Herb's Introduction
Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth., commonly known by names such as Kaim or Kadamba, is a significant medicinal and timber-yielding tree belonging to the Rubiaceae family. This family is well-known for producing coffee and various other medicinal plants. The genus name Mitragyna was given by Korthals due to the shape of the stigmas resembling a bishop's mitre. The species is native to tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia, particularly thriving in India and Sri Lanka. It is a medium to large-sized deciduous tree that can grow up to 27 meters (88 feet) tall. The tree is characterized by a rounded crown, and a relatively short trunk that is often fluted and buttressed. Its leaves are dark green, smooth, and rounded, growing in an opposite pattern. The tree is also known for its beautiful yellow flowers that grow in distinctive ball-shaped clusters. Mitragyna parvifolia has been used for centuries in traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, and its various parts, including the bark, roots, and leaves, are valued for their diverse therapeutic properties.
Name in Different Countries
Mitragyna parvifolia is known by a variety of names across different regions and languages, reflecting its widespread presence and cultural significance. Some of the most common names include:
Common names: Leichhardt tree, cheesewood, yellow cheesewood, and canary cheesewood.
Hindi: Kaim (कैम), Guri (गुरी)
Bengali: Dharakadam (ধারাকদম্ব), Gulikadam (গুলিকদম্ব)
Gujarati: Kalam (કલમ)
Kannada: Nira Kadamba (ನೀರ ಕದಮ್ಬ), Sanna Kadamba (ಸಣ್ಣ ಕದಮ್ಬ)
Malayalam: Kathamamaram (കതമമരം), Niirkkatamp (നീര്ക്കടമ്പ്), Puuccakkatamp (പൂച്ചക്കടമ്പ്)
Marathi: Kalam (कळम)
Sanskrit: Vitanah (वितानः), Giri-kadamba, Kadamba
Siddha / Tamil: Niculam (நிசுளம்), Nirkkatampu (நீர்க்கடம்பு), Chinna-Kadambu
Telugu: Niru Kadamba, Ajaghnamu (అజఘ్నము), Ambusaramu (అంబుసారము), Jalatumburu (జలతుంబురు), Nirukadambu (నిరుకడము), Rushya (ఋష్య)
Philippines: Bangkal
Vietnam: Gáo nam
Terminology
The botanical and traditional terminology associated with Mitragyna parvifolia helps to define its characteristics and uses.
Family: Rubiaceae (The Coffee Family). This classification indicates its relationship to other economically and medicinally important plants.
Synonyms: Nauclea parvifolia Roxb., Stephegyne parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. These are older scientific names that have since been reclassified under the Mitragyna genus.
Deciduous Tree: This term describes a tree that sheds its leaves annually, typically in the autumn or dry season.
Buttressed: A buttress root is a large, wide root at the base of the tree trunk that provides stability in shallow, wet soils. M. parvifolia often has a fluted and buttressed trunk.
Phytochemicals: This refers to the bioactive compounds found in plants. Mitragyna parvifolia is rich in various phytochemicals, particularly alkaloids, which are responsible for many of its medicinal properties. The alkaloids in this plant are of both indolic and oxindolic types.
Febrifuge: A febrifuge is a substance used to reduce fever.
Antispasmodic: This refers to a substance that relieves spasms of involuntary muscle.
Availability
Mitragyna parvifolia is a widespread species and is found in the Indian subcontinent, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and parts of the Himalayas up to an altitude of 1200 meters. It thrives in well-drained, deep soil and is often found growing gregariously in low-lying areas and along riverbanks and swamps. While it is native to these regions and can be found in deciduous forests, it is also considered an economically useful tree, often harvested for its valuable timber. It has good regenerative capacity and can be propagated through various methods, including cuttings and stump plants, making it a sustainable resource in a forestry context.
External Look
The physical appearance of Mitragyna parvifolia is quite distinctive.
Tree: It is a medium to large deciduous tree, growing up to 30 meters tall with a short, often fluted and buttressed trunk.
Bark: The bark is light grey, smooth, and can exfoliate (peel off in layers) with age.
Leaves: The leaves are simple, opposite, and broadly elliptic or obovate in shape. They are typically dark green, smooth, and have a rounded or shortly pointed apex. The petiole (leaf stalk) is 6-20 mm long.
Flowers: The flowers are a creamy white or greenish color and are very fragrant. They are arranged in globose, ball-shaped heads, which can be solitary or in small clusters.
