Kamala, Kameela, Kamcela, Spoonwood, Rottlera, Tinctoria all are synonyms of Mallotus philippensis. It is a medicinal tree due to the presence of various phytochemicals. The leaves contain an alkaloid. The glands and hairs covering the fruit give rottlerin, mallotoxin and kamalin. A fixed oil, camul oil and a bitter glucoside is present in seeds. The bark has astringent action due to the presence of tannin and applied as a poultices on cutaneous diseases.
Mallotus philippensis is useful in the treatment of intestinal worms, constipation, flatulence, wounds, ulcers, cough, renal and vesical calculi, haemorrhages, poisonous affections, scabies, ringworm, herpes and other parasitic skin diseases.
The red powder obtained from the glands and hairs covering the fruit and seeds has anthelmintic action. The root paste is applied on rheumatism.
General Information
Plant Description:
A much branched, small tree, 5-6 m tall.
Bark: Slender branch bark is pale, and the younger branch is covered in rust-red matted hairs.
Leaves: Alternate, ovate-lanceolate, 8-22 x 3-8 cm, 3-nerved at base, glabrous above, pubescent and with numerous red glands beneath.
Flowers: Small; dioecious, males in erect terminal spikes forming elongated paniculate racemes; females solitary in short spikes, ovary covered with red glands. Flowers are covered by rust red matted hairs.
Fruits: Globose, 3-lobed, 8-10 mm in diameter, covered with bright red powder.
Seeds: Subglobose, black, 3-4 mm across.
Part(s) used for medicinal purpose: Glandular hair of the fruit
Plant type / Growth Habit: Tree
Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Found throughout India, occasionally ascending to 1500 m in the outer Himalayas; Also found in Sri Lanka, Southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, and throughout Malaysia to Australia.
Habitat: Subtropical and tropical areas.
Vernacular names / Synonyms
- Scientific name: Mallotus philippensis (From Latin, Mallotus = woolly)
- Ayurvedic: Kampillaka, Kampilla, Kapila, Karkasha, Raktanga, Rechi, Kampilla, Raktaphala, Ranjaka, Rechanaka, Rechani, Rochana
- Bengali: Kamala, Kamalagundi
- English: Kamala tree, Monkey Face Tree, Dyers rottlera, Kamala dye tree, Monkey face tree, Orange kamala, red kamala, scarlet croton
- Gujrati: Kapilo
- Hindi: Kamala, Sindur, Rohini, Kambhal
- Kannada: Kampillaka, Kunkumadamara
- Malayalam: Sinduri, Manjana, Kuramatakku, Kampipala, Ponnagam
- Marathi: Shindur, Shendri, Kapila
- Punjabi: Kumila, Kamal, Kambal, Kamela
- Siddha: Kamela
- Tamil: Kapli, Kungumam, Kurangumanjanatti, Kamala, Manjanai, Kunkumam, Kamala
- Telugu: Kunkuma, Chendra-sinduri, Kapila, Vassuntagunda, Sundari, Vasanta, Kumkumamu
- Unani: Kamila
Scientific Classification
All plants are scientifically classified into main 7 levels. These levels are the Kingdom, Division, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species. A genus comprise of many species and the botanical name consists of Genus (uppercase) followed by Species (lowercase). Genus consists of many species which are closely related and have lots of similarities. Species is the lowest level and represents the group of the same plant.
The botanical name of Kamala is Mallotus philippensis. It belongs to plant family Euphorbiaceae. Below is given taxonomical classification of the plant.
- Kingdom: Plantae (comprising all living or extinct plants)
- Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (have lignified tissues or xylem for conducting water and minerals)
- Superdivision: Spermatophyta (produce seeds)
- Class: Magnoliopsida (flowering plant producing an embryo with paired cotyledons)
- Subclass: Rosidae
- Order: Euphorbiales
- Family: Euphorbiaceae – Spurge family
- Genus: Mallotus
- Species: philippensis
Synonyms
- Rottlera tinctoria Roxb.
- Rottlera aurantiaca Hook. & Arn.
- Rottlera philippinensis Scheff.
- Croton cascavilloides Rauesch.
- Croton philippensis
Constituents of Mallotus philippensis
Rottlerin, acetyl aleuritolic acid, α-amyrin, β-sitosterol, iso-allorottlerin, kamalin I & ii, lupeol and bergenin and tannins
Important Medicinal Properties
Mallotus philippensis is rich in medicinal properties. The understanding of these properties will help us to better utilize this herb. These also indicate the conditions in which we should avoid it.
Below is given medicinal properties along with the meaning.
- Anthelmintic: Antiparasitic, expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites from the body.
- Antibacterial: Active against bacteria.
- Anticancer: Active against cancer.
- Antifertility: Reduces fertility
- Antifilarial: Tending to destroy filarial worms or to inhibit their growth
- Antifungal: Fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycoses such as athlete’s foot, ringworm, candidiasis.
