Botanical Name
Hydnocarpus wightianus Blume
Family
Achariaceae.
Synonyms
Hydnocarpus laurifolius Sleumer.
Regional Name
English : Chaulmugra, Hindi : Chalmogra, Chalmoogra, Jangali badam, Chaalmograa, Sanskrit : Tuvaraka, Turveraka, Tuvrak, Kushtavairi, Urdu : Chaalmagraa, Bengali : Chaulmugraa, Kannada : Garudphala, Toratti, Suranti, Malayalam : Kodi, Vrikshamroti, Marotti, Marathi : Kadukavatha, Tamil : Nirati Muthu, Telgu : Nirudu, Niridi.
Part Used
Seed.
Description
It is a deciduous evergreen tree up to 15 m or more in height. The plants are found in the mountains of Western Ghats from Maharashtra to Kerala and hilly regions of Assam and Tripura. It is also cultivated in Uganda, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and few other South East Asian countries up to 600 m. Seeds obtusely angular, elongate - obovate, dark brown, 8 to15 mm in width and 12 to 28 mm in length; testa longitudinally ridged and stony; cotyledons two, thin, papery; endosperm, abundant and oily; odour, indistinct; taste, acidic.
Phytoconstituents
It contains Epegenin, hydnocarpin, hypnocarpic acid, chaulmoorgic acid and its homologues, isohydnocarpine methoxyhydnocarpin and fixed oils. It also contains oleic acid and palmitic acids.
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa : Tikta, Madhura, Kasaya, Guna : Snigdha, Tiksna, Virya : Usna, Vipaka : Katu, Karma : Vatahara, Kaphahara, Rasayana, Ubhayatobhagahara.
Ayurvedic Applications
Anaha, Arsa, Grdhrasi, Gandamala, Gulma, Jvara, Kandu, Kaphavataja roga , Krmi, Kustha, Sotha, Prameha, Raktavikara, Tvak roga, Udara , Udavarta,Vrana.
Medicinal Uses
Distension of abdomen due to obstruction to passage of urine and stools, Piles,, Sciatica, Cervical lymphadenitis, Abdominal lump, Fever, Itching, Helminthiasis, Leprosy , diseases of skin, Oedema, Metabolic disorder, Blood Disorders, Skin diseases, Urticaria, A condition like partial intestinal obstruction, Ulcer.