Punnaga

Description

Habitat: A large evergreen coastal tree, found along sea coasts, river banks, and humid regions of South India. Morphology: Tree up to 20 m tall with broad spreading crown. Leaves are opposite, elliptic, thick, and glossy with parallel veins. Flowers are fragrant, white, and arranged in clusters. Fruits are round, green drupes turning yellowish, containing oily kernel. Grahya Lakṣaṇa: Oil seeds should be fresh, heavy, and rich in oil. Bark should be unshriveled and aromatic.

Useful Parts

Bark, seeds, oil, leaves, flowers

Benefits

1. Wound healing – Punnai oil promotes tissue regeneration and scar reduction. 2. Antiviral – Contains compounds active against HIV and herpes viruses. 3. Anticancer – Inophyllums show cytotoxic effects on certain cancer cell lines. 4. Anti-inflammatory & analgesic – Relieves joint and muscular pain. 5. Antioxidant – Prevents lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. 6. Antimicrobial – Effective against bacteria, fungi, and skin pathogens. 7. Dermatological uses – Used for psoriasis, eczema, acne, and leprosy treatment.

Pharmacological Action

Anti-inflammatory Wound healing Antibacterial Antifungal Analgesic Hepatoprotective

Rasapancakam

Rasa: Tikta, Kashaya

Guna: Laghu, Snigdha

Virya: Sheeta

Vipaka: Madhura

Dosha Karma: Pitta kapha shamaka