Tamilnadu based Multipurpose Medicinal Tree: Madhuca Logifolia

Introduction

Trees are the most significant living species or things on the earth created by nature and take part in most of the living organism’s life cycle. Trees are long-living and provide a link between past, present, and future. They are natural filters to the atmosphere to absorb carbon dioxide or pollutants from the atmosphere and release oxygen, which in turn reduces global warming. Trees also give shade to protect living things from solar radiation and reduce noise pollution. The trees offer habitation, sites for reproduction, and edible items like fruit and leaves for many insects, birds, animals, and humans. They are the most inevitable for creating rainfall in the earth and helps to prevent soil erosion.

Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark. The shade from a tree reduces water evaporation from the landscape. The parts of trees are useful to make household items like the door, cupboards, wooden boxes, cot, etc. Wood was the very first fuel and still used for cooking and heating by about half of the world’s population. Trees provide timber for building construction, furniture or tools manufacture, and sporting equipment, and its pulp has used to make paper. In some particular tree leaves, flowers, fruits, stem, and seeds are useful for human beings, and one such tree is called the Mahua or Madhuca Logifolia. Ancient people planted the Mahua tree in the temple and offered prayers. It produces more oxygen during the daytime when compeered to other trees which, will refresh the people who offer prayer near the tree.

Mahua Tree

Mahua tree has the origin of south India and belongs to Tamilnadu. It is a tropical deciduous, medium-sized tree and grows from 17 to 20 m. It has milky sap and leaves as sapodilla trees have. The main stem has superior strength compared to other trees and can grow up to 80 cm in diameter. The tree has multiple branches with different sizes and directions. The leaves can breed up to 20 cm long and 12 cm broad, and they will fall during the winter season. Usually, leaves start to grow from March month, and during this stage, leaves will have a pinkish or reddish color. The Mahua tree starts flowering in cream color with furry bunches of flowers and has a shorter life span. A pollinated flower develops into an amble fruit and it may contain 1 to 4 brown colored seeds. Every part of the Mahua tree is utilized by our ancient people and still used by rural people. People who used the parts or products of the mahua tree lived long with good health.

The most important benefit of the Mahua tree is inducing rainfall. The surrounding of the tree will attract the cloud towards it and make it rain. The tree’s flowers and fruits will also attract birds, insects from nearby forms (The insects which create damage to crops), bats, etc. The birds and ants will consume insects and help the farmers. Some birds will live in the tree by building their nests. The tree will give shadow for people and domestic animals. The tree can live around 200 to 400 years and can grow even in a dry area. Various parts of the mahua tree are shown in the figure.

The Stem of Mahua Tree

The bark obtained from the Mahua tree is powered and used for bathing. The stem portion sapwood and Heartwood are very strong in this tree. The Mahua wood was used by the people to prepare most of the wooden products. The mahua wood can withstand a long period in saltwater and used for constructing boats. In the ancient period, the following wooden products made from the Mahua tree.

• Wooden doors, windows, and furniture
• Constructing holy chariot
• Bullock cart and its wheel

Mahua seeds and oil

It is possible to extract oil from mahua seeds. One kilogram of seed can yield 300 ml oil and 700 grams of oil cake. The oil obtained from the seed is mostly used for cooking and lit up fire lamps in temples, and house lighting. The ancient people take bathe using oil cake attained from mahua seed. It can cure several skin diseases like pimples, rashes, whitening, skin burns, black marks, etc.

People prepared snacks in Mahua seed oil, stored it for a period, and consumed. The food items prepared using this oil can cure thyroid problems, improve insulin segregation, destruct the intestinal worms, remove the indigestion problem, and enhance the free flow of human feces from the rectum. The mahua oil bath will eliminate eye burns, migraines, and reduces body heat.

The Mahua seed oil applied on the human skin will eradicate sprain, pimples between two thighs, armpit boils, and paralysis. Oil is used by the poliovirus affected patients to enhance the blood circulation in the body and strengthen their bones. Application of oil will heal the wound or wound with pus, reduce the skin itching, and improves the rheumatoid arthritis problem. The oil applied to the human head can eradicate head lice, dandruff, hair fall, and reduce hypertension. The oil cake and its leaf are used fertilizer for crops.

Mahua flowers

The Mahua flower contains 72% of sugar and used as a sweet ingredient instead of sugar. The powder has more iron content and improves the anemia problem. Consumption of powdered Mahua flowers can improve insulin segregation for diabetic patients, reduce the effect of snake poison, improves the sperm count, and strengthen the human nerve system.

• One tree can provide 250 kg of flowers per year.
• 1000 kg of flowers can yield 300 kg of an aliphatic alcohol
• 200 kg of flowers can generate 140 kg of sugar.

Conclusion

The multi-purpose mediational Mahua tree has enormous benefits to the human being. Many parts of the Mahua tree are used as Siddha medicine and cure many diseases by giving more strength to our body. But nowadays, people are not aware of mahua tree products. It is necessary to educate people to use them to strengthen their life in many aspects.

Fifty years back, there are 30,000 trees in Tamilnadu. But in 2015, there are only 10,000 trees. Now, the count might have reduced to 5000 trees. It leads to a lack of rainfall, an increase in different types of insects that affect the crops, introduces climatic change, and creates new diseases to people. So, it is necessary to grow more mahua trees to safeguard in our country.