Amra

Mangifera indica(Anacardiaceae)

Sanskrit Names: Amra
English Name: Mango Tree
Hindu Name: Aam
Botanical Name: Mangifera indica
Synonyms: Rasala, Cuta, Pikavallabha
Family: Anacardiaceae

Description

Mango trees (Mangifera indica L.) grow 35–40 m (115–131 ft) tall, with a crown radius of 10 m (33 ft). The mango tree is long-lived; some specimens still fruit after 300 years. In deep soil the taproot descends to a depth of 6 m (20 ft) and the profuse, wide-spreading feeder roots also send down many anchor roots which penetrate several feet of soil. The leaves are evergreen, alternate, simple, 15–35 cm (5.9–14 in) long and 6–16 cm (2.4–6.3 in) broad; when the leaves are young they are orange-pink, rapidly changing to a dark glossy red, then dark green as they mature. The flowers are produced in terminal panicles 10–40 cm (3.9–16 in) long; each flower is small and white with five petals 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long, with a mild sweet odor suggestive of lily of the valley. The fruit takes three to six months to ripen.

The ripe fruit is variable in size and color. Cultivars are variously yellow, orange, red or green and carry a single flat, oblong pit that can be fibrous or hairy on the surface. Ripe, unpeeled fruit gives off a distinctive resinous, sweet smell. Inside the pit 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) thick is a thin lining covering a single seed, 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) long, 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) and 1 cm (0.4 in). The seed contains the plant embryo.1

Principle Constituents

Classical Categories (Gana)

Energetics

Chemical Constituents

Mangiferin, mangiferolic acid, homonangiferin, indicenol2

Ayurveda Actions

Important Actions

Roots: raktapitta + rakta pradara (bleeding disorders), white discharge, syphilis (pitta condition), wounds, ulcers, diarrhoea, rheumatism (joint pains)

Leaves: hiccough, burning sensation, haemorrhages, haemorrhoids, wounds, ulcers, diarrhoea + dysentery, (inflammation of the intestines causing diarrhoea with blood and mucus), mouth ulcers, ash of leaves are used in burns and scolds.

Unripe fruit: for any vaginal disorders or local urethra pathologies, gastropathy, pharyngopathy
(laryngitis), ulcers, dysentery, vaginopathy, urethral discharge, candida.

Ripe fruit: cardiopathy, hemoptysis, bleeding disorders, anaemia + general debility.

Seed Kernel: krumigghna (parasites, uterine tonic, vitiated conditions of Pitta + Kapha, chronic diarrhoea + dysentery, bleeding, leuccorrhea, heart burn, vomiting, ear infections/puss from ears, bleeding piles, mouth ulcers.

Indications

Roots: antrimetic, healing to wounds, homeostatic, constipating because of kashaya rasa.
Leaves: Antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiemeticc, stambhaka
Flowers: Antibacterial, anti-fungal, constipating, increase hemoglobin – good for anemia (pandu) stops bleeding and reduces gasteric motility... good for irritable bowl syndrome.
Unripe Fruit: antibacterial, anti-fungal, digestive, carinative.
Ripe Fruit: laxative, cardio tonic, rakta stambhaka (stop bleeding), aphrodisiac & tonic.
Seed Kernel: Rochana & deepana (unripe), snehana, anulomana, sarka pakva, stambhaka, heart tonic,
rakta pitta (unripe), antidiuretic (mutrasangrahaniya), gives skin luster (varnya-twachya) (ripe), bala + bruhana, mutral, kumighna (ripe)

Precautions

Safety

No known drug or herb interactions.

Parts Used

Parts used: Bark, roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, gum, seed kernel.
Dosage:Decoction 8-12ml, Pushyanuga churna 1-5gms, Amra panaka juice 10-20mls (from boiling and mashing the unripe fruit)/

Important Combinations

Preparations: pushyanuga churna for leuchorrhoea & candida – fungal -anti bacterial.

Research

• 1. Wikipedia
• 2. Sastry JJLN; Dravyaguna Vijnana, Second edition 2005; Chaukhambha Orinetalia, Varanasi, India