Hyderabad :
Red sanders, the prized wood that thrives in the Seshachalam forests in Chittoor-Kadapa-Nellore region of Andhra Pradesh, has been found to possess a plethora of medicinal properties to fight several diseases and disorders including gastroenteritis, ulcers and diabetes.
A joint study by researchers from four prominent educational institutions revealed that the leaves, wood and roots of red sanders tree contain many chemical molecules that have curative properties.
Red sanders, its high demand in the international market notwithstanding, has always remained an enigma as for as its real end use is concerned. There have been several myths attached to the red sanders in the absence of concerted efforts to study the pharmaceutical and other benefits of this rare and endemic tree.
In fact, the AP forest department has instituted a research study to find out what the buyers would actually do with the red sanders. The study is currently underway.
Meanwhile, researchers from MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Karnataka, Prist University, Tamil Nadu, Sebha University, Libya, and Mother Theresa Postgraduate and Research Institute of Health Science, Pondicherry, have validated a few of the medicinal properties of red sanders.
The tree has anti-bacterial properties with clear action against harmful bacteria like Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Some of these bacteria are found in hospital environment with resistance to certain antibiotics.
Red sanders is also capable of fighting eye diseases, inducing vomiting and giving relief from mental issues.
“The heartwood is known to possess molecules which help in fighting diabetes, intestinal worms, high body temperatures, body swellings, diarrhea, and internal bleeding. Many more pharmacological activities, claimed by traditional practitioners, are yet to be explored,” the study published in the World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research said.
The research team comprised S Kavimani, Mohammad Azamthulla and R Balasubramanian.
Some of the claims, which still need scientific revalidation, are the ability of the red sanders oil to cure skin diseases, piles, wounds, bone fracture, psoriasis and leprosy, they said adding that “research interest to evaluate its therapeutic potential has developed recently perhaps on realization that the tree may contain novel chemicals, which exhibit a wide range of pharmacological effects”.
Times View
Red sanders is an enigma and this explains why there is such a high demand for this wood in the international market. Some believe it is an aphrodisiac. Others argue that it is an antidote for snakebites and scorpion stings. As long as the myth associated with red sanders is not busted, smuggling of the prized wood continues. The AP forest department should involve as many research bodies as possible to decode the red sanders and protect this rare tree from being axed by smugglers.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Syed Akbar, TNN / June 25th, 2015
