Babool
Babool
Babool plant shows many medicinal properties. It majorly used for cleaning teeth. Leaves of babool is mostly eaten by goats. Every part of babool shows medicinal property ( parts: bark, gum, seeds, leaves, pods). Different names of babool in different language such as Ajameghya in Sanskrit, Babbul, Keekar in Hindi, Baabla in Bengali, Jaali Mara in Kannada, Karuvel in Tamil and Nallatumma in Telugu, etc. it is found in dry and sandy parts of India. Babool is also known as the “Healing tree” as all of its parts (bark, root, gum, leaves, pods, seeds) are used for various medicinal purposes.
• The bark of Babool is cooling, styptic(stop bleeding), aphrodisiac(stimulate sexual desire), emetic nutritive( make a person to vomit), expectorant(treat cough), constipating(make regular movement of gut)
• The gum of Babool is also cooling, emollient(softening or smoothining the skin), expectorant(treats cough), liver tonic, antipyretic(treats fever) and tonic.
Biological classification
Information about babool plant:
Vachellia nilotica is a tree 5–20 m high with a dense spheric crown, stems and branches usually dark to black coloured, fissured bark, grey-pinkish slash, exuding a reddish low quality gum. The tree has thin, straight, light, grey spines in axillary pairs, usually in 3 to 12 pairs, 5 to 7.5 cm (3 in) long in young trees, mature trees commonly without thorns. The leaves are bipinnate, with 3–6 pairs of pinnulae and 10–30 pairs of leaflets each, tomentose, rachis with a gland at the bottom of the last pair of pinnulae. Flowers in globulous heads 1.2–1.5 cm in diameter of a bright golden-yellow color, set up either axillary or whorly on peduncles 2–3 cm long located at the end of the branches. Pods are strongly constricted, hairy, white-grey, thick and softly tomentose. Its seeds number approximately 8000/kg.[
Inbuilt properties of babool:
1. antibacterial ( provide resistance against bacteria
2. antihistaminic( protection from allergens [allergen causes allergy])
3. anti-inflammatory (relif from inflammation or swelling)
4. astringent( it is a chemical that shrinks or constricts body tissues)
5. hemostatic(stop over bleeding)
babool health benefits
The bark of babool is cooling, aphrodisiac and expectorant in nature. The gum of babool is also a potent emollient, expectorant, detoxifier, aphrodisiac and antipyretic in nature. Babool tree is valuable in treating kapha and pitta, the gum pacifies vata, pitta and treats urinary problems such as UTI, pain and bleeding of the uterus.
Nutritional Facts:
Babool is a great source of vital nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
• Nutrients in babool include iron, manganese, protein, zinc and essential amino acids ( valine, histidine, isoleucine, threonine, lysine and leucine).
• The bark and pod of babool are rich in tannin and polyphenolic compounds.
- The concentration of Tannin in a bark varies considerably from 12-20%. Several polyphenolic compounds have also been reported in a bark. Phytochemical screening of the stem bark reveals that it contains terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins and glycosides
• The gum of the plant contains a host of plant compounds including galactose, aldobio uronic acid and arabinobioses and minerals calcium and magnesium.
• The flowers of babool tree are a good source of flavonoids like kaempferol 3- glucoside, iso-quercetin and leucocyanidin.
• The gum of the plant contains a host of plant compounds including galactose, aldobio uronic acid and arabinobioses and minerals calcium and magnesium.
• The flowers of babool tree are a good source of flavonoids like kaempferol 3- glucoside, iso-quercetin and leucocyanidin.
• The bark is also reported to contain (-) epicatechin, (+) dicatechin, quercetin, gallic acid, (+) leucocyanidin gallate, sucrose and (+) catechin-5-gallate. As medicinal plant from which the two polyphenolic compounds like kaempferol and umbelliferone has been reported for the first time
• Bark: The bark is prosperous in phenolics, condensed tannin and phlobatannin, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid pyrocatechol, (+)-catechin, (-) epigallocatechin-7-gallate, and (-) epigallocatechin-5,7-digallate, (-) epicatechin, (+) dicatechin, quercetin, (+) leucocyanidin gallate, sucrose and (+) catechin-5-gallate. It contain 12- 20% of tannin. Bark contain a large quantity of tannin.
• Gum: Gum contains galactose, L-rhamnose, L-arabinose and four aldobiouronic acids, viz.6-o-(β glucopyranosyluronicacid)-D-galactose;6-o-(4-o-methyl-β-D-gluco pyranosyluronicacid)-D-galactose; 4-o-(α-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-D-galactose; and 4-o-(4-o-methyl-α-D- acid)-D- galactose.
• Fruit: It contains a high percentage of phenolic constituents consisting of m-digallic acid, gallic acid, its methyl and ethyl esters, protocatechuic and ellagic acids, leucocyanidin, m-digallic dimer 3,4,5,7-tetrahydroxy flavan-3-ol, oligomer 3,4,7-trihydroxy flavan 3,4-diol and 3,4,5,7-tetrahydroxy flavan-3-ol and (-) epicatechol. Fruit also contains mucilage and saponins. It contain 32% tannin.
