Scientific name: Caesalpinia crista
Family name: Fabaceae
Lata Karanja is called pongamia pinnata often known as milletia pinnata.Its common names include indian beech and pongame oiltree.
Pongamia pinnata is a legume tree that grows to about 15–25 m (50–80 ft) in height with a large canopy that spreads equally wide. It may be deciduous for short periods. It has a straight or crooked trunk, 50–80 cm (20–30 in) in diameter, with grey-brown bark, which is smooth or vertically fissured. Its wood is white colored
Chmecial constituent:
Chemical Composition Of Karanja are six compounds and eight fatty acids out of which three are saturated and five are unsaturated are found in the extracts of karanja plant. The metabolites, beta-sitosterol acetate, galactoside, stigma sterol, and sucrose are also found in considerable amounts in the plant.
PROPERTIES:
Ayurvedic:
Rasa – tikta , kashaya
Guna – laghu , tikshna
Virya – ushna
Vipaka – katu
Doshaghanta – tridoshahara
Pharmacological Action:
it has wound healing properties , anti-inflammatory , useful in piles , anti-helminthic and useful in skin disorders.
Benefits:
It is an important ingredient in Ayush-64, an anti-malarial medicine developed by the Ministry of AYUSH. It is also effective in treating all types of fever.
It also helps in managing the symptoms of diabetes like frequent urination, weight loss, excessive thirst, and fatigue.
It is used to treat mental disorders in Ayurveda. It is also used to manage neurodegenerative disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Latakaranja is very helpful for women with menstrual problems. It regularizes irregular periods and reduces severe menstrual cramps.
It also has a calming effect on the central nervous system and thus helps relax psychological tension.