Sanskrit Name:
Sarja
Identification No.:
SDACH/HG/270
Botanical Name:
Vateria indica L.
Family Name:
Dipterocarpaceae
Vernacular Names:
English name- White Dammer Tree, Dammer (gum), Piney Resin tree, Indian Copal Tree
Kannada Name – Dhoopada mara, Bili Dhoopa,
Hindi name- Safed dammar, Kharuva
Telugu name- Tella Damaramu
Tamil name- Vellai Kungiliyam, Vellai Kundurikam, Paini pisin,
Malayalam name- Vella Kundurukkam, Paini pasha
Synonyms:
सर्जकोऽन्योऽजकर्णः स्याच्छालो मरिचपत्रकः ॥२०॥
अजकर्णः कटुस्तिक्तः कषायोष्णो व्यपोहति । कफपाण्डुश्रुतिगदान् मेहकुष्ठविषन्त्रणान् ॥२१॥(Bhav Prakash)
Classification According to Ayurvedic Texts:
Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Aushadhi Varga
Dhanvantari Nighantu – Amradi Varga
Raja Nighantu – Prabhadradi Varga
Bhava Prakasha Nighantu – Vatadi varga
Habitat & Distribution:
Endemic to the Western Ghats of India, particularly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Found in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.
Morphology:
A large evergreen tree reaching up to 40–60 meters in height. Bark is smooth, grey with green and white blotches, exuding a white aromatic resin when scarred. Leaves are simple, alternate, leathery, and elliptic-oblong. Flowers are white, fragrant, and arranged in terminal panicles. Fruit is a pale brown capsule containing a single seed.
Varieties:
Vateria malabarica Blume
Substitute/Adulterant:
Resin from Shorea robusta (Shaal) is sometimes used as a substitute.
Phytochemicals:
- Stem Bark: Contains stilbenoids such as vateriaphenols A and B, bergenin, and high levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds.
- Leaves: Yield resveratrol derivatives including vateriaphenols D, E, and F, as well as vateriosides A and B.
- Resin: Rich in triterpenes, essential oils, and sesquiterpenes.
Rasapanchaka:
- Rasa: Kashaya (astringent), Tikta (bitter)
- Guna (Quality): Snigdha (unctuous)
- Virya (Potency): Sheeta (cooling)
- Vipaka (post-digestive effect): Katu (pungent)
- Prabhava (Specific action): Mutrasagrahniya
- Dosha Shamakta: Balances Kapha and Vata doshas
Karma (Therapeutic Actions):
Tonic, carminative, expectorant, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial.
Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses:
- External: Treatment of skin diseases, boils, blisters, and infected wounds using Sarja taila.
- Internal: Management of cough, asthma, diarrhea, dysentery, anemia, leprosy, ulcers, and rheumatism.
Part Used:
Bark, Gum
Dose:
Dosage- Bark decoction 50-100 ml, powder 1-3 g
Yoga/Formulations:
- Shatyadi Kshaya
- Shatyadi Yoga
- Chyavanaprasha
- Amritaprasha Ghrita
- Sarja Taila
- Lavangadi Churna
IUCN Status:
Vateria indica is listed as Vulnerable under criteria A2cd.
Research Updates
- 2020: Isolation of novel resveratrol derivatives from leaves, including vateriaphenol F and vateriosides A and B, demonstrating antioxidant properties.
- 2020: Comprehensive study on chemical constituents of leaves, identifying 33 known compounds and highlighting the presence of resveratrol oligomers.
- 2018: Review of pharmacological activities indicating presence of fatty acids like stearic, oleic, and palmitic acids in dhupa fat, and therapeutic potentials in treating various ailments.