• Flowers and pods: It contains stearic acid, kaempferol-3-glucoside, isoquercetin, leucocyanidin. 11, 18 Pods contain tannin 22.44%, expressed in terms of oxalic acid; Wood contain chlorides.32 Whole pods contain 12-19% of tannin and 18-27% after removal of seeds. contain amino acids, fatty acids, ascorbic acid and tannin as a major constituent, sugar, moisture 14%, ash 3-4% ; pods have got 22-44% tannin.
• Leaves: It contains apigenin, 6-8-bis-D-glucoside, rutin and 32% tannin.
Properties and benefits of Babool tree
> Properties
• Rasa (Taste) – Kashaya(Astringent)
• Veerya (Potency) – Sheeta(Coolant)
• Guna (qualities) – Guru(Heavy to digest), Rooksha(Dry in nature)
• Vipaka (Taste conversion after digestion) – Katu(pungent)
• Effects on Dosha – Balances Kapha Dosha and gum balances pitta and vata dosha
>Benefits in
• Kaphaja Kasa – cough, cold with sputum and heaviness, due to Kapha Dosha
• Ama – A product of indigestion and altered metabolism
• Raktatisara – diarrhea with bleeding, as in ulcerative colitis
• Pittahara – useful in Pitta imbalance disorders such as gastritis, burning sensation, etc.
• Daha – burning sensation, as in gastritis, neuropathy, burning sensation in eyes etc
• Arti – relieves pain
• Kushta – skin diseases
• Krimi – worm infestation
• Visha – Toxic conditions, poisoning
• Vrana – Ulcers, wounds
• Karnaroga – ear disorders with discharge
• Asya roga – mouth ulcers
• Nadivrana – sinuses
• Sara – induces mobility, causes diarrhea, purgation, relieves constipation
• The stem bark and the pods act against the intestinal worms and help in coagulation of the blood.
• Gum resin is Vatahara (reduces pitta and vata dosha). It helps in reducing the swelling of the uterus.
Health Benefits Of Babool:
Heals Wounds:
The leaves of babool are helpful in healing wounds. The leaves and bark of babool have anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties which aid in controlling bleeding, inflammation and infections which speed up the healing of wounds, cuts and injuries.
Tip: Take a small quantity of babool leaf powder and sprinkle on the wound for quick healing.
Promotes Dental Health:
Acacia arabica promotes oral care and also battle against dental decay and gum disease. Furthermore, the t datum or branches are used as brush, which strengthens the teeth, resist dental infections and maintains oral health.
Increase alkalinity of saliva means decrease the pH of saliva. This helps in protecting teeth from cavities.
Tip: The pod and peel of babool are burnt to ash and this is used to brush teeth and treats toothache.
Controls Hair Fall:
Babool leaves are great ablity/ property to control hair fall and promotes hair growth.
Use: To resist hair fall, apply the paste of babool leaves on the scalp, let it stay for 15-20 minutes and rinse well with warm water. Use a good quality shampoo to wash the hair.
Note:
1) It is majorly used as the datum for cleaning the teeth and regular use of this facilitates in strengthening gums, teeth and reduce plaque and inflammation.
2) babool is useful in many sexual problems
3) babool leaf powder is useful in treating many gut and respiratory related problems such as diarrhea, irregular bowl movement, constipation problem, inflammation, etc.
4) balance the formation of mucus ( means regulates cough)
5) regular intake of babool leaves helps to detoxify the body (because of its Antioxidant, antibacterial properties)
6) it very useful herb in treating triguna(that is vata, cough, pitta).
7) it is used in many ayurvedic and unani medicine.
8) Babool leaves works amazingly well to heal dry skin problems like itching, swelling and cracking.
9) Acacia nilotica is used for gargling in the diseases of mouth ulcer, tonsils and bleeding gums.
Some ayurvedic remedies of babool:
1) Diarrhea
Take powder of Babool leaves. Take this powder with water in three hours break to correct stools. Or The decoction of the plant is given in a dosage of 40-50 ml to treat diarrhea and to treat intestinal worms.
2) Wounds
Take few tender Babool leaves powder. Sprinkle, this powder on the wounds, to get the quick healing.
3) Stop Excessive Trickle to the Eyes
Make a decoction of Babool leaves and boil it up to the liquid become semi-solid. Mix one teaspoon of this liquid with honey and apply it inside the eyes (Eye care therapy) to stop oozing.
4) Skin Disorders
The decoction of Babool bark is also highly useful as a drink, bath water and to wash lessons. It relieves burning sensation, restores normal color to skin and heals ulcers and wounds quickly.
5) For a Toothache
Burn the peel of its almonds and pod. Take this ash to brush your teeth. It treats a toothache. You can also use the soft branches to brush the teeth. It helps to strengthen your teeth and cures all types of tooth/gum infections.
