Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses XXVII. Sinduri (Mallotus philippensis, family Euphorbiaceae)

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

Iinduri is a common tree found throughout the tropical regions of India. According to reference literatures, tree is a source of Kamela dye which is used in colouring silk and wool. Also it is
used as anti-oxidant for ghee, vegetable oils. Kamala oil is used in formation of hair fixers and oinments. Seed oil is used in paints and varnishes and seed cake as manure. Wood pulp is
suitable for writing and printing-paper. In trade, Sinduri is known as Kamala. Sinduri is a common tree present in dense forests of Chhattisgarh. There is a heavy demand of different parts both as source of natural dye and medicine. The colouring matter in Sinduri is present in the red glandular pubescence covering the ripe capsule and is usually collected when the fruits ripen. The dye is obtained either by agitating the fruits or by stirring the fruits vigorously in water. The principal colouring principles are the salmon coloured rottherin and its yellow isomer isorottelerin.
It produces a bright orange or flame colour which is fast to soap and alkalies and acids but fades in sunlight. Like the natural dye of Lipstick tree (Bixa orellena), the natives of Chhattisgarh
particularly the natives living in tribal areas, use this dye for various purposes including its use to decorate themselves. Although reference literatures claim that with advent of synthetic
dyestuffs, the demand of this material has practically ceased but according to the herb traders of Chhattisgarh, from past tree to four years, its demand has increased three to four times. Now the world is coming back from synthetic to natural dyes. All parts of Sinduri are used as medicine both internally and externally to treat many diseases. The natives an traditional healers are aware of its medicinal properties and uses but I have found the herb collectors are equally aware of different practical uses. Through my ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have identified 25 traditional healers specialised in use of Sinduri as medicine.

Common Indian names of Mallotas sp.
S.No.	Regions/Languages/Countries	Names
1	Assam	Jorat, Lason
2	Bengali	Kamala
3	Gujarati	Kapilo
4	Hindi	Kamala, Rohini, Sindur
5	Kanarese	Kunkum adamara
6	Lepcha	Puroakung
7	Malayalam	Kuramadakku, Manjana
8	Marathi	Shendri
9	Oriya	Kapilogundi, Kukumo, Sinduri
10	Tamil	Kapil, Kungumam, Kurangu manjanatti
11	Telugu	Chendiramu, Kunkuma, Sinduri
12	English	Monkey-face tree
13	Sanskrit	Kapila, Kampillaka

Botanically, Sinduri is a small tree, height 8-10 meters, trunk 1 meter diameter, pale bark and slender branches. Leaves articulated, alternate, rusty-tomentose, blade 4-10 cm long, ovate or rhombic ovate. Flowers dioecious, female flowers in lax spike like terminal and axillary racemes and male flowers 3 to-gather in the axils of small bracts. Capsule trigonous-globular, covered with a bright crimson layer of minute easily detached reddish granules. Seeds one in each cell, short, flat in front, round on back. According to Ayurveda, leaves are bitter, cooling, appetiser, and causes flatulence and constipation. Fruit is heating, purgative, anthelmintic, vulnerary, detergent, maturant, carminative, alexiteric, healers ulcers, wounds, tumours, stone in bladder and useful in bronchitis, diseases of abdomen, enlargement of spleen etc. The use of Sinduri as anthelmintic is reported in reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are also aware of this use. They use the powdered fruit with ghee and gud (jaggery) to flush out the harmful worms. The natives use the powdered fruit to dress the wounds. According to them, there is no alternative to this herb for wound dressing. The traditional healers informed me that even the syphilis and gonorrhoea can be treated successfully with this herb. They use in alone in simple cases and with other herbs in case of complicated cases. To treat the itching in anus the healers suggest the patients to dip the cotton in seed oil of Sinduri and put it inside the anus. This treatment cures the trouble effectively. In previous articles, I have mentioned the use of carosene oil for the same purpose. The traditional healers of Bilaspur region, use the powdered fruit in treatment of constipation. The powdered fruit is given with Shahad (Honey) but as other promising and cheap alternatives are available, it is not used commonly.

The increasing demand of natural dyes has attracted the attention of herb traders towards this common but useful herb. This demand can create the pressure on natural population of Sinduri. There is a need to think in direction timely and also to promote the commercial plantation of Sinduri in the State.

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