Mesua ferrea linn - Nagapushpa

Nāgakesara

Mesua ferrea is a species in the family Calophyllaceae. This slow-growing tree is named after the heaviness and hardness of its timber. It is native to wet, tropical parts of Sri Lanka, India, southern Nepal, Burma, Thailand, Indochina, the Philippines, Malaysia and Sumatra, where it grows in evergreen forests, especially in river valleys.

Uses

Urinary tract infection, Gout, Itching, Swelling,Inflammatory disease, Indigestion, Fever, Excess thirst

Parts Used

Dried folaige, Whole herb.

Chemical Composition

Contains Volatile oils, Flavonoids, Apigenin, Luteolin, Quercetin, Kaempferol, Tiliroside, Triterpene glycosides including euscapic acid and Tormentic acid, Phenolic acids, and 3%–21% tannins

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	Kesara, Naagaakeshara, Naagachampa, Naagasampige
Hindi	Gajapushpam, Nag-kesar
Malayalam	Behettachampagam, Bellutta-tsjampakam, Beluttachampagam
Tamil	Naagalingam, Aicilam, Aicilanakappu, Akiputam
Telugu	Chikatimanu, Cikatimanu, Gajapushpamu,
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	Nagkesara, nagpushpa
English	Ironwood

Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Kapha, Vata

Prabhava

Habit

Tree

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Simple	lanceolate	The leaves are divided into 3-6 toothed leaflets, with smaller leaflets in between

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
Unisexual	2-4cm long	white	5-20	Flowers fragrant white, large and solitary or in clusters

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
ovoid	7–10 mm	fruits ovoid with persistent calyx	dark brown with oily and fleshy cotyledons	1-4	{{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Bilvādileha

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Easily grown in most soils, preferring a calcareous soil. Thrives in a dry lightly shaded position, though it prefers full sun.Plants usually self-sow quite freely when growing in a suitable position. The seeds are contained in burrs that can easily attach themselves to clothing or animal's fur, thus transporting them to a new area where they can germinate and grow.The cultivar 'Sweet scented' is popular in France for making tea because the whole plant is sweet scented and the flowers have a spicy apricot-like fragrance

Commonly seen growing in areas

Mountains of Eastern Himalayas, East Bengal, Wetland of Assam.

Photo Gallery

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External Links

• http://www.ijrap.net/admin/php/uploads/292_pdf.pdf
• Cannonball tree naga pushpa or nagalingam flower and fruits
• Medicinal Uses of Nagkesar/Mesua