6) Fractures
Take the powder of the Babool fruits; mix it with honey for fastening healing of fractures. Apply this for three days consequently.
7) Complexion of Baby
Chewing Babool leaves during pregnancy enables a woman to deliver a baby with clear, fair and glowing skin.
8) Cures for Jaundice
Take equal quantities of Babool flowers and sugar candy. Take the decoction thrice a day about 10 grams, to get quick improvement.
9) For Stomach Related Problems
•To get recovery from stomach related problems first prepare a mixture from its inner bark and have it with buttermilk. It is helpful for curing all of the issues associated with the tummy.
- The decoction of the plant is given in a dosage of 40-50 ml to treat diarrhea and to treat intestinal worms.
10) In Pregnancy
Take 4 grams of Babool leaves powder every morning to get conceive quickly. When you take them during pregnancy, it helps to give physical strength.
11) Reduces Sweating
Take equal quantities of fresh harad and Babool leaves and grind it. Massage the body (Abhyanga) with this mixture and wait for half an hour. Take a bath, does it at least thrice a week like this to overcome over sweating.
12) Helpful in Lumbago
Take equal quantities of Babool – pod, bark and gum. Grind them all to make a powder. Have one teaspoonful of powder, thrice a day. Help to get relief from the pain in the waist.
13) Sexual Disorders
1)Take the pods and shades dry it and grind them. Mix them with sugar candy. Take one teaspoon of this mixture, every morning and evening. It helps to thicken the semen and cures most of the sexual related problems.
- 2)Mix powdered pod with honey and have this twice daily which improves the semen quality and treats most of the sexual problems.
14) Aids in Metrorrhagia
Take Babool’s Gum and wheat in equal amounts. Grind them and have two teaspoonfuls of a mixture, every morning and evening. It controls excessive menstrual bleeding during periods.
15) during menstruation:
The decoction prepared from the pods of the plant Babbul is used to treat excessive bleeding during menstruation.
16) Juices of tender leaves or paste applied for redness of eye and eye swelling.
17) Drinking mucilage of Babool gum ends up sugar coming in urine in diabetes mellitus.
18) It is useful as aphrodisiac.
19) Babool tree gum is used as demulcent (soothing agent) for inflammatory conditions of the respiratory, digestive and urinary tracts. It is used for burns. It act as cooling, expectorant, constipating, liver tonic, aphrodisiac, homeostatic, antipyretic and tonic. It is useful in cough, asthma, diarrhoea, dysentery, seminal weakness and haemorrhages.
20) Flowers are useful in reducing the body temperature, ear ache and as a tonic, antidiarrheal, antidysenteric.
21) Drinking leaves juice in amount of 7gm gives relief in burning micturition.
22) For arthritis:
Babool gum powder – 3 grams is added to a cup of water, heated for 2 – 3 minutes and consumed once a day. This is useful in relieving arthritis. This can be continued for 1 month time.
22) The leaves are crushed – 2 – 3 grams, and consumed along with a teaspoon of sugar, once or two times a day, for the treatment of spermatorrhoea / Dhat syndrome or nightfall.
23) The decoction of the pods and bark, in a dosage of 45-50 ml is given to treat bleeding piles and hemorrhoids.
24) The paste from the leaves of the plant is applied over wound and injury due to contact with fire or burning due to fire.
25) The decoction prepared from the bark of the plant Acacia nilotica is used for gargling in the diseases of mouth ulcer and bleeding gums.
26) Babool Bark(decoction) is helpful in the treatment of cold symptoms as well as relieving sore throat that is associated with cold and cough due to its Kapha balancing property which helps to melt excessive sputum and give relief from a cough and cold.
Ayurvedic medicines containing Babul tree:
Dasanakanti churnam- It is an herbal toothpowder sued for strengthening of the gums and tooth.
Trayodashang guggulu- It is an ayurvedic tablet used for low back ache, sciatica, arthritic pain, locked jaw.
Pepcer capsule- It is a capsule used to treat peptic ulcer, gastritis, heart burn condition.
Khadiradi gutika- The decoction of babbula plant bark is used in binding the powders used to prepare khadiradi tablet, which is used to treat cough.
Reference :
1) International Research Journal of Medical Sciences ; ISSN 2320 –7353 Vol. 2(5), 20-24, May (2014)
2) Local tradition and knowledge
3) Wikipedia
4) International Journal of Pharmaceutical and
Phytopharmacological Research (eIJPPR) ; Res. 2015; 4 (6): 315-321 ; ISSN (Online) 2249-6084
5) WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH ; 2019,5(3), 69-70; ISSN 2455-3301
6) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES AND RESEARCH ; ISSN (Online): 0975-8232,
7) International Journal of Herbal Medicine 2018; 6(2): 115-120
8) International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ; vol12, Issue 2, 2020 ; Online ISSN: 0975-1491
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