Crude drug sample data base

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Crude drug name

Market nameMurungai Seed
Formal nameSigru
Other names　　　

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Soanjana (T), Sajna (B), Soanjana (H), Murunga (K), Sigru, Murinna (M), Sajana (Te), Murungai (Ta)
English nameDrumstick Tree
Original plant nameMoringa oleifera Lam. (= Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn.), Drumstick Tree
Family nameMoringaceae
Used partClassificationPlant origin
Sub classification seed
Collection informationIndia, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, K. RAMASWAMY CHETIY
Collection date2000/12/09
CollectorKatsuko Komatsu
TMPW No.20505

The capital city, provincial capital city or the representative　　
location of its administrative area is indicated.　　
Production area information
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13.0826802
80.27071840000008
Collection information
India,Chennai, Tamil Nadu
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Scientific information data base

Crude drug nameAyurvedic name or
Sanskrit name, English name		Sigru, Drumstick Tree
SynonymsMulakapatra, Bahudala, Tiksnagandha, Apadamsa, Sighraphala, Bahulatvak, Haritasaka, Madhusigru, Sitamarica, Madhusrava, Krsnagandha, Saubhanjanaka, Murigi, Acchavrksa, Mukhavasahvaya, Svetamanjari, Svetataru, Bahalapallava, Sobhanjana, Aksiva, Mocaka, Lohita, Sakapatra, Supatraka, Upadamsa, Ksamadamsa, Komalapatraka, Bahumula, Damsamula, Tiksnamula, Nilasigru, Janapriya, Ghanacchada, Avadamsa, Mukhabhanga, Simhakesari, Murangi, Avadamsa, Haicchada, Mulakacchada, Granjanaka, Baijika, Madhugandhika.
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Original plant nameMoringa oleifera Lam. (= Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn.)
Family nameMoringaceae
Used partRoot bark, Seeds, Gum
Distribution areaA small or medium sized tree, about 10m high, found wild in the sub-Himalayan tract, from Chenab eastwards to Sarda, and cultivated all over the plains of India.
RemarksCommon.
Common usesAll parts of the tree are considered medicinal and used in the treatment of ascites, rheumatism, venomous bites and as cardiac and circulatory stimulants.

Seeds are also used in India as diuretic for the treatment of oedema and as a febrifuge. Seed oil is applied in rheumatism and gout.

Roots of the young tree and also root bark are rubefacient and vesicant.

Leaves are hypotensive. They are rich in vitamins A and C and are considered useful in scurvy and catarrhal affections. They are also used as emetic.
A paste of the leaves is used as an external application for wounds.

Flowers are used as tonic, diuretic and cholagogue. They are considered antipyretic, acrid and bitter.
Therapeutic usesVidradhi (abscess), Svayathu (swelling), Raktapitta (blood vitiated by Pitta), Apaci (inflammatory conditions), Visa (poisoning), Krmi (worm infestation), Gulma (phantom tumor), Vrana (ulcers), Adhmana (distension of abdomen), Sopha (oedema), Ajirna (indigestion), Angavyatha (lassitude).
Chemical constituentFatty acids
Oleic acid (*C11), Palmitic acid (*C11), Linoleicacid (*C11), Stearic acid (*C11)

Carotenoids
beta-Carotene (*C1, *C9)

Sterols
beta-sitosterol (*C2)

Steroid saponins & Sapogenins
Sitoindoside II (*C2), beta-Sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (*C2)

Flavonoids
Rhamnetin (*C12), Kaempferol (*C12), Quercetin 7-methyl ether (*C12), Isoquercitrin (*C12), Rhamnetin 3-glucoside (*C12)

Anthocyanins
Leucodelphindin-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl(1?4)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (*C5)

Other aromatic compounds
O-ethyl-4-(alpha-L-rhamnosyloxy)benzyl carbamate (*C2), 4(alpha-L-rhamnosyloxy)-benzyl isothiocyanate (*C2),Carbamic acid, [[4-[(6-deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)oxy]phenyl]methyl]-ethyl ester (*C2), Niazimicin (*C2), Niazirin (*C2, *C7), Niaziminine A (*C3, *C7), Niaziminine B (*C3, *C7), Niazidin (*C4), Niazimin A (*C6), Niazimin B (*C6), Niazicin A (*C6), Niazicin B (*C6), Benzaldehyde glycoside (*C6), Niazirinin (*C7), Niazinin A (*C8), Niazinin B (*C8), Niazimicin (*C8), Niaziminin A (*C8), Niaziminin B (*C8), Moringyne (*C10), Syringin (*C12), Coniferin (*C12)

Alkaloids
Riboflavin (*C9), Nicotinic acid (*C9), Thiamin (*C9)

