TROPICAL MEDICINAL PLANTS
Tropical countries are a treasure house of a wide variety of medicinal plants. Some
species are found wild, while a number of species have been domesticated by the farmers.
Many species have been grown in homesteads and become part of traditional home remedies.
A limited number of species are commercially cultivated though a few more have potential
for large-scale production. The important tropical and subtropical medicinal plants are
discussed here highlighting the importance, medicinal and other uses, distribution, botany,
agrotechnology, chemical constituents and activity. For practical convenience of the
discussion in this book, they are classified under the following four broad groups.
a) Medicinal herbs
b) Medicinal shrubs
c) Medicinal climbers
d) Medicinal trees
AMBRETTE Abelmoschus moschatus
Malvaceae
San: Latakasturika Hin, Guj, Ben: Mushkdana Mal: Kasthurivenda Mar: Kasthuri- bhendi
Tel: Kasturi benda Tam: Varttilaikasturi Kan: Kasturi bende Ass: Gorukhiakorai
Importance
Ambrette, also popularly known as musk or Muskmallow, is an erect annual herb
which yields musk-like scented seeds and woos everybody through its sensuous musky
fragrance. Every part of this medicinal plant is used in one or the other way. Seeds are
effective aphrodisiac and antispasmodic, and used in tonics. They check vomiting and cure
diseases due to kapha and vata and are useful in treating intestinal disorders, urinary
discharge, nervous disorders, hysteria, skin diseases, snake bites, pruritus, leucoderma and
general debility. Flower infusion is contraceptive. The leaves and roots are used for
gonorrhoea and to treat boils and swellings.
Ambrette oil of commerce is extracted from the seeds and is used in perfumery,
flavouring, cosmetic and agarbathi industries. The essential oil is employed in non-alcoholic
beverages, ice-creams, candies and baked foods. The aromatic concrete and absolute,
extracted from seeds are used as base material for preparing high grade perfumes, scents and
cosmetics. It is also known for exalting, amplifying and diffusing effects it imparts to
perfumes. It blends well with rose, neroli, and sandal wood oil and aliphatic aldehydes.
The flowers are in great demand for making ‘zarda’ a flavoured tobacco in India.
The seeds are mixed with tea and coffee for flavour. The seed is rich in essential amino acids
and is used as cattle or poultry feed. The stem bark yields a good quality fibre. Seeds are
used to protect woollen garments against moth and it imparts a musky odour to sachets, hair
powder, panmasala and incense. Its tender shoots are used in soups, green pods as vegetable
and seed husk in flower arrangements. From perfumes to panmasalas and tonics, it is the
musky musk all the way. In addition to internal consumption, its seeds are exported to
Canada, France and UK because of its diversified uses (Srinivasan et al, 1997).
Distribution
The musk plant is a native of India and it grows in the tropical subtropical and hilly
regions of the country; particularly in the states of Maharashta, Gujarat, Madhyapresh, Tamil
Nadu and Kerala. More than 50 collections of the plant are maintained by the National