Aphanamixis polystachya


Aphanamixis polystachya, the pithraj tree, is a species of tree in the family Meliaceae. It is native to India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. It is a widely used as a medicinal plant in Ayurveda.

Description

Bengali name of this tree is royna. Another name of this tree is pithraj. Oil is not edible and can be used as biodiesel and lighting. The very fine wood is used for construction and ship-making. The tree is 20m tall. Leaves are compound, imparipinnate, alternate; oblong-lanceolate, apex acuminate; base asymmetric; with entire margin. Flowers are polygamous and show panicles inflorescence. Fruit is a single seeded pale-reddish subglobose capsule.

Common names

Fruit shell contains triterpenes, aphanamixin. Bark contains tetranortriterpene, and aphanamixinin. Leaves contain diterpene, alcohol, aphanamixol and ß-sitosterol. Seeds yield a limonoid, rohitukin, polystachin and others, an alkaloid, a glycoside and a saponin. A chromone and three flavonoid glycosides have been reported from the roots.