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State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB) Kerala

Strychnos nux-vomica L.

  • Family: Loganiaceae
  • Vernacular names: Kanjiram, Kanniram, കാഞ്ഞിരം (Malayalam), Nux-vomica tree (English), Kupilu (Sanskrit), Bailewa (Hindi), Kanjirai (Tamil)
  • Distribution: Indo-Malesia
  • Description: Medium to large trees. Leaves simple, opposite, estipulate. Flowers bisexual, greenish-white, in terminal sessile cymes. Fruit a berry, globose; seeds 3 or 4, orbicular.
  • Habit: Tree
  • Habitat: Moist deciduous forests, also in the plains
  • Flowering & Fruiting: March-December

  • Parts used: Bark, leaves and seeds
  • Properties & Uses: Anti-dysenteric, anti-spasmodic, febrifuge and stimulant. Seeds are used to treat intermittent fever, dyspepsia, chronic dysentery, paralysis, itching, piles, worms, anemia, jaundice and urinary discharges. Leaves are used to promote healing of wounds and maggot infested ulcers. Bark juice is used to treat dysentery. Decoction of bark is used to treat epilepsy.
  • Systems of Medicines: Ayurveda, Folk, Unani, Homeo,
  • Traditional Uses:Ripe fruits pulp is smeared over the affected portion of skin to cure psoriasis. The bark paste is applied on body to relieve body pain.
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