Abstract

REVIEW ON MELIA AZEDARACH LINN

Nivedha M.*, Radha R., Megala S. and Nithya S.

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants are widely used by the traditional medicinal practitioners to cure different diseases due to their world-wide availability and fewer side effects. Melia azedarach Linn. (Family: Meliaceae) is a sharp or small evergreen, medium-sized deciduous tree. It grows in temperate and tropical countries like India, China and Japan. The plant requires a wide range of soil, acid to alkaline and it needs moderate moisture level. It knows locally as bakain and drek (Hindi), Persian lilac or China tree (English), Fleurs lilas (French) and also known as pride of India and Persian lilac having a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. It is used as an Ayurvedic medicine in India and Unani medicine in Arab countries as an Antioxidative, Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory, Insecticidal, Rodenticidal, Antidiarrhoeal, Deobstruent, Diuretic, Antidiabetic, Cathartic, Emetic, Antirheumatic and Antihypertensive. It is highly nutritious having a calorific value at 5100 kcal/kg. Also, it is used to manufacture agricultural implements, furniture, plywood, boxes, poles, tool handles and fuel wood. This plant is considered as a multipurpose tree because of its multidirectional and widespread uses in medicine, therapeutics and other economic implication. This article provides list of what are all the works done on Melia azedarach plant so far and it is more useful for students and research scholers.

Keywords: Melia azedarach, Ayurvedic medicine, Unani medicine and multipurpose tree.