Mesua ferrae linn:- A Review of the Indian Medical Herb

Abstract

Amit Sharma*, Surbhi Sharma, Rohit, Naresh and Bharat Parashar

Plant kingdom provides us abundance of plant with various medicinal prop-erties. Which can be used as Remedial agents for various health issues. Mesua ferrae Linn. (Clusiaceae) is a rare plant which is being used for its properties and effects like anti-septic, anti-inflammatory, blood purifier, ex-pectorant, purgative, antiasthmatic etc. Mesua ferrae Linn. (Nagakesara), cobra’s saffron, is named after the heaviness of its timber and is mostly cultivated in tropical climates, consists foliage and fragrant flowers. It is highly used in the ayurveda for the treatment of pain, inflammation and rheumatic conditions. It is observed and proved that the presence of Phe-nylcoumarins, Xanthones, Triterpenoids, Fats and Flavanoids are presence in this plant which is responsible for its biological as well as medicinal properties. It is also known to be called Sri lankan ironwood, India rose chestnut. The tree can grow over 30 meters tall. Mesua Ferrae is cultivated as an ornamental plant due to its graceful shape, Pink to Red drooping leaves and large beautiful, fragrant white flowers. The present review sum-marizes various important, essential and medicinal properties of this Indian medicinal herb.