Botanical Name : Santalum album Linn.
Family : Santalaceae
Identification No.-SDACH/HG/175
Introduction :
Chandana is considered as an aromatic substance which is utilized for external application along with other drugs.
Scientific classification: Sandalwoods make up the family Santalaceae in the order Santalales. The largest family in the order Santalales is Loranthaceae. The representative genus is Santalum. True sandalwood is classified as Santalum album.
Vernacular names
Hindi Name- Safed chandan,
English Name-Sandalwood
Telugu Name- Tella Chandanam
Bengali Name- Chandan
Tamil Name- Chandanam, Sandanam
Gujarati Name- Sukhada
Malayalam Name- Candanam
Kannada Name- Sri Gandha
Synonyms-
श्रीखण्डं चन्दनं न स्त्री भद्रश्रीस्तैलपर्णिकः । गन्धसारो मलयजस्तथा चन्द्रद्युतिश्च सः ॥११॥
Classification:
Charak– Daha Prasamana, Trishna Nigrahana, Angamada Prassamana, Varnya, Vishaghna, Kandughna
Sushruta– Salasaradi, Sarivadi, Patoladi, Priyangvadi, Guducyadi
Vagbhata– Asanadi, Patoladi, Sarivadi, Priyangvadi, Guducyadi
Bhav prakabsh- Karpooradi varga
Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) :
1. Candana
2. Rakta candana
3. Kucandana (Patranga)
4. Kaliyaka
5. Barbarikã.
6. Goira
7. ripriya
8. Sambhräna
9. Kakubha
10. Barbarikã
11. Patanga
12. Haricandana.
- sveta (white) 2.Krsna (black) 3.Rakta (red).
13. Pita candana
14. Kairata candana
15. Sukvadi.
Generally, sveta Candana is used for the preparation of Curna, taila, kashaya, Asava and Lehyas while Rakta Candana is used for Lepas.
Morphology :
A small or medium-sized tree, with slender branches, 18 m high
Bark— dark grey or nearly black or red-dish.
Sapwood— unscented and whitish yellow, but heartwood scented and light yellowish brown (fresh one) or dark brown or reddish brown (dried).
Leaves— elliptic- ovate of ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, 2-9.0 cm x 1.5-3.5 cm size.
Flowers— maxillary and terminal paniculate brownish purple, violet or straw-coloured.
Fruit— drupe, purple-black, globose.
Seeds— globose or ovoid.
Habitat & Distribution :
Found in dry-scrub forests, Vindhya mountains, mainly in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Properties—
Rasa Tikta, Madhura
Guna Laghu, Ruksa
Virya sita
Vipaka Katu
Karma Kapha -pittahara, Dähaprasamana, varnya, vranahara, kasaghna, kushtaghna
Cooling, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, antiseptic
Indications— Dãha, Jvara, Kustha, Visarpa, Kandü, Trsnä, Raktapitta
Fever, urinary track infections, cough, asthma, skin disease, menprrhagia, jaundice
Part Used— Heart wood, Volatile oil
Dosage— Powder 3-5g, decoction 50-100 ml
Chemical composition : 3 to 6% volatile oil is derived from the heartwood and roots. Roots contain comparatively more oil, 125 gin of oil can be derived from 20 kgs. ,of sandalwood. This oil is yellow, thick, having fragrance, bitter and pungent. Sandalwood oil contains 90% santalol.
Sandalwood oil— ct—santalol, —santene, and santalenes, santenol, teresantalol, nor-tricycloekasantalal, 1 -santenone, santanone, teresantalic acid, a—and —santanta1ic acids.
Important Yoga’s or Formations :
Chandanadi churna, Chandanadi vati, Chandanasava, Chandanabala-Iakshadi taila. Cañdanãdi ghrta, Candanãditaila, Candanäsava, Candanadi Kvãtha,
Important research work going on
1. bleeding diseases
2. action on skin
Therapeutic Uses—
(1) Parmeha— In sukrameha— the decoction of Arjuna & Candana is recommended and in Mañjisthã meha, the decoction of Mañjisthã & Candana is recommended (S.S.Ci. 11).
(2) Chardi— Candana is given along with the juice of Amalaki
(C.S.Ci. 20).
(3) Pradara— Candana is given with milk, ghee, sugar and honey (G.N.)
IUCN Status: Santalum album is listed as Vulnerable under criteria A2de
Research updates
- The phytoconstituents and antioxidant efficacy of wild, underutilized berries of vulnerable Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L.). The proximate composition and mineral content were determined using methods as described by AOAC. Total phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and antioxidant properties were evaluated from the methanolic and aqueous extracts.
- Sandalwood oil is used in the food industry as a flavor ingredient with a daily consumption of 0.0074 mg/kg. Over 100 constituents have been identified in sandalwood oil with the major constituent being α-santalol. Sandalwood oil and its major constituent have low acute oral and dermal toxicity in laboratory animals. Sandalwood oil was not mutagenic in spore Rec assay and was found to have anticarcinogenic, antiviral and bactericidal activity.
