Crude drug sample data base

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Crude drug name

Market nameChandan
Formal nameCandana
Other names　　　

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Safed chandana (T), Chondon (B), Chandana (H), Gandhaada chekke (K), Chandanam mutti (M), Gandhapu chekka (Te), Sandana kattai (Ta), Srikhand (N), Sudu-handun (Sin)
English nameSandal Wood
Original plant nameSantalum album Linn., Sandal Wood
Family nameSantalaceae
Used partClassificationPlant origin
Sub classification heart wood
Collection informationIndia, New Delhi, Hari Gokal
Collection date1997/05/06
CollectorKatsuko Komatsu
TMPW No.17412

The capital city, provincial capital city or the representative　　
location of its administrative area is indicated.　　
Production area information
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28.6139391
77.20902120000005
Collection information
India,New Delhi
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Scientific information data base

Crude drug nameAyurvedic name or
Sanskrit name, English name		Candana, Sandal Wood
SynonymsSisiram, Himam, Mahardham, Bhadrasriyam, Srimalayajam, Nrpabhogam, Gosirsam, Sribhadram, Susrikam, Gandhasaram, Indukantam, Tilaparnam, Malayajam, Sitacandanam, Vamam, Candam, Tailaparnika, Malayaja, Candradyuti, Mangalyam, Malayodbhavam, Gandharajam, Sugandham, Sarpavasam, Sitalam, Gandhadhyam, Bhadrasri, Bhogivallabham, Sitagandha, Pavanam, Ankabhuhvayam
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Original plant nameSantalum album Linn.
Family nameSantalaceae
Used partHeartwood
Distribution areaWestern peninsula especially in Karnataka and Tamilnadu upto 1200m altitude. It is also cultivated.
RemarksFairly common; Cultivated.
Common usesSandal wood is diaphoretic and diuretic and is an ingredient in drug formulations useful in bronchitis, bilious disorders, chronic catarrh, dysentery, dysuria, gastric irritability and headache. Wood ground up with water into a paste is applied to the temples in headache, fevers and local inflammation and skin diseases. Oil from the wood is used in dysuria, gonorrhoeal/gonorrheal urethritis and cystitis.
Therapeutic usesAtisara (diarrhoea/diarrhea), Raktapitta (intrinsic haemorrhage/hemorrhage), Arsas (piles), Vami (vomiting), Khuda (arthritic conditions), Meha (diabetic types), Visa (poisoning), Netra roga (eye diseases)
Chemical constituentOthers
Heartwood yields essential oil (1.5 to 8%). The oil contains, santalol 89.96%, santiloic acid 60.2%, saturated fatty acids 14.4%.
Other constituents are santene, santenol and teresantalol and santalone.

Pharmacological effectThe pharmacological composition leucosol H containing sandalwood showed good response against leucorrhoea. Eye drops containing aqueous extract of sandalwood has efficacy in viral keratitis. A new essential oil HESP (Hydrolysed Exhausted Sandal Powder) oil Is distinctly more efficacious than the oil of sandal wood in exhibiting valuable pharmacological features like anti-thermogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-mittotic, antiviral and anti-cancerous properties.
Medical systemAyurveda (Traditional Indian medicine)
Traditional conceptRasa (Taste)Tikta (Bitter), Katu (Pungent), Madhura (Sweet)
Virya (Potency)Sita (Cold)
Guna (Quality)Ruksa (Dry), Laghu (Light)
Vipaka
(Post digestive taste)		Katu (Pungent)
Karma
(General action)		Vrsya (aphrodisiac), Rakta prasadana (nourishing blood), Kantikara (improving lusture), Ahladana (creating pleasure), Varnya (improving complexion)
Dosakarma
(Action on dosa)		Decreases Kapha, Pitta
Dhatukarma(Action
on body tissues)		Asra (blood)
Avayava
(Action on organ)		Hrdyam (good for heart), Vaktra rujapaham (disorders of mouth)
Traditional usage1. Candana (sandal) paste along with breast milk is used as a nasal drop for continuous hiccoughs.

2. Candanaalong with jaggery, honey, rice water is good for burning, thirst, diabetic types, bleeding.

3. Decoction of Candana is taken for excessive menstrual bleeding similar to that of bone marrow along with smell and pus.

4. For excessive menstrual bleeding, Candana along with milk, ghee, honey is taken internally.

5. For allergic skin rashes, decoction of Candana along with Amrta (Tinospora cordifolia) is taken internally.

6. In diarrhoea/diarrhea with blood, Candana mixed with sugar, honey along with rice water is taken. This relieves burning sensation, thirst, diabetic types, haemorrhage/hemorrhage.

