MESUA Mesua nagassarium
Clusiaceae
San: Nagapuspah, Nagakesarah; Hin: Nagakesar; Ben: Nagkesar, Nagesar; Mal: Nagappuvu,
Nagachempakam, Nanku, Vayanavu, Churuli, Eliponku; Tam: Nagappu, Nanku;
Kan: Nagasampige; Tel: Nagakesaramu, Gajapuspam; Mar, Guj: Nagchampa
Importance
Mesua or Ironwood tree, commonly known as Nagapushpam is an important
medicinal plant which finds varied uses in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani. Leaves are used in
the form of poultice which is applied to head in severe colds. Bark and roots in decoction or
infusion or tincture is a better tonic and are useful in gastritis and bronchitis. Fixed oil
expressed from seeds is used as an application for cutaneous affections, sores, scabies,
wounds, etc. and as an embrocation in rheumatism. Dried flowers powdered and mixed with
ghee, or a paste made of flowers with addition of butter and sugar, are given in bleeding piles
as well as dysentery with mucus. They are also useful in thirst, irritability of the stomach,
excessive perspiration, cough with much expectoration, dyspepsia, etc. Leaves and flowers
are used in scorpion stings. Syrup of the flower buds is given for the cure of dysentery
(Nadkarni et al, 1976). In Ayurveda, it is an ingredient of “Nagakeshara-adi-Churna”, used
for bacillary dysentery and in “Naga Keshara Yoga”, for piles. In Unani system, the drug is an
ingredient of large number of recipes like, “Jawarish Shehryaran” a stomach and liver tonic,
“Hab Pachaluna”, an appetiser, “Halwa-i-supari pack” a general tonic, etc. (Thakur et al,
1989).
Distribution
The plant occurs in sub-tropical to tropical areas of East India, Andaman Islands and
Western Ghats, upto an altitude of 1500m.
Botany
Mesua nagassarium (Burm.f.) Kosterm. syn. M. ferrea auct. non Linn. belongs to the
family Clusiaceae. It is a medium sized to large evergreen tree, 18-30m in height and with
reddish brown bark which peels off in thin flakes. Leaves are simple, opposite, thick,
lanceolate, coriaceous, covered with waxy bloom underneath, and red when young, acute or
acuminate and with inconspicuous nerves. Flowers are white, very fragrant, axillary or
terminal, solitary or in pairs. Stamens are numerous, golden yellow, much shorter than the
petals. Fruits are ovoid with a conical point surrounded by the enlarged sepals. Seeds are 1- 4
in number, angular, dark brown and smooth (Warrier et al, 1995).
The flowers of Ochrocarpus longifolius are also sometimes referred to as
Nagakesara. This tree is found in the West Coast of India (Thakur et al, 1989).
Agrotechnology
The plant prefers plains, riverbanks or places which do not experiences moisture
stress for its luxuriant growth. Silty loam soil is suitable for its cultivation. The plant is
propagated by seeds. Seed formation occurs in November-March. Seeds are to be collected
and sown in seedbeds or polybags. 3-4 months old seedlings are used for transplanting. Pits
of size 45cm cube are to be taken at a distance of 3-3.5m and filled with a mixture of 10kg
FYM, sand and top soil and made into a mound. Seedlings are to be transplanted into small
handpits taken on these mounds. FYM is to be applied twice a year. Regular irrigation and
weeding are to be done. The tree flowers in the fourth year. Flowers can be collected, dried
in the sun and marketed (Prasad et al,1997).
Properties and Activity
Seed oil gives 4-phenyl coumarin analogues-mesuol, mammeigin, mesuagin,
mammeisin and mesuone. Bark gives ferruols A and B. Heartwood gives xanthones-
euxanthone, mesuaxanthones A and B and a tetroxygenated xanthone named ferraxanthone.
Stamens give α and β-amyrin, β-sitosterol, biflavonoids- mesuaferrones A and B, and
mesuanic acid. Bark yields a lupeol-type triterpenoid also named guttiferol. Seed oil is rich in
oleic, stearic and palmitic acids. Linoleic, arachidic and linolenic acids are also present.