- Anti-inflammatory: Reducing inflammation by acting on body mechanisms.
- Antimicrobial: Active against microbes.
- Antispasmodic: Used to relieve spasm of involuntary muscle.
- Cardiacdepressant: Depresses the rate or force of contractions of the heart.
- Hemostatic: Checking blood flow.
- Hypoglycemic: Reducing the level of the sugar glucose in the blood.
- Purgative: Strongly laxative in effect
- Stimulant: Raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body
- Wound healing: heals wounds.
Ayurvedic Properties and Action
Mallotus philippensis is known as Kapila, Raktaphala Kurangumanjal, Sindooram due to its orange-brown or yellowish-brown color fruits. The crude drug is obtained as a glandular pubescence from the exterior of fruits. It is pungent in taste (Rasa), pungent after digestion (Vipaka), and is hot in effect (Virya).
It is an Ushna Virya herb. Ushna Virya or hot potency herb, subdues Vata (Wind) and Kapha (Mucus) and increases Pitta (Bile). It has the property of digestion, vomiting and purging, and gives a feeling of lightness. It is considered bad for sperms and fetus.
- Rasa (taste on the tongue): Katu (Pungent)
- Guna (Pharmacological Action): Laghu (Light), Tikshna (Sharp), Ruksha (Dry)
- Virya (Action): Ushna (Heating)
- Vipaka (transformed state after digestion): Katu (Pungent)
It is pungent in both the initial and post-digestive tastes (Rasa and Vipaka). It gives relief in Vata and Kapha and increases pitta. It is carminative, antiemetic and thermogenic. It is useful in indigestion, low appetite, nausea and piles.
Ayurvedic Action
- Ashmaribhedana: Gives relief in stones.
- Deepan: Increase appetite.
- Garbha Nirodhaka: Contraceptive.
- Krimighna: Cures all the signs, symptoms and complications created by external and internal worms.
- Kushthaghna: Removes blood impurities.
- Raktashodhaka: Blood purifier.
- Rechana: Purgative.
- Twakdoshahara: Gives relief in skin diseases.
- Vranaropana: Wound healing.
- Vranashodhana: Wound cleaning.
Mallotus philippensis is active against thread worms, tapeworms, hook worms, round worms and earthworms. Krimighatini Vati which is used in the treatment of intestinal parasite contains Mallotus philippensis.
Chief Indications
- Alopecia totalis / Khalitya
- Bleeding disorders / Raktapitta
- Bloating, flatulence, gas / Adhmana
- Constipation / Vibandha
- Cough / Kasa
- Diseases due to vitiation of blood / Raktavikara
- Inflammation / Shotha,
- Intestinal parasites / Krimi
- Itching / Kandu
- Leprosy / Kushtha
- Pain / Shoola
- Poisoning / Visha
- Scabies / Pama
- Stones / Ashmari
- Urinary diseases / Prameha
- Wounds / Vrana
Medicinal Uses of Mallotus philippensis
This medicinal tree mainly used in the treatment of intestinal parasite due to its purgative and anthelmintic properties. It is used to treat tape worm infestations (ascarides, rectal worms) and constipation. It is given internally for calculi of the bladders and kidney, leprosy, and wounds. Kamala is applied externally for parasitic skin diseases and wound infections.
1- Baldness
Raughan Kamila is mixed with hair oil and massaged on scalp.
2- Cold
The oil prepared from the leaf is used.
3- Intestinal Parasites
In the case of roundworm, giardia and hookworm, 1-3 gram of powder obtained from the hairs covering the fruit is given in single dose for 2 days.
4- Insect bites
Young fruit ground and mixed with honey is applied.
5- Rheumatism
A decoction of bark is given.
6- Weeping eczema, herpes, scabies, ringworm and ulcers
In Unani, Raughan Kamila is prescribed for topical use.
OR
All parts of the tree can be applied externally to treat parasitic infections of the skin.
7- Other Uses
- The capsule yields a dye which gives a permanent, rich, flame color. It is used for dyeing silk and wool bright orange.
- A red dye has been extracted from the roots.
- The wood of the tree is used for making tool handles, match boxes, etc.
- Leaves are used as fodder for cattle.
- It is used as a host plant for lac insects.
The Dosage of Mallotus philippensis
The dried powder of glands and hairs covering the fruit, is given in a dose of 2–15 grams (adults) and 1.5–3 g (children).
Contraindications, Interactions, Side-effects, and Warnings Mallotus philippensis
Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages.
Large doses may cause colic, cramping, diarrhea, GI distress, and nausea.
It may cause mild nausea, occasional vomiting and loose motions.
Rottlerin has antifertility effects in female. According to the study done in rats, extract reduces serum FSH and LH levels, probably by affecting hypothalamic/pituitary axis. This reduced level may affect follicular development, quality of ovulated eggs, corpus luteum formation, estrus cycle, and maintenance of pregnancy in rats.