Fruit: The fruit is a composite, dry, globose head that contains numerous small, flat seeds.
Healing Properties
Mitragyna parvifolia is a powerhouse of traditional healing properties, which are now being validated by modern scientific research.
Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory: The plant's compounds have been shown to alleviate pain and swelling. The stem bark is traditionally used for muscular and rheumatic pains.
Antipyretic (Febrifuge): The bark and roots are widely used in traditional medicine to treat fever. A decoction of the bark is particularly used by tribal communities for this purpose.
Antimicrobial and Wound Healing: The leaves of M. parvifolia possess significant antibacterial and antioxidant properties. They are used to treat wounds, ulcers, and skin infections, as they promote tissue regeneration and collagen synthesis.
Antispasmodic: The roots and bark are used to treat colic and muscular spasms.
Hepatoprotective: The fresh sap of the leaves is used by tribal communities in India to treat jaundice, indicating its potential to protect the liver.
Lactodepurant: The fruit juice is traditionally believed to augment breast milk production in lactating mothers.
Anthelmintic: Studies on the leaf extracts have shown they have anthelmintic (anti-worm) activity, suggesting their use in expelling parasitic worms.
Advantages
The advantages of Mitragyna parvifolia as a medicinal herb are numerous.
Holistic Approach: It is a single plant with multiple therapeutic benefits, addressing a wide range of ailments from muscular pain and fever to skin infections and gynecological disorders.
Rich Phytochemical Profile: The presence of a variety of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenols gives it a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects.
Traditional Validation: Its long history of use in traditional medicine systems across South Asia provides strong anecdotal and cultural evidence of its efficacy.
Sustainable Resource: The tree's ability to regenerate rapidly and its value as timber make it an economically and environmentally viable plant for cultivation.
Cost-effective: As a natural and traditionally used remedy, it can provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional medicines, especially in rural and tribal communities.
Uses
The different parts of the Mitragyna parvifolia tree are used for various purposes, both medicinal and otherwise.
Medicinal Uses:
Bark and Roots: Used to treat fever, colic, muscular pain, rheumatic pain, burning sensation, poisoning, and gynecological disorders. A decoction of the bark is specifically used for fever.
Leaves: The fresh leaf sap is used to treat jaundice. The leaves themselves are used to alleviate pain and swelling, and to promote the healing of wounds and ulcers.
Fruit Juice: Used to augment breast milk production.
Non-Medicinal Uses:
Timber: The wood is moderately hard and even-grained, making it suitable for a variety of purposes. It is used for making furniture, agricultural implements, and industrial and domestic woodware.
Ornamental: Due to its rounded crown and globular flower heads, it is often grown as an ornamental tree.
Ecology: It is a food plant for the caterpillars of the Commander butterfly, and its flowers provide nectar for birds, bees, and other insects.
Using Way
The traditional methods of using Mitragyna parvifolia involve preparing different forms of the plant parts.
Decoction: A common method for using the bark is to prepare a decoction, which involves boiling the bark in water. This is a traditional way to extract the medicinal compounds for treating fever and other internal ailments.
Paste or Poultice: For external uses like treating wounds, ulcers, and muscular pain, the leaves or bark can be ground into a paste or poultice and applied directly to the affected area.
Fresh Sap: The fresh sap from the leaves is used by some communities for specific conditions like jaundice.
Oral Administration: The fruit juice is taken orally for its properties as a lactodepurant. Extracts and powders of the different parts can also be consumed orally. It is important to note that scientific research on specific dosages and safety is still limited, and traditional usage methods vary.
Conclusion
Mitragyna parvifolia is a remarkable and multifaceted plant, holding significant importance in both traditional medicine and ecological balance. As a member of the Rubiaceae family, it is a source of diverse bioactive compounds, particularly alkaloids, which underpin its wide array of healing properties. The plant's historical use across the Indian subcontinent for treating ailments ranging from fever and muscular pain to wounds and gynecological issues highlights its therapeutic potential. Its ability to act as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antipyretic agent has been recognized by traditional practitioners for centuries and is now being explored through modern scientific research. Beyond its medicinal value, Mitragyna parvifolia is also a valuable timber species and plays a role in the local ecosystem. While traditional knowledge provides a strong foundation for its use, further scientific investigation is warranted to fully understand its pharmacological mechanisms, efficacy, and safety, paving the way for its potential use in modern medicine.
