By Dr Renita D’Souza Curry leaves (Kadi Patta – Murraya koenigii) are well known for adding exotic flavors to Indian cuisine. It has medicinal properties and used to treat various diseases since ancient times. It is used in fever, diarrhea, dysentery, vomiting, anemia, skin pigmentation etc. Curry leaves are best hair tonic, blood purifier and ideal natural calcium supplement.
Dietetics
As per Ayurveda, last section of the meals should contain pungent, bitter and astringent ingredients. It is a challenge to find bitter and astringent ingredients that gel well with other dishes. Curry leaf (Kadi Patta) is a perfect ingredient which goes well with buttermilk, curd, rice and can be even made part of Sabji or vegetable salad. It can be eaten raw or cooked.
Introduction
Botanical Name – Murraya koenigiiSynonyms – Murraya paniculata (Linn.)Family – Rutaceae
Vernacular Names
English Name – Curry leafSanskrit Name – Surabhinimba Hindi Name – Mitha Neem, Kurry Patta, Kadi patta, KathnimAssam Name – NarasinghaBengali Name – Barsanga, KartaphulliGujrati Name – GorenimbMarathi Name – KadhilimbKannada Name – KaribevuOrissa Name – BhursangaTelugu Name – KarepakuMalayalam Name – Kattu kari veppu, Maramulla, Paanama, KariveppileiTamil Name – Karuveppilei, Karivempu, Kattuveppilei.Dutch Name – KerriebladerenFrench Name – Feuilles de curyGerman Name – CurryblatterIndonesian Name – Daun kariItalian Name – Fogli de CariSpanish Name – Hoja.
Botanical Description
Murraya koenigii is a small shrub growing upto 2-2.5 meter tall. Stem is dark green and brown in color. Leaves are pinnate, bearing 12 – 24 leaflets and have reticulate venation. Flowers are white, funnel-shaped arranged in panicles and have sweet aromatic smell. Fruits are round to oblong in shape, 1.4-1.6 cm in length, green in color and turn black when fully ripe. Each fruit contain one seed which is 11 mm long, 8 mm in diameter and spinach green in color.
Kadi patta Medicinal Qualities
Taste (Rasa) – Astringent, Bitter and Sweet tasteVipaka (Taste after digestion) – Katu (Pungent)Guna (Qualities) – Laghu (light to digest), Snigdha (Unctous)Virya (Potency) – Shita (Cold)Action (Karma) -Ruchya (improves taste), Deepana (Kindles digestive fire), Pachana (Improves digestion), Vishagna (Antitoxic), Varnya (improves complexion)
Effect on Doshas
Kaphapittahara – Balances Kapha and Pitta dosha
Part Used
Leaves, Bark, Stem, Fruits and Roots
Curry leaves Remedies
In diarrhea, green leaves of Murraya koenigii are eaten raw.
In morning sickness curry leaves are used along with lime juice.
Murraya koenigii leaves paste used to treat boils.
Root juice of Curry leaf is used to relieve renal pain.
Roots and bark of curry leaf is used to treat poisonous animal bite.
Curry leaves infusion is used to treat vomiting.
Curry leaf paste with buttermilk is taken for empty stomach is beneficial in stomach upsets.
Fresh Curry leaf juice can be used to prevent development of cataract.
Sanskrit Verses
Pharmacological Activities
Murraya koenigii possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antitumor, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and immune modulatory properties.
Nutritional Values
Murraya koenigii leaves contain proteins, minerals, carotene, carbohydrate, fibre, vitamin C, vitamin A, nicotinic acid, calcium and oxalic acid.
Distribution
Murraya koenigii is found native to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Andaman Islands.
Chemical Constituents
Murraya koenigii contains carbazole alkaloids, essential oil, terpenoids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, phenolics, nicotinic acid, carotene, furocoumarins and vitamin C.
Research
Antioxidant and Antimutagenic Activity – A research study done to evaluate antioxidant and antimutagenic activities of Murraya koenigii leaves have proved that phenolic-rich benzene fraction has promising broad-spectrum antioxidant and antimutagenic property.Antidiabetic Activity – A study done on Anti-Diabetic potential of Murraya koenigii (L.) and its Antioxidant capacity in Nicotinamide-Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats have proved that Murraya koenigii possesses significant antidiabetic activity and antioxidant activity.
Formulations
Kaidaryaadi kashaayam – Ayurvedic decoction used for the treatment of amoebic dysentery, indigestion and sprue syndrome.Kalasakadi kashayam – It is herbal decoction used in constipation, fever and low digestionUlciherb capsule – Ayurvedic medicine used in Hyperacidity.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom – Plantae Subkingdom – Tracheobionta Superdivision – Spermatophyta Division – Magnoliophyta Class – Magnoliopsida Subclass – Rosidae Family – Rutaceae Genus – Murraya J. Koenig Species – Murraya koenigii
Sanskrit Synonyms
Mahanimba, Raamano, RamanaGirinimbaMaharishtaShuklashaala
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