By Dr Renita D'Souza
Curry leaves (Kadi Patta – Murraya koenigii) are known for adding exotic flavors to Indian cuisine. It has medicinal properties and has been used to treat various ailments since ancient times. It is used in fever, diarrhea, dysentery, vomiting, anemia, skin pigmentation, etc. Curry leaves are the best hair tonic, blood purifier and ideal natural calcium supplement.
Dietology
According to Ayurveda, the last part of meals should contain pungent, bitter and astringent ingredients. It's a challenge to find bitter and astringent ingredients that gel well with other dishes. Curry leaf (Kadi Patta) is a perfect ingredient that goes well with buttermilk, curd, rice and can also be a part of Sabji or vegetable salad. It can be eaten raw or cooked.
presentation
Botanical name – Murraya koenigii
synonymously – Murraya paniculata (Linn.)
Family – Rutaceae
Vernacular names
English name – Curry leaf
Sanskrit name – Surabhinimba
Hindi Name – Mitha Neem, Kurry Patta, Kadi patta, Kathnim
Assam name – Narasingha
Bengali name – Barsanga, Kartaphulli
The name Gujrati – Gorenimb
Marathi name – Kadhilimb
Kannada name – Karibevu
Orissa name – Bhursanga
Telugu name – Karepaku
Malayalam Name – Kattu kari veppu, Maramulla, Paanama, Kariveppilei
Tamil Name – Karuveppilei, Karivempu, Kattuveppilei.
Dutch name – Kerriebladeren
French name – Feuilles de cury
German name – Curryblatter
Indonesian name – curry leaves
Italian name – Fogli de Cari
Spanish name – Hoja.
Botanical description
Murraya koenigii is a small shrub that grows up to 2-2.5 meters tall. The stem is dark green and brown. The leaves are petiolate, with 12 – 24 leaflets and have webbing. The flowers are white, funnel-shaped, arranged in panicles and have a sweet, aromatic smell. The fruits are round to oblong, 1.4-1.6 cm in length, green in color and turn black when fully ripe. Each fruit contains a seed which is 11 mm long, 8 mm in diameter and spinach green in colour.
Medicinal properties of Kadi patta
Keys (race) – Astringent, bitter and sweet taste
Vipaka (Aftertaste) – Katu (Pungent)
Guna (Qualities) – Laghu (easy to digest), Snigdha (Obscure)
Virya (Potency) – Shita (Cold)
Action (Karma) -Ruchya (Improves taste), Deepana (Ignite the digestive fire), Pachana (Improves digestion), Vishagna (Antitoxic), Varnya (Improves skin color)
Effect on Doshas
Kaphapittahara – Balances Kapha and Pitta dosha
Used part
Leaves, bark, stems, fruits and roots
Curry leaf remedies
- In diarrhoea, the green leaves of Murraya koenigii are eaten raw.
- In morning sickness, curry leaves are used along with lemon juice.
- Murraya koenigii leaf paste is used to treat boils.
- Curry leaf root juice is used to relieve kidney pain.
- The roots and bark of curry leaves are used to treat the bite of poisonous animals.
- Infusion of curry leaves is used to treat vomiting.
- Curry leaves paste with buttermilk taken on an empty stomach is beneficial in stomach upsets.
- Fresh juice of curry leaves can be used to prevent the development of cataracts.
Sanskrit verses
Pharmacological activities
Murraya koenigii possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antitumor, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and immune-modifying properties.
Nutritional values
Murraya koenigii leaves contain protein, minerals, carotene, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, nicotinic acid, calcium and oxalic acid.
distributed
Murraya koenigii is found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Andaman Islands.
Chemical components
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 conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and antimutagenic activities of Murraya koenigii leaves has proven that the phenol-rich benzene fraction has promising broad-spectrum antioxidant and antimutagenic properties.
Antidiabetic activity – A study done on the antidiabetic potential of Murraya koenigii (L.) and its antioxidant capacity in Nicotinamide-Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats has proven that Murraya koenigii has significant antidiabetic activity and antioxidant activity.
Formulations
Kaidaryaadi kashaayam – Ayurvedic decoction used to treat amoebic dysentery, dyspepsia and sprue syndrome.
Kalasakadi kashayam – It is a herbal decoction used in constipation, fever and low digestion
Ulciherb capsules – Ayurvedic medicine used in Hyperacidity.
Scientific classification
Kingdom – Plants
Subkingdom – Tracheobionta
Superdivision – Spermatophyta
Division – Magnoliophyta
Class – Magnoliopsida
Subclass — Rosidae
Family – Rutaceae
Gender – Murraya J. Koenig
Species – Murraya koenigii
Sanskrit Synonyms
Harmful, Raamano, Ramana
Girinimba
Maharishta
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