Abstract

A REVIEW ARTICLE ON AN ANDAMAN’S ENDEMIC SPECIES i.e. ANDAMAN REDWOOD (PTEROCARPUS DALBERGIOIDES ROXB.) WHICH IS DESCRIBED IN AYURVEDA AS VIJAYSAR

Dr. Partha Mondal* and Dr. Surekha T. Landge

Abstract

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, one of the seven union territories of India, are a group of islands at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a tropical rainforest canopy, made of a mixed flora with elements from Indian, Myanmar, Malaysian and endemic floral strains. Andaman Redwood is endemic to Andaman Islands, and is the state tree of A & N Islands. known as the Andaman padauk, Andaman redwood or East Indian mahogany, is a species of legume having latin name Pterocarpus dalbergioides Roxb. ex DC. in the Fabaceae family. It is sometimes called "narra", but this is just a generic term used for any of several Pterocarpus species.). The chief use of the timber is for decorative purposes, such as panelling, parqueting, balustrades and cabinet work. Andaman Padauk has been proposed as a Rosewood substitute in musical instrument manufacture but is not yet used very extensively due to its colour. This Pterocarpus speciesis known as Vijaysar which is described in Ayurveda as BIJAKA having Indications like in madhumeha, kushtha, shtoulya, vrana, krumi, visarpa. Many modern researches are done to estabalised its antidiabetic activity. The present review article was undertaken to explore the medicinal properties of Andaman redwood (Pterocarpus dalbergioides Roxb.) as described in diffedrent Ayurveda text.

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