasitic), Shothahara (anti-inflammatory), Shukrajanana (aphrodisiac), Rasayana (rejuvenative), Arshoghna (anti-piles)
Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses –
External – Useful in skin diseases; oil prepared from Bhallataka used in chronic wounds, boils, and piles (with caution).
Internal – Used in leprosy, skin disorders, piles, abdominal pain, anemia, and chronic respiratory diseases. Administered after shodhana (purificatory process) only.
Part used – Fruit
Dose –
Kalka 3-6 gm
Oil: 10–20 drops
Yoga/Formulations – Bhallatakadi Ghrita, Bhallatak Avaleha, Vajikarana Yoga, Kushtanashak Vati
IUCN Status – Least Concern (LC)
Research updates –
Gautam S, et al. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Semecarpus anacardium nut extract in experimental models. J Ethnopharmacol. 175:76–83.
Kumar R, et al. Protective effect of Semecarpus anacardium against chemically induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. Phytother Res. 29(6):907–13.
Patel D, et al. Anticancer and apoptotic effects of Semecarpus anacardium on human breast cancer cells. BMC Complement Altern Med. 15:124.