7. In intrinsic haemorrhage/hemorrhage, Usira (Vetivera zizanioides) mixed with equal quantity of Candana and Sugar taken along with rice water is beneficial.

8. Candana, Madhuka (liquorice), Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa) in equal quantity is good for intrinsic haemorrhage/hemorrhage.

9. For bleeding piles, decoction of Candana mixed with Sunthi (dry ginger) is good.

10. Sandal taken with juice of Amalaka (Phyllanthus emblica) checks vomiting.

11. In vomiting Candana rubbed with juice of Amalaka or Mudga (Vigna radiata) decoction is beneficial.

12. Intake of Candana - 10 gms mixed with Amalaka juice and honey is good for vomiting.
13. Candanadi kvatha (a formulation) with sugar and honey is given for arthritic conditions.

14. Candana and Utpala (Nymphaea nouchali) is given for erysipelas.

15. In Usnavata (burning micturition) and haematuria/hematuria, Candana mixed with sugar along with rice water is beneficial.

16. In Sukra meha (a type of polyuria), decoction of Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) and Candana is beneficial. In Manjisthameha (another type of polyuria), decoction of Manjista (Rubia cordifolia) and Candana is useful.

17. In case of poisoning, application of the paste of Candana on cardiac region gives relief.

18. To check hiccough one should snuff juice of Candana mixed with breast milk.

19. In pox, the juice of Hilamocika (Enhydra fluctuans) mixed with the paste of white Candana should be taken in the initial phase.

20. Candana rubbed with Guduci (Tinospora cordifolia) is taken in urticaria.

21. In inflammation of umbilicus, the naval should be dusted with the powder of Candana.

22. In eye diseases, eye is washed with the milk processed by Candana.
FormulationAsokaristam, Candanasavam, Anutailam, Dhanvantaram kasayam, Kalyanaka ghrtam, Candanadi vati, Candanasava, Candanadi curna, Candanadya ghrta
CommentsThe best variety of Sandal is idnetified as follows. It should be bitter in taste, yellow when cut, red when put on the body, along with nodes on stem and good smell.

Different qualities are mentioned for the one which is dried after cutting and the one which is cut after the plant is dried.

According to Dhanvantari nighantu, Rakta candana, Kucandana, Kaliyaka, Barbarika are four other varieties of Candana. According to Raja nighantu there are 7 types. In Bhavaprakasha nighantu, Rakta candana, Kaliyaka, Kucandana are the three varieties. They differ in smell, colour etc.

Synonyms like Sisiram, Himam, Sitam denote it's cold quality. Gandhasaram, Sugandham, Gandhadhyam refer to the strong odour. Malayajam, Malayodbhavam etc, denotes it's availability on hilly areas. Candradyuti, Indukantam owes to its yellow colour when cut. Tailaparnika may be owing to the rich oil content, Pavanam, Mangalyam, Sribhadram due to its auspecious, religious usage. Sarpavasa denotes an association of snake with this tree.

It is included in Daha prasamana, Angamarda prasamana, Trsna nigrahana, Varnya, Kandughna, Visaghna, Tikta skandha groups by Caraka and Salasaradi, Patoladi, Sarivadi, Priyanguadi, Guducyadi, Pittasamsamana groups by Susruta.
ReferencesReference book　

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[2] Indian Medicinal Plants - A Compendium of 500 species, Varier, P.S., Orient Longman Ltd. Chennai (Madras)
Vol. 5 (Repr.1997), pp 57-62.

Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, 1956. Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L. and Chopra, I.C., Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi. - New Edition (1996) National Institute Science Communication; Supplement
p 221.

Illustrated Manual of Herbal Drugs Used in Ayurveda, 1996. Sarin, Y.K., Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi
p 130.

Ayurvedic Drugs and Their Plant Sources, 1994. Sivarajan, V.V. and Balachandran, I., Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
p 111.

Plants in Ayurveda (A Compendium of Botanical and Sanskrit Names), 1997. Abdul Kareem, M., Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Bangalore
1438.

Dravyagunavijnana, Vols. 1-5, reprint 1998. Sharma, P.V., Chowkhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi
Vol. 2, pp 715-717.

Classical uses of Medicinal Plants, 1996. Sharma, P.V., Chaukhambha Visvabharati, Varanasi
p 138.

RemarksBoth wood and oil have long been employed in medicine. They are credited with cooling, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant properties and sandal wood finds several applications in household remedies; a paste of the wood is applied to burns, it is applied to the forehead and upper eye lids in fevers and headaches.
Last renewal date2023/11/16
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