Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Syzygium cumini (L.) SKEELS


English Name : Black or Java Plum

Family : Myrtaceae

Origin : Indo-Malaysian

Description
It is a large, evergreen tree. The bark is brown or greyish, smooth; the leaves, lanceolate, elliptic-oblong, coriaceous, gland-dotted, smooth and shiny; the flowers are greenish white, fragrant. The fruits are ellipsoid or oblong, black with pinkish juicy pulp; with single seeds.

Habitat
The tree occurs in the tropical and sub-tropical climates under a wide range of environmental conditions.

Parts Used : Bark, seed, kernel, stem, leaf, fruit, flower and aerial part

Herb Effects
Astringent (bark); antiviral (kernel); stimulates the cardiovascular system (aerial part); antibacterial (leaf); hypoglycemic (powdered kernel and fruit); decreases free radical formation.

Active Ingredients
Oleanolic and crategolic acids (flower); beta-sitosterol (seed); limonene, alpha and beta-pinene and borylacetate (fruit leaf and stem); ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, malic, citric and gallic acids, choline, folacin, gallic acid, niacin, oxalic acid, riboflavin, tannin, thiamin (fruit); betulinic acid (bark).

Medicinal Use
In diabetes (powdered kernel, fruit and bark); diarrhea (bark decoction and leaf); dysentery, indigestion, purify blood, venereal ulcers in syphilis (bark); asthma and bronchitis (fruit).

Dosage
Infusion: 1-2 teaspoons per cup of water; or 1:3 dry liquid extract: 20-60 drops 1-4 times per day in a little water.
Seeds: decoction of the powdered seeds, half teaspoon / cup, once a day.
Bark: decoction of the chopped / powdered bark, half teaspoon / cup; 1 cup / day.
Leaves: infusion of the powdered leaves, 1 teaspoon / cup; 1 - 2 cups / day

Reference

No comments: