Vol. 8, Issue 7 (2019)

Author(s):
Shamim

Abstract:
Bakayan (Melia azedarach), a popular Unani plant belonging to family Meliaceae is also known as Drek (Hindi), Persian lilac or China tree (English), and fleurslilas (French). In South America it is commonly known as “Paraiso” or paradise, and in the US as Indian lilac or white cedar. The whole plant or its specific parts (leaves, stem, and roots) are known to have medicinal properties and have a long history of use by indigenous and tribal people in India. Every part of the plant has been used in Unani system of medicine from medicinal point of view, leaves, bark, root bark, wood, young fruits, nut or seeds, gum etc. Melia azedarach is native to tropical Asia. It is widely distributed in Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Southeast Asia and Australia. It has musakkin (analgesic), musaffi-e-khoon (Blood purifier), mohali -e-waram (Anti-inflammatory), qatil-e-qiram (Insecticidal), anti-diarrhoeal, mufatt-e-sudda (Deobstruent), mudir-e-baul (Diuretic), dafa-e-ziabetes (Antidiabetic), muqi (emetic) and dafa-e-hudar (anti-rheumatic) etc. properties. It is used in Baras (Leucoderma), Juzam (Leprosy), Jarb (Scabies), Kharish (Itching), Khanazeer (Scrofula), Jiryan (Spermatorrhoea), Bawaseer (Piles) and Huma (Fever) etc. It showed Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antihelmintic and Antipyretic etc. activities.