Botanical Name: Abrus precatorius
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Sub-family: Faboideae
Tribe: Dalbergieae
Genus: Pterocarpus
Species: P. marsupium
Popular Name: Malabar Kino
Parts Used: Heart Wood, Leaves and Flowers
Habitat: Found in the Western Ghats, in the Karnataka-Kerala region
Description
Indian kino, botanically known as Pterocarpus Marsupium, is a medium-to-large, deciduous tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall. It turns the water blue as soon as it comes in contact with it. The plant species is native to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The plant was particularly found in certain areas of the Western Ghats, in the Karnataka-Kerala region. The herb is known by different names in different regions, like Piasal (in Odisha), Malabar, Benga and Bijiyasal (in western Nepal) and so on. The leaves, bark and gum of Indian kino is used for curing a number of ailments. Because of its medicinal properties, the plant species is cultivated for commercial purposes in many parts of the world. Be it for treating skin conditions or serving as an astringent, the herb is popular for its diverse health benefits.
Plant Chemicals
Epicatechin, pterosupin, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, marsupol, marsupinol, carpusin, epicatechin, pterostilbene, kinotannic acid, beta-eudesmol, kinoin, kino-red
Uses and Benefits of Indian Kino
- Indian kino has many therapeutic and medicinal properties and is used in treating conditions like elephantiasis, diarrhoea, leucoderma, rectalgia, cough, dysentery and grey hair.
- The crushed leaves of the plant are used externally for the treatment of boils, sores and certain types of skin diseases.
- Consumption of the herb helps to lower the lipid and glucose levels of the body.
- It leads to the significant reduction in the blood sugar levels, in diabetic patients.
- One of the major effects of Indian kino in human body is that it helps to prevent cell proliferation and induces apoptotic effect in tumour cell lines.
- It is also used as an astringent and helps to cure dental problems, like toothache.
- The herb also has anthelmintic properties and is a bitter acrid and an anodyne.
- Indian kino prevents the leakage of electrolytes, caused by herbicide-induced oxidative damage.
- The herb cures ailments like leprosy, leucoderma, rectalgia, constipation, haemorrhages and even rheumatoid arthritis.
- Indian Kino exhibits strong anti-hyperlipdemic properties and helps reduce total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and serum triglyceride levels in the human body. It, however, does not cause any change in the HDL cholesterol levels.
- The herb also has anti-microbial properties and is used to act against certain types of bacteria and viruses.
- Another vital function of the herb is that it has scavenging properties, which work against mitochondrial lipid peroxidation.
Caution
Indian kino does not cause any allergic reactions or any other side-effects on consumption.
