Botanical Name: Adenanthera pavonina L.
Family Name: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Identification no : SDACH/HG/276
Vernacular Names:
Hindi – badi gumchi Laal Chandan
Sanskrit – Kuchandana, Rakta Chandan
Tamil – Manjadi
Telugu – Gurivinda
Kannada – Gulaganji
Malayalam – Manjadikuru
English – Coral Wood, Red Sandal Tree, Red Bead Tree
Habitat & Distribution:
Widely distributed throughout tropical India, especially in the Western Ghats and along the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. It is also found in Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands. Prefers tropical, humid climates and loamy to red lateritic soil.
Morphology
A fast-growing, deciduous tree reaching up to 15–20 meters. Leaves are compound, bipinnate with 2–4 pairs of pinnae and 8–12 leaflets per pinna. Flowers are small, yellowish, in dense axillary racemes. Pods are flat, curved, and contain bright red, hard, shiny seeds known as “Ratti” traditionally used for weighing gold. Bark is grayish-brown and rough.
Varieties:
No classical varieties are described.
Substitute / Adulterant:
Often confused or substituted with Pterocarpus santalinus (Rakta Chandana). The seeds may be adulterated with other red-seeded plants.
Phytochemicals:
Major constituents include flavonoids, triterpenoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, proteins, and fixed oils. Specific components include oleanolic acid, kaempferol, β-sitosterol, and lupanone. Seeds are rich in proteins and essential amino acids.
Raspanchaka:
Rasa – Kashaya, Madhura
Guna – Laghu, Ruksha
Virya – Shita
Vipaka – Madhura
Prabhava – Raktapittahara
Dosha Shamakta – Pitta-Kaphahara
Karma (Rogaghnata):
Raktapittahara (useful in bleeding disorders)
Shothahara (anti-inflammatory)
Jwaraghna (antipyretic)
Vishaghna (detoxifying)
Vranaropana (wound healing)
Dahaghna (relieves burning sensations)
Amayika Prayoga / Therapeutic Uses:
External – Bark paste applied on swelling and inflammation. Leaf poultice used in joint pain and wounds. Decoction of bark used for washing wounds.
Internal – Bark decoction used in diarrhea, dysentery, fever, and as a blood purifier. Seeds used in traditional medicine for worm infestations, gout, and anemia.
Part Used: Bark, seeds, leaves
Dose:
Churna – 3–5 g
Kwatha – 50–100 ml
Seed powder – 1–2 g (after purification, if required)
Yoga / Formulations:
- Used in traditional polyherbal blood purifiers
- Decoctions in folklore medicine for vitiated pitta disorders
- External paste formulations for wounds and swellings
IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC)
Research Updates :
- 2023 – A study published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies demonstrated hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Adenanthera pavonina seed extract in CCl₄-induced liver toxicity in rats.
- 2021 – An article in Journal of Ethnopharmacology confirmed the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of bark and seed extracts, suggesting its utility in arthritis.
- 2020 – A phytochemical study in Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources found potent anthelmintic and antimicrobial activities in leaf and bark extracts, validating its traditional use in intestinal infections.