Pharmacological effectSeed extract showed significant antibacterial activity against skin infections (pyodermia), in experimental animals. Seeds are used as antibacterial, anticholeric and antiviral; they contain the active principles pterigospermin, spirachin and banzyl isothiocyanate. An alkaloid, named spirochin, has been isolated from the roots; in high doses, it paralyses the vagus nerve. Pressed juice of the leaves of the plant show strong antibacterial activity against Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Leaf juice is bacteriostatic in dilution of 1:1,000,000. Roots contain an active antibiotic principle, pterygospermin C22H18O2N2S2, m.p. 15゜). Pterygospermin (in concentrations of 0.5-3 μg./cc.) inhibits the growth of many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Aerobacter aurogenes, Salmonella typhosa, S. enteritides, S. paratyphosus, Shigella dysenteriae, Mycobacterium phlei and M. tuberculosis var. hominis. Biological activity studies have confirmed the antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, and diuretic activities of the seeds.
Medical systemAyurveda (Traditional Indian medicine)
Traditional conceptRasa (Taste)Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter)
Virya (Potency)Usna (Hot)
Guna (Quality)Laghu (Light), Ruksa (Dry), Tiksna (Sharp)
Vipaka
(Post digestive taste)		Katu (Pungent)
Karma
(General action)		Dipana (appetiser), Rocana (improves taste), Vidahakrt (causes burning sensation), Sangrahi (constipative), Sukrala (increases semen), Hrdya (good for heart), Amaghna (digestive).
Dosakarma
(Action on dosa)		Decreases Kapha Vata
Dhatukarma(Action
on body tissues)		Medas (acts on medas), Sukrala (increases sukra dhatu)
Avayava
(Action on organ)		Hrdya (good for heart)
Traditional usage1. Soup of the leaves of Kasamarda (Cassia occidentalis), Sigru (Moringa oleifera) and dry radish alleviate hiccough and asthma. Soup well prepared of Sigru fruits with Marica (black pepper), salt, Yavaksara (alkali of Hordeum vulgare) also have same action.

2. Soup of Sobhanjana (Moringa oleifera) mixed with Pippali (Piper longum), Rocksalt and Citraka (Plumbago zeylanica) and added with oil is useful in "udara" (ascites).

3. Decoction of Sigru root added with Marica, Yavaksara and honey removes colic caused by Kapha.

4. Sigru is useful in "sandhivata" (a Vata disorder) and "amavata" (morbidity of Vata).

5. Warm paste of Sigru, Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) bark, dried radish or Bibhitaka (Terminalia bellirica) should be applied on the affected part in erysipelas.

6. In guinea worm infestation, paste of the root and leaves of Sigru pounded with sour gruel and added with salt is applied to destroy guinea worm.

7. Sobhanjana and Devadaru (Cedrus deodara) are pounded together with sour gruel. This paste is warmed and applied on the part in scrofula.

8. Sigru root is used in fomentation and poultices for applying on abscesses.

9. Juice of Sobhanjana mixed with honey, oil and rock salt removes earache. Juice of Sobhanjana mixed with Tila taila (sesame oil) slightly heated is also good for earache.

10. Juice of Sigru leaves mixed with honey removes many diseases of eye caused by dosas separately or in combination. Lump made of Sigru leaves is useful in conjunctivitis caused by Kapha.

11. The patient well uncted, should be given tub bath with decoction of the leaves of Agnimantha (Premna mucronata), Sigru and Asmantaka (Ficus rumphii). It removes pain.

12. In Kustha (skin disease) and leprotic wounds, oil of Karanja, Sarsapa (mustard), Sigru or Kasamarda should be applied.

13. The patient should be given snuff with the juice of Sobhanjana root and Marica in combination. By this loss of consciousness is restored in conditions like typhoid fever.

14. In head ache, snuff of Sobhanjana juice mixed with jaggery is beneficial.

15. Decoction of Sigru and Vidanga (Embelia ribes) mixed with honey acts as anthelmintic in worm infestations.

16. Application of the paste of Sigru and Varuna (Crataeva magna) made with sour gruel removes pain in "vatarakta" (blood vitiated by Vata).

17. Fumes of Sigru root mixed with ghee and oil should be inhaled by burning it. It alleviates coryza, cough and hiccough.

- Traditional uses of Madhusigru
1. In "vatarakta" (blood vitiated by Vata), seeds of Madhusigru (a variety of Sigru mixed with sour gruel as paste is useful.

2. Decoction of Madhusigru should be taken keeping on diet of rice cooked in decoction of Sigru root mixed with yellow mustard is useful in abscess.

3. Madhusigru used in the form of paste, food and drinks in combination with other drugs according to dosas controls unripe abscess.
FormulationSobhanjanadi lepa, Syamadi curna
Related drugsMoringa concanensis Nimmo ex Dalz & Gibson is source of similar drug raktasigru or madhusigru.
CommentsSigru seeds are said to be avrsya (causes loss of libido), other parts are aphrodisiac. Its excessive usage causes burning sensation and other bad effects in Pitta prakrti (constitution). Hence it should be used cautiously in them adding more of milk and other Pitta pacifying drugs.

