Melastoma malabathricum

Melastoma malabathricum

Melastoma malabathricum, known also as Malabar melastome, Indian rhododendron, Singapore rhododendron, planter's rhododendron and senduduk, is a flowering plant in the family Melastomataceae.

Uses

Treat diarrhoea, Dysentery,Hemorrhoids,cuts and wounds,toothache, and stomachache.

Parts Used

leaves, shoots,barks, seeds, and roots.

Chemical Composition

Various phytochemical groups and constituents have been identified in M. malabathricum since 1968 and are strongly associated with its ethnomedicinal values. Earlier study by Lowry showed the presence of ellagic acid and anthocyanin (e.g., malvidin-3,5-diglucoside) in the methanol extract of M. malabathricum barks (MMMBk) and aqueous extract of M. malabathricum flowers (AMMFw), respectively. Meanwhile, Lowry also reported the presence of anthocyanins (e.g., cyanidin- (Cy-) 3-glucoside and Cy-3,5-diglucoside) in the water extract of M. malabathricum fruits (WMMFr). Manzoor-I-Khuda et al. reported the isolation of β-sitosterol and a triterpenoid designated as melastomic acid (5-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid) from the ethanolic extract of M. malabathricum roots (EMMR). Dinda and Saha reported the isolation of 1-octyl docosanoate and 11-methyl-1-tricontanol while Dinda and Saha [45] reported the presence of fatty acids and sterols. Das and Kotoky reported the isolation of a new aliphatic constituent, namely, 32-methyl-1-tritriacontanol, together with ursolic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and gallic acid, and kaempferol from the leaves and flowers of M. malabathricum. Compounds like kaempferol-3-O-β-D-xyloside, quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-(1→2)-β-D-galactoside, flavan-3-ol, 4′-methylpeonidin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, anthocyanins, and tannins have also been isolated from the aerial part of M. malabathricum

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	ಅಂಕೇರ್ಕಿ Ankerki, ದೊಡ್ಡ ನೆಕ್ಕರೆ Dodda nekkare
Hindi
Malayalam	Kalathi,Kadali
Tamil	Katalai
Telugu	Nekkare, Nekkaresaelya
Marathi	Lakeri, Palore
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	Tinisah
English	Malabar Melastome, Indian-rhododendron

Properties

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

Habit

Herb

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Simple	Alternate	The leaves are light green and feathery with a bipinnate pattern

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
Unisexual	1 inch	Light blue	5	Flowers Season is June - August

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Vishatinduka Taila as root juice extract

Mode of Propagation

roots.

How to plant/cultivate

Shrubs to 1.3 m tall; stem densely covered with paleaceous pectinate hairs. Leaves 4-11 x 1.5-4 cm, elliptic-oblong, base attenuate, apex acute, upper surface prominently lineolate; lower surface tomentose, 5-ribbed, drying dull-greenish; petiole to 1.5 cm long. Flowers solitary or few in rather dense clusters, c. 5 cm across; bracts 1.2-2 x 1-1.4 cm, boat-shaped, densely paleaceous hairy. Calyx tube 0.7-1 cm long, campanulate; lobes 5, 5-7 x 4-5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, densely paleaceous hairy. Petals 5, reddish purple, 1.5-2 x 0.7 - 1 cm, obovate. Stamens 10, alternating ones large and small; anthers dimorphic, dehiscence by apical pores. Ovary ovoid, 5-locular; ovules many; style simple. Capsules 1-1.5 x 0.8-1 cm, ovoid, irregularly dehiscent. Seeds many, minute.

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tall grasslands, Meadows.

Photo Gallery

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External Links

• Melastoma malabathricum