The medicinal plants of Myanmar
Author
DeFilipps, Robert A.
Deceased
Author
Krupnick, Gary A.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1357-4826
Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, MRC- 166, Washington, DC, 20013 - 7012, USA
krupnick@si.edu
text
PhytoKeys
2018
2018-06-28
102
1
341
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.102.24380
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.102.24380
1314-2003-102-1
AA226A35FFF8FFBC37621A40C2518C67
1306325
Moringa oleifera Lam.
Names.
Myanmar
:
dan-da-lun
,
sort-htmaine
(Mon).
English
: Ben nut, drumstick tree, horseradish tree.
Range.
India. Widely cultivated and naturalized in the tropics. Found throughout Myanmar. Also, cultivated there as a vegetable.
Uses.
Sap
: Held in mouth to treat tooth decay.
Bark
: Slightly sweet and efficacious, stimulates the palate and is good for digestion. Used as an astringent. Freshly obtained liquid applied in the ear to treat earaches and ear infections.
Bark
and
Leaves
: Used as a heart stimulant.
Leaf
: Made into a soup with garlic, galangal (
Alpina galanga
or
A. officinarum
), and
meik-thalin
(
Zingiber cassumnar
) for arrested menstruation. When boiled in water down to a third of the original volume, and taken as a soup, will bring down high blood pressure.
Root
: Crushed, then 1 tablespoon of the liquid taken to treat laryngitis and sore throat; crushed and mustard seed added in equal amounts, soaked in water, and taken three times a day for indigestion and bloated stomach; boiled in water down to a third and tablespoon taken daily to treat cancer of the stomach.
Root
: Crushed into powder and combined with
paranawar
(
Boerhavia diffusa
) root powder in equal amounts, cooked with coconut milk and honey, and one tablespoon taken in morning and evening as a tonic to give strength and longevity; crushed and used as a poultice for inflammation; and liquid from crushed root taken with milk to treat diabetes.
Flower
: Used in making medicines to treat edema, dropsy, boils, sores, and gas.
Fruit
: Cooked and given to children to keep them free of round and thread worms; made into a powder and combined with sugar to treat excessive urination.
Seed
: Used to cure headaches and for poisoning. Also, made into a powder and applied to the ear to cure earaches and infections. Oil from the seed is used in treating sores, rashes, and itches.
Notes.
The medicinal uses of this species in India are described in
Jain and DeFilipps (1991)
. Indigenous medicinal uses of this species in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India) are described by
Dagar and Singh (1999)
.
Chemical constituents, pharmacological action, and medicinal use of this species in Indian Ayurveda are discussed in detail by
Kapoor (1990)
. The medicinal uses of
Moringa oleifera
in the Caribbean region, as well as its chemistry, biological activity, toxicity and dosages, are discussed by
Germosen-Robineau
(1997)
. A pharmacognostical profile, including medicinal uses of this plant in Africa, is given in
Iwu (1993)
. The chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and traditional medicinal uses of
M. oleifera
on a worldwide basis are discussed by
Ross (1999)
. The toxic properties, symptoms, treatment and beneficial uses of this plant, parts of which are poisonous, are discussed by
Nellis (1997)
.
Data on the propagation, seed treatment, and agricultural management of this species are given by
Katende et al. (1995)
and
Bekele-Tesemma (1993)
. Details of the active chemical compounds, effects, herbal usage, and pharmacological literature of this plant are given in
Fleming (2000)
.
References.
Nordal (1963)
,
Agricultural Corporation (1980)
.