It is included in Svedopaga, Krmighna, Sirovirecanopaga, Katukaskandha and Haritavarga gana by Caraka. Susruta includes it in Varunadi and Sirovirecana gana.

Based on the colour of flowers, in the classics two varieties have been mentioned as - Sveta (white) and Rakta (red). Sveta variety is pungent in taste. Hence it is called Katusigru. Rakta variety is sweet in taste. Hence it is called Madhusigru. Katusigru is M. oleifera and it is abundantly available. Madhusigru is identified with M. concanensis. It is available with difficulty. Its flowers are pink in colour. In some classical references Madhusigru is used as synonym for sigru.

Its synonyms bahuladala and bahalapallava indicate that it has many leaves. Sighraphala indicates that it bears fruit fast. Sitamarica means the seeds resemble marica but are white in colour. Komalapatraka means the leaves are very delicate. Bahumula, dasahvaya indicate that it has many rootlets. Tiksnagandha means that it emits strong odour.

Leaves of madhusigru is said to be sweet and cold. It is said to be vatapittaghna (pacifies Vata and Pitta). Flowers of sigru is having light quality and said to be grahi (constipative), kaphapittahara (pacifies Kapha and Pitta). It is astringent and heavy. Seeds of sigru has sharp and hot qualities. It reduces libido and kaphavataghna (pacifies Kapha and Vata).
ReferencesReference book　

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[2] Indian Medicinal Plants - A Compendium of 500 species, Varier, P.S., Orient Longman Ltd. Chennai (Madras)
Vol. 4 (Repr.1997), pp 59-64.

Ayurvedic Drugs and Their Plant Sources, 1994. Sivarajan, V.V. and Balachandran, I., Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
pp 445-446.

Plants in Ayurveda (A Compendium of Botanical and Sanskrit Names), 1997. Abdul Kareem, M., Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Bangalore
94.

Dravyagunavijnana, Vols. 1-5, reprint 1998. Sharma, P.V., Chowkhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi
Vol. 2, pp 111-114.

Classical uses of Medicinal Plants, 1996. Sharma, P.V., Chaukhambha Visvabharati, Varanasi
p 370.

Research paper*C1 Nambiar, V. S. and Seshadri, S., Plant Food for Human Nutrition, 56, 83-95 (2001).
*C2 Guevara, A. P.; Vargas, C.; Sakurai, H.; Fugiwara, Y.; Hashimoto, K.; Maoka, T.; Kozuka, M.; Ito, Y.; Tokuda, H. and Nishino, H., Mutation Research, 440, 181-188 (1999).
*C3 Murakami, A.; Kitazono, Y.; Jiwajinda, S.; Koshimizu, K. and Ohigashi, H., Planta Med., 64, 319-323 (1998).
*C4 Faizi, S.; Siddiqui, B. S.; Saleem, R.; Noor, F. and Husnain, S., J. Nat. Prod., 60, 1317-1321 (1997).
*C5 Khare, G. C.; Singh, V. and Gupta, P. C., J. Indian Chem. Soc., 74, 247-248 (1997).
*C6 Faizi, S.; Siddiqui, B. S.; Saleem, R.; Siddiqui, S.; Aftab, K. and Gilani, A.-ul-H., J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. I, 3035-3040 (1994).
*C7 Faizi, S.; Siddiqui, B. S.; Saleem, R.; Siddiqui, S.; Aftab, K. and Gilani, A.-ul-H., J. Nat. Prod., 57, 1256-1261 (1994).
*C8 Faizi, S.; Siddiqui, B. S.; Saleem, R.; Siddiqui, S.; Aftab, K. and Gilani, A.-ul-H., J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. I, 3237-3241 (1992).
*C9 Dahot, M. U., Pakistan J. Biochem., 21, 21-24 (1988).
*C10 Memon, G. M.; Memon, S. A. amd Memon, A. R., Pakistan J. Sci. Ind. Res., 28, 7-9 (1985).
*C11 Khan, F. W.; Gul, P. and Malik, m. N., Pakistan J. Forestry, 25, 100-102 (1975).
*C12 Nair, A. G. R. and Subramanian, S. S., Current Sci., 31, 155-156 (1962).
RemarksIn Guatemala, drumstick is used for the treatment of dermal infections, gastrointestinal afflictions, and rheumatism. In Venezuela, a decoction of the raw leaves and seeds is taken as purgative and anthelmintic. Oil from the seeds of Moringa oleifera Lam. and of M. peregrina Fiori (= M. aptera Gaerlin.) are known in the trade as Ben or Behen oil, used locally for edible purposes, illumination and in cosmetics.
Last renewal date2024/01/12
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