Botanical Name: Anthocephalus indicus A. Rich.
Family: Rubiaceae.
Synonyms: Significant scientific synonyms include Cephalanthus chinensis Lam. and Sarcocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Kurz. In Sanskrit literature, it is frequently referred to as Kadamba, Priyaka, and Halipriya.
Vernacular Names: It is recognized across various regions as Kadamba or Kadam (Hindi and Bengali), Common Bur-flower tree or Laran (English), Vellai-kadambu (Tamil), and Kadambamu (Telugu).
Classification: In terms of habit, Kadamba is a large, majestic, deciduous to evergreen tree. It is characterized by its rapid growth, straight cylindrical bole, and horizontal spreading branches that form a distinct umbrella-shaped crown.
Habitat: This species is native to the South and Southeast Asian regions, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Indonesia. It thrives in low-altitude, moist deciduous forests and is frequently found along riverbanks or in areas with high rainfall and well-drained, alluvial soil.
Morphology: The tree can reach a massive height of 20–45 meters. The leaves are large, shiny green, opposite, and broadly ovate with prominent veins. Its most striking feature is the inflorescence, which consists of small, orange-to-yellow, scented flowers clustered in dense, globose (ball-shaped) heads. The fruit is a small, fleshy capsule that aggregates into a yellow or orange pseudocarp, which is edible but acidic in taste.
Useful Parts: The bark, leaves, and flowers are the primary parts used in Ayurvedic medicine. Occasionally, the fruits are used for digestive purposes.
Chemical Composition: The plant contains several bioactive compounds including indole alkaloids (such as cadambine and dihydrocadambine), triterpenoids (ursolic acid), and saponins (quinovic acid). The bark is rich in tannins, and the leaves contain various flavonoids and glycosides.
Pharmacological Action: Kadamba is primarily utilized for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and wound-healing (Vranaropaka) properties. It exhibits antimicrobial activity and is used to manage chronic diarrhea and dysentery. The bark is traditionally employed as an antipyretic to reduce fever and as a cooling agent to alleviate burning sensations.
Formulation: The most common traditional application is a Decoction (Kwadha) of the bark used for washing ulcers or consumed for fever. A Paste (Lepa) made from the leaves is applied topically to reduce swelling and pain. The fresh juice of the bark is sometimes used as a gargle for stomatitis and throat infections.
Rasa: Kashaya, Tikta
Guna: Ruksha
Virya: Sheeta
Vipaka: Katu