Abstract

BIOGRAPHY OF INDIAN KINO TREE (PTEROCARPUS MARSUPIUM) AND ITS ETHNOBOTANICAL USES: A REVIEW

Chaitanya A. Gulhane*, Dhanashri M. Barad and Ravindra L. Bakal

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Abstract

Pterocarpus marsupium (Fabaceae) is popularly known as Indian Kino Tree and ranks next to teak and rose wood in peninsular India. Kino is a moderate to large sized deciduous tree found at elevations from 200 to 500 m. This wood is often compared with teak and has been paid less attention for extensive cultivation and the native stands are fast disappearing, though little known to the world‟s foresters and virtually untried in plantations. Parts of the plant (heart wood, leaves, bark and flowers) have long been used for their medicinal properties in Ayurveda. The flowers are bitter, improve the appetite and cause flatulence. Pterocarpus marsupium has a long history of use in India as a treatment for diabetes. The bark is used for the treatment of stomach-ache, cholera, dysentery, urinary complaints, tongue diseases and toothache. This review explains Biography of Indian Kino tree and its ethnobotanical uses.

Keywords: Herbal drugs, astringent, pharmacological, phytochemical.