A Review of Mocharas (Bombax Malabaricum) : in The Light of Unani Medicine
A Review of Mocharas (Bombax Malabaricum) : in The Light of Unani Medicine
A Review of Mocharas (Bombax Malabaricum) : in The Light of Unani Medicine
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Abstract:- One of the traditional systems of medicine In Unani literature it is described as a huge Indian
that is Unani System of Medicine utilises Mawalid tree; its wood is white and light in weight. Trunk is big
Salasa (Plants, Animals, and Minerals) for the with numerous branches; each branch has five hands like
management of various diseases. Among them plants leaves, which resemble with the leaves of Jamun
are widely used for the treatment of diseases. Mocharas (Syzygium cumini). Fruits resemble with the fruit of Bakain
is an important drug of Unani medicine and a member (Melia azedarach) and are mucilaginous, dark red in
of family Bombaceae which is usually known as Silk colour. Flowers shed off. Root is white, soft and
Cotton Tree. It is a well known medicinal plant of mucilaginous in nature and is called Musli Sembhal.
tropical and subtropical India. It has wide range of Sembhal tree is of two types. One has prickles and called
therapeutic applications. In Unani System of Medicine Kanti Sembhal, Second type has no prickles. First variety
it is used as diuretic, anti-dysenteric, emetic, anti- has better pharmacological actions (Azam Khan, 2014). Its
diarrhoeal, and aphrodisiac. It is used to treat wounds, bark is bluish, fresh bark having conical projections
acne, skin blemish, pigmentation, cold and cough. It has (Lubhaya, 1977). Infected bark of the tree yields a gum
many pharmacological activities like In-vitro Anti- called Mocharas.
inflammatory, Anti-diabetic, Anti-obesity, Hypotensive,
Antioxidant, Antiangiogenic, Antimicrobial, In Tibb-e-Unani it is used as Astringent (Qabid),
Cytotoxicity, Aphrodisiac and Antipyretic. This paper styptic (Habis), aphrodisiac (Muqawwi-i-Bah),
provides an overview on pharmacological, adipogenous (Musammin-i-Badan) (Nadkarni, 1954;
phytochemical properties and therapeutic benefits of Khory and Katrak, 1985; Azam khan, 2014). It is indicated
the tree. in diarrhoea, dysentery and menorrhagia (Dey, 1973).
Tooth powder of Mocharas is useful in loose teeth to
Keywords:- Mocharas, Bombax malabaricum, Unani strengthen them (Fazalullah, 1918; Nabi, 1958; Hakeem,
formulations, Temperament 1922; Ghani, 2010). If the cotton of Mocharas accidently
gets inside the ear, it may cause deafness (Azam Khan,
I. INTRODUCTION 2014).
Phytochemical Constituents
Major: Lupeol, Shamimicin (Anonymous, 2008)
Fig 1
Methanol extract Rats Baker’s yeast-induced Antipyretic Activity Hossain et al., 2011
pyrexia
Root extract male mice Aphrodisiac Rameshwar et al., 2014
Methanol extract of bark normal and Immunomodulatory / Wahab et al., 2014
immunosuppressed Antioxidant Activity
mice models
Root powder - Anabolic Effect Verma et al., 2011
Aqueous extract of flower Rats Adriamycin-induced Cardioprotective Effect Patel et al., 2011
myocardial infarction
B.malabaricum extract Rats streptozotocin-induced Anti-diabetic activity Rameshwar et al., 2014
diabetes
Table 1