Botanical Name: Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. ex DC.
Family: Leguminosae
Synonyms: Significant scientific synonyms include Amerimnon sissoo (Roxb.) Kuntze. In the Sanskrit tradition, it is synonymous with Shishapa, Kapila, and Pichhila, highlighting its viscous nature and the distinct color of its heartwood.
Vernacular Names: The tree is recognized across various regions as Shisham or Sissoo (Hindi), Indian Rosewood or Himalayan Sissoo (English), Shishu (Bengali), Gethu (Tamil), and Erra Sissu (Telugu).
Classification: In terms of habit, Dalbergia sissoo is a medium to large deciduous tree. Within the Fabaceae family, it is classified as a premier timber-yielding species, known for its rapid growth and deep, spreading root system that often bears nitrogen-fixing nodules.
Habitat: Native to the foothills of the Himalayas and the Indo-Gangetic plains, it is widely distributed throughout India, Pakistan, and Nepal. It thrives primarily in riverine environments, sandy-loam soils, and alluvial plains. It is highly adaptable to sun-drenched areas and can tolerate mild frost and seasonal flooding.
Morphology: The tree can reach a height of 10–25 meters with a somewhat crooked trunk and a spreading crown. The leaves are compound, imparipinnate, with 3 to 5 alternate, broadly ovate or orbicular leaflets that culminate in a short, sudden point. The flowers are small, yellowish-white, and fragrant, arranged in axillary panicles. The fruit consists of a thin, pale brown, strap-shaped pod (indehiscent) that contains 1 to 4 flat, kidney-shaped seeds.
Useful Parts: The heartwood, leaves, bark, and roots are all utilized for medicinal purposes, with the leaves and heartwood being the most common.
Chemical Composition: The heartwood and bark are rich in isoflavonoids and neoflavonoids, including dalbergin, nordalbergin, and isodalbergin. The leaves contain significant amounts of sisooflavone, quercetin, and tannins. The plant also yields an essential oil containing various amino acids and fixed oils in the seeds.
Pharmacological Action: Dalbergia sissoo exhibits potent anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic properties. It is traditionally used as a hemostatic (stopping bleeding) and a blood purifier (varnya). It is highly effective in treating skin diseases, leucoderma, and non-healing ulcers. The leaves are used for their anthelminthic properties to expel intestinal worms and as a stimulant for the digestive system.
Formulation/Usage: Traditional applications involve the use of a Decoction (Kwadha) of the leaves or heartwood to treat excessive menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) and sciatica. A paste of the leaves is applied topically to treat skin eruptions and localized swellings. The oil extracted from the seeds is sometimes used externally for parasitic skin infections, while the bark decoction is used as a wash for inflammatory conditions of the eyes or throat.
Rasa: Katu, Tikta, Kashaya
Guna: Ruksha, laghu
Virya: Ushna
Vipaka: katu