Herb's Introduction
Sesbania grandiflora (Linn.) Pers., belonging to the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae), is a fast-growing, small to medium-sized tree highly valued for both its nutritional and medicinal properties. It is commonly known as the Vegetable Hummingbird Tree or Agastya and is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, growing in tropical regions. In traditional medicine systems, particularly Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani, every part of the plant—the roots, bark, leaves, flowers, and fruits—is utilized to treat a wide array of ailments. The plant is celebrated for its rich profile of vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds like flavonoids and saponins, which contribute to its potent pharmacological activities.
Name in Different Countries
The common names for Sesbania grandiflora reflect its widespread use and distinct appearance across different cultures: Sanskrit: Agasti, Agastya Nepali: Agasti Hindi: Agasti, Hathya Bengali: Bokful (referring to its heron-like white flower) Tamil: Akatthi, Agathi keeray Malayalam: Akatti Telugu: Agise Thai: Dok khae Vietnamese: So đũa English: Vegetable Hummingbird Tree, Agati Sesbania, Swamp Pea, Corkwood Tree
Terminology
Sesbania grandiflora is the internationally accepted scientific name. The plant is known as Agastya in Sanskrit and the Ayurvedic system. In many parts of India and Southeast Asia, the leaves are referred to as Agathi Keerai or Daun Turi (Malay/Indonesian), highlighting their use as an edible leafy vegetable. In Nepal, its common name is Agasti or Bok Ful (Bengali name also used in parts of Nepal for the white flower variety). The extensive list of synonyms, such as Agati grandiflora and Robinia grandiflora, points to its complex historical classification but all refer to the same species.
Availability
This tree is widely cultivated and naturalized throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, particularly in South and Southeast Asia, including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. In regions like Nepal, it is a known medicinal plant, where the leaves and flowers are readily available, often cultivated near homes or found in the wild. Its fast-growing nature ensures a consistent supply of its various parts (leaves, flowers, pods, bark, and roots) for both food and medicinal preparations.
External Look
Sesbania grandiflora is a soft-wooded, loosely-branching tree that typically grows to a height of 8 to 15 meters. Leaves: They are compound and pari-pinnate (ending with a pair of leaflets), measuring about 15-30 cm long, with numerous pairs of oblong, narrow leaflets. Flowers: Its most striking feature, the flowers are large (5-10 cm), distinctly shaped, and can be white (most common), red, or sometimes pink or yellow. They are often cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Fruits/Pods: The pods are long, slender, and cylindrical, ranging from 25 to 50 cm in length, containing many light brown seeds. Bark: The bark is light grey, corky, and has a deeply furrowed texture.
Healing Properties
The powerful medicinal properties of Sesbania grandiflora stem from its rich phytochemical profile, which includes flavonoids, saponins, tannins, triterpenes, and carotenoids like lutein and beta-carotene. Its primary healing properties are: Property Mechanism/Action Anti-inflammatory & Analgesic Reduces pain and swelling, used for rheumatism, gout, and arthritis. Antimicrobial & Anthelmintic Inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and helps expel parasitic worms. Antioxidant Neutralizes free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and protecting cells from damage. Hepatoprotective Supports and protects the liver, aiding in detoxification and the treatment of liver disorders and jaundice. Anti-diabetic Helps manage blood sugar levels by enhancing insulin function and reducing blood glucose spikes. Antipyretic Possesses fever-reducing effects. Neuroprotective & Anxiolytic Offers protection to the nervous system and has properties that reduce anxiety. Immunomodulatory Enhances and supports the body's immune function. Export to Sheets
Advantages
The tree offers several significant advantages, making it a valuable resource: High Nutritional Value: The leaves (Agathi Keerai) are a rich source of protein, fiber, vitamins (A, B1, C), and minerals (iron, calcium, phosphorus), making it an excellent dietary supplement, especially in regions facing malnutrition. Multi-Purpose Medicinal Use: Nearly all parts—leaves, flowers, bark, roots, and fruits—are used medicinally, providing a comprehensive natural remedy for a variety of conditions, from common fevers and coughs to chronic ailments like diabetes and liver disorders. Traditional Validation: It is a cornerstone herb in Ayurveda and other traditional systems, where its efficacy for conditions like night-blindness (nyctalopia), epilepsy, and various skin diseases has been documented for centuries. Safety and Edibility: The leaves and flowers are widely consumed as vegetables, indicating a long history of safe use as both food and medicine.
Uses
Sesbania grandiflora is traditionally used to address an extensive list of health issues: Plant Part Primary Traditional Uses Leaves Hepatoprotection (liver disorders), diarrhea, dysentery, bronchitis, cough, wounds/ulcers, nasal catarrh, headaches, and epilepsy. Also used as a diuretic and laxative. Flowers Night-blindness and other eye diseases, headaches, fevers, and for their antimicrobial and anti-cancer effects. Bark Used as an infusion for the initial stages of smallpox and other eruptive fevers, diarrhea, and as an astringent and tonic. Root Applied as a poultice for rheumatic swellings and joint pain, and used internally for catarrh. Fruits Used in conditions like colic, jaundice, food poisoning, and to improve memory. Export to Sheets
Using Way
The methods of using Sesbania grandiflora are diverse, reflecting the part of the plant and the condition being treated: Leaf Juice (Internal and External): The fresh leaf juice is often mixed with honey and administered orally for respiratory issues like bronchitis and cold in children. A paste or poultice of the leaves is applied externally to bruises, sprains, and leprous eruptions. Nasal Administration (Nasya): Leaf juice is traditionally administered as nasal drops (Nasya) to relieve severe headache, nasal catarrh, and symptoms of epilepsy. Decoction/Infusion: A decoction (boiled water extract) of the bark is taken orally for diarrhea or as a general tonic. Food Preparation: The leaves and flowers are consumed as a vegetable (e.g., in curries, stir-fries, or soups like in Nepal and Southern India) to gain their rich nutritional and health benefits, such as boosting immunity and aiding in blood sugar management. External Application: A paste of the roots is mixed with water and applied to painful rheumatic joints or swellings.
Conclusion
Sesbania grandiflora (Agastya) stands as a powerful testament to the value of traditional herbal medicine, embodying a remarkable fusion of high nutritional content and profound therapeutic efficacy. Its extensive use across South and Southeast Asia, supported by modern pharmacological studies confirming its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and hepatoprotective activities, solidifies its status as a vital medicinal plant. As research continues to validate the traditional applications of its roots, bark, leaves, flowers, and fruits, Sesbania grandiflora remains a crucial natural resource for promoting overall health, detoxification, and combating various acute and chronic diseases.
