Botanical Name : Mesua ferrea Linn.

Family : Clusiaceae

Identification No.- SDACH/HG/231

Introduction :

It used as lepana for visarpa (bala rogas). Susrutha & Vagbhata used synonyms of this plant, this also coming under chaturjataka.

Names in different Indian languages :

English : Iron-wood, Mesu

Hindi : Nagakesar

Kannada : Nagasampige

Malayalam : Nagappuvu,nanku,nagachempakam, vayanavu,churuli,eliponkhu

Sanskrit : Nagapushpah, nagakesarah

Tamil : Nagakesaram ,Sirunagappo,nanku

Telugu : Nagakesaramu, gajapuspam

Unani : Naarmushk

Synonyms :

नागपुष्पः स्मृतो नागः केशरो नागकेशरः । चाम्पेयो नागकिञ्जल्कः कथितः काञ्चनाह्वयः ॥६९॥

Naagapushpa, Chaampeya, Naaga, Naagakinjalika, Ahipushpa, Ahi Puspa, Kanakãhva, Kañcanãhvaya, Kiñijilkam, Kesaram, Cãmpeyam, Natam, Nagam, Naga Kiñjilkam, Naga Puspam, Naga renuka, Piñjaram,Phani pannagam, Rukmam, Suvarnam, Hema pusam

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata :

Susrutha : Elãdi, Vacãdi, Anjanãdi, Priyangvadi ganas

Vagbhata : EIädi, Vacädi, Anjanadi, Priyangvadi ganas

Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) :

(1) Naga kesara – Mesua ferrea Linn

(2) Pacima kesara – Ochrocarpus longifolius Benth & Hook, f., (lal varieties)

(3) Punnaga – Calphyllum inopylrur linn

(4) Karu Nagakesara – Cinnamomum wightii/ C. tamala

(5) Dillenia pentagyna-malabar naga kesara

Mesua nagassarium (Burm. f.) Kosterm

Morphology :

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 :

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

Chemical constituents :

Xanthones, euxanthone, mesuaxanthones,A and B,Mesuol , Mesuaxanthone B- and euxanthone MammeiSin ,Maminegin ,mesuol , mesuaferrofle glycoside- cyclohaxodione- mesuaferrol, Octadecatriefloic and hexadecanoic acids

Karma :

Kapha- Pittahara Pramãti, Grãhi, Pachan, Visahara, sotha hara, Kandughna, Kushtaghana,antidysenteric. ,astringent, haemostatic, anti-inflammatory, stomachic, antibacterial, antifungal

Indication :

Raktaras Raktatisãra, Rakta Pradara, Kustha, Visarpa, Jvara, Chardi, Vãta rakta, sopha, Vãta roga, siro roga, Trsnã, Visa roga,cough, bleeding piles,metrorrhagia, leucorrhoea, fever, ulcers

Part used :

Flower, Stamens, leaf

Dosage :

Dosage : Powder of stamens 1-3g. orally.

Leaf juice : 10-15 ml

Powder :  2-4 g

Decoction :  50-100 ml

External uses :

Lepana in visarpa

Internal uses :

Central nervous system : it is useful in brain debility and hysteria.

Digestive system : It is an appetizer, mainly digestive, antidipsetic, antiemetic, antihaeniorrhoid, astringent and vermicide. It also acts as a haemostatic in bleeding piles.

Circulatory system : it is used in cardiac debility, rakta pitta, and blood disorders.

Respiratory system : It is used in cough induced by kapha, dyspnoea anti hiccoughs

Reproductive system : It is used as an aphrodisiac

Urinary system : Diuretic, hence useful in retention of urine.

Skin : Kushthaghna..

Temperature : Febrifuge. Useful in fever.

Satmikaran : It is used as a .tonic and antidote,

Important Yogas or Formations :

Kanakasava,catujataka,eladichurna,kesaradi kasayam.

Therapeutic Uses :

(1) Rakta Aras— Naga kesara cürna (2-3gm) shall be administered orally alongwith 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)2.

(3) Rakta Pradara— Nagakesara cürna is to orally administered while consuyming 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.)4.

(5) Rakta Atisãra— Nãga kesara churna 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) Garbhasrava- Powders of Naga kesara and Püga (beetle nut) are mixed together and given orally.

Yoga/Formulations: Mahanarayan oil, Gulgulwasavam, Mahadraksha, Shringarabhra Rasa, Chandanbalakshadi Taila, Kumariasava, Poogakhanda,

IUCN Status: Mesua ferrea is listed as Vulnerable under criteria A2cd.

Research updates

1)  Anti-inflammatory Activity – A research study conducted to investigate Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant and Phytochemical Analysis of Mesua Ferrea Bark Ext, have proved presence of high amount of phenolic content, flavonoids, terpenoids and coumarins in Mesua ferrea bark ethyl acetate extract which is responsible for significant anti-inflammatory activity and antioxidant activity.

2) Anti-convulsant activity – A study conducted to evaluate anticonvulsant activity of Mesua ferrea Linn. ethanolic flower extract have proved that ethanolic extract of Mesua ferrea inhibits Maximal Electroshock Seizure (MES) -induced convulsions