Pterocarpus marsupium

Pterocarpus marsupium

The Indian Kino or Malabar kino, Vijayasar, Venkai (Pterocarpus marsupium Roxburgh) is an arboreal species belonging to the Fabaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Magnoliophyta Division,
Magnoliopsida class,
Fabales Order,
Fabaceae family,
Faboideae subfamily,
Dalbergieae tribe,
Genus Pterocarpus,
P. marsupium species.
The terms are synonymous:
– Lingoum marsupium (Roxb.) Kuntze;
– Pterocarpus bilobus Roxb. former G.Don;
– Pterocarpus marsupium f. acuminata (Prain) Prain;
– Pterocarpus marsupium f. acute Prain;
– Pterocarpus marsupium f. biloba (Roxb. ex G. Don) Prain;
– Pterocarpos marsupius (Roxb.) St.-Lag ..
Within this species, the following subspecies are recognized:
– Pterocarpus marsupium subsp. acuminatus (Prain) Thoth .;
– Pterocarpus marsupium subsp. marsupium.

Etymology –
The term Pterocarpus comes from the Greek πτερóν pterόn ala and from carpos fruit: with winged fruits.
The specific epithet marsupium comes from marsūpĭum pocket, sack, bag: due to the presence of organs (leaves, flowers, sheaths, sporophylls, etc.) equipped with a sac or forming it.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Pterocarpus marsupium is a plant native to India (where it is found in parts of the Western Ghats in the Karnataka-Kerala region and in the forests of central India), Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The natural populations have been considerably reduced and young tender saplings are often not found in the forest, so it is a threatened species due to the autogenous reproductive deficit.
Its habitat is mainly that of humid or dry deciduous forests, mixed in hilly areas; at altitudes up to 1,200 meters.

Description –
The Pterocarpus marsupium is a deciduous tree that grows up to about 33m in height and up to 2.5m in circumference with a straight and clear trunk.
The bark is longitudinally fissured, scaly and rough.
The leaves are imparipinnate and elliptical, with leaflets that are generally five to seven in number, 8–13 cm long, oblong or elliptical or round, with 15–20 pairs of lateral veins.
The flowers are fragrant and collected in large panicles about 1–5 cm long.
Flowering begins in November, while fruiting continues until March.
The fruits are winged and flat pods, orbicular, up to 5 cm in diameter.
The seeds are one to three in number, bony and convex in shape.

Cultivation –
The Pterocarpus marsupium is a large tree that grows mainly in the tropical lowland areas, at altitudes between 200 and 500 meters, but exceptionally up to 1,200 meters.
The plant grows best in areas where the average annual temperature is in the range of 22 – 34 ° C, but can tolerate 4 – 47 ° C.
It is found in areas where there is a distinct dry season, preferring an average annual rainfall of 1,000 – 1,500 mm, but tolerating 750 – 2,000 mm.
For its cultivation it requires a sunny position in well-drained soil; grows best in deep, rich, light to medium-textured soil with a pH between 6 and 7, but tolerates between 5.5 and 7.5.
Propagation is by seed but agamic multiplications can also be carried out by cutting.
This species has a symbiotic relationship with some soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is used by the growing plant, but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby.

Customs and Traditions –
Pterocarpus marsupium, also known in its areas as Malabar kino, Indian kino, Vijayasar or Venkai, is a plant that has been used for some time in both food and medicine by local populations.
For food uses both the flowers and the seeds are eaten.
However, it is a multipurpose plant that produces very valuable timber and is often planted by Indian forestry.
It is one of the 33 species named as Hongmu timber (red wood) used for the production of high quality Chinese furniture following the traditions of the Ming and Quing dynasty, which makes it a particularly valuable wood.
However, the tree has a wide range of other uses: it is commonly harvested for medicinal purposes, as well as providing, as mentioned, food and a series of products. Unfortunately, Pterocarpus marsupium is widely exploited for its wood, resin and medicinal bark and its natural population is decreasing, especially in Sri Lanka but also in India.
The tree therefore nearly meets the “Vulnerable” species criteria, but is currently listed as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2017).
It is one of many that provide a red resin that is obtained from the stems. Resin, often known as “Dragon’s Blood”, along with those obtained from other species, is often used as an external application to treat a variety of skin problems and injuries.
The plant is often used in herbal medicine in India; mainly the leaves, the bark and the resin are used. It is a strongly astringent and also alterative herb.
Furthermore, various studies have shown a hypoglycemic effect of an aqueous extract obtained from heartwood.
The resin obtained from the wounds of the bark is astringent and contains about 75% of quino tannic acid.
It is used in the treatment of chronic diarrhea and irritation caused by gastric infections and colitis. Although it has an unpleasant taste it is used for a good mouthwash and for gargling.
It is commonly used for toothache and also as a douche to treat vaginal discharge.
The resin is applied topically in the treatment of skin diseases.
The bark is used, both in powder and in decoction, in the treatment of diarrhea.
A decoction of the bark is very useful for diabetic patients.
Heartwood is considered to be anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and astringent, and is used to treat a variety of conditions.
The crushed leaves are used as a poultice on boils, sores and skin diseases.
Pterocarpus marsupium is also widely used for agroforestry uses and is cultivated as a shade tree for coffee plantations and often cultivated as a multipurpose tree in domestic gardens and as a component of agroforestry systems in India and Sri Lanka.
Provides a good quantity of biomass of leaves, useful for green manure, and also fixes atmospheric nitrogen; it can also be used as a pioneer for ground cover and soil improvement works.
Among other uses it is still remembered that it produces a red gum known as “kino”. It is obtained from wounds made in the bark: the red liquid that oozes profusely from the wound quickly hardens upon exposure to air. The gum, which contains 75% quinotannic acid, has medicinal uses and is also used as a source of tannins and for dyeing.
Heartwood, which is saturated with rubber, can be used to give a yellow dye.
Wood and bark extracts are used as shampoos and hair conditioners in commercial cosmetic preparations.
An extract of the leaves is used as a skin conditioner in commercial cosmetic preparations.
Furthermore, the wood is strong, tough, very hard, durable, fine-grained, takes a fine polish and ages well. It is a good quality wood which is used for various purposes including musical instruments, window frames, poles, agricultural tools, building boats, wagons, rail cars, railway sleepers, etc.

Preparation Method –
Indian Kino is a plant often used in herbal medicine in India where leaves, bark and resin are mainly used.
The resin is also used in the treatment of chronic diarrhea and irritation caused by gastric infections and colitis.
Although this has an unpleasant taste it is used as a mouthwash and to gargle. It is also used in the case of toothache and also as a douche to treat vaginal discharge.
The resin is applied topically in the treatment of skin diseases.
The bark is used, both in powder and in decoction, in the treatment of diarrhea.
Also from the bark a very useful decoction is obtained for diabetic patients.
The crushed leaves are used as a poultice on boils, sores and skin diseases.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
Photo source:
– https://localhost.indiabiodiversity.org/observation/show/342056

Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.