Evergreen shrub, about 2m. high. Young parts softly pubescent. Leaves unequally pinnate, alternate; leaflets coarsely crenate-toothed, villous on both sides, especially beneath.
Simarubaceae
Brucea javanica (L.) Merr.
Local names:
English name:
Kosam.
Description:
Evergreen shrub, about 2m. high. Young parts softly pubescent. Leaves unequally pinnate, alternate; leaflets coarsely crenate-toothed, villous on both sides, especially beneath. Inflorescence in tomentose axillary raceme; flowers small, unisexual, dioecious. Drupe ovoid, black when ripe; seeds compressed, rugose, blackish-brown.
Flowering period:
March - May.
Distribution:
Grows wild, common on the sea-coast.
Parts used:
Seeds can be harvested in autumn, when the fruit is ripe. The seeds obtained after eliminating the pulp of the fruit are thoroughly washed and sun-dried or heat-dried.
Chemical composition:
The fruit yields fatty oil, a glucoside (kosamin) and saponins (brucein A, B, C, G and brusatol).
Therapeutic uses:
The seeds are used as a parasiticide. They are effective for amoebiasis, in a daily dose of 4 to 16g in the form of a decoction or powder, divided into 3 part doses, for 3 to 7 days. They are active in malaria in a dose of 3 to 6g per day, divided into 3 part doses, after meals, for 4 to 5 days. The oil is extracted from the seeds to avoid its vomitive effect. Rectal injection of an aqueous maceration is less toxic. A poultice of pounded seeds relieves haemorrhoids.