Mochras / Salmali

Botanical Name

Bombax ceiba L.

Family

Bombacaceae.

Synonyms

Bombax malabaricum DC., Salmalia malabarica Schott. & Endl., Bombax heptaphyllum Cav., Bombax tussacii Urb., Bombax aculeatum L., Gossampinus thorelii Bakh.

?Regional Name

English : Silk-Cotton Tree, Hindi :Semal, Semar, Sanskrit :Moca, Picchila, Raktapuspa, Kantakadhya, Tulini, Urdu :Sembhal, Punjabi :Simble, Gujrati :Shemalo, Assamese :Semul, Bengali :Shimul, Simul, Kannada :Kempuburunga, Malayalam :Mullilavu, Marathi :Sanvar, Katesavar, Tamil :Elavam, Telgu :Buruga.

Part Used

Exudate.

Description

Mochras is a deciduous tree attaining a height of up to 40 m and a girth up to 6 m or more and distributed throughout the hotter parts of the country. This species is native to Pakistan and India, globally distributed from Indo-Malesia to Australia. Within India, it is widely distributed throughout, including the Andamans, up to an altitude of 1500 m. Bark 0.5-1 cm thick, pale-ashy to silvery-grey externally, brownish internally, external surface rough with vertical and transverse cracks, mucilaginous on chewing; fracture, fibrous. Exudates of stem traded in name of Mochras. Used in Ayurveda, Sidha, and Folk system of Medicine.

Phytoconstituents

Saponins, Tannins, and Gums.

Medicinal Uses

It is used to treat dysentery, hemoptysis of pulmonary tuberculosis, influenza, menorrhagia, burning sensation, strangury, blood impurities, skin eruptions, splenomegaly, chronic inflammations, ulcers, gonorrhea, and for restoring skin color.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Madhura, Kasaya, Guna : Laghu, Picchila, Snigdha, Vipaka : Madhura, Virya : Sita, Karma : Sothahara, Kaphavardhaka, Pittahara, Vatahara, Dahaprasamana.

Ayurvedic Applications

Raktapitta, Vrana, Daha, Yuvanapidika.