Rasa (Taste)
Tikta, Kashaya
The primary taste perceived on the tongue.
Mahanimba (Persian ilac)
Melia azedarach is a fully grown tree with a rounded crownwhich is 7–12 metres (20–40 feet) tall.The leaves are up to 50 centimetres (20 inches) long, altern...
Medicinal Plant
Mahanimba (Persian ilac)
Melia achidarach · Meliaceae
Melia azedarach is a fully grown tree with a rounded crownwhich is 7–12 metres (20–40 feet) tall.The leaves are up to 50 centimetres (20 inches) long, altern...
Scientific Name
Melia achidarach
Family
Meliaceae
Hindi Name
Bakayan
Used Part
Patra (leaves) , Kand (bark ), Phala (Fruits ),Beej (seeds), Mool ( roots ).
Botanical Description
About the Mahanimba Plant
Morphology and field-identification notes as documented in our Dravyaguna library.
Melia azedarach is a fully grown tree with a rounded crownwhich is 7–12 metres (20–40 feet) tall.The leaves are up to 50 centimetres (20 inches) long, alternate, long-petioled, two or three times compound (odd-pinnate) .The leaflets are dark green above and lighter green below, with serrate margins.The flowers are small and fragrant, with five pale purple or lilac petals, growing in clusters.The fruit is a drupe, marble-sized, light yellow at maturity, hanging on the tree all winter, and gradually becoming wrinkled and almost white.
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa Panchaka — Classical Properties
The five-fold framework Ayurveda uses to describe a drug — Rasa, Guna, Vipaka, Veerya and its effect on the doshas.
Guna (Qualities)
Laghu, Ruksha
Physical and energetic attributes of the dravya.
Vipaka (Post-digestive Effect)
Katu
Taste that emerges after complete digestion.
Dosha Karma (Action on Doshas)
Kapha Pitta Shamaka
Effect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas.
Veerya (Potency)
Sheeta
Heating (ushna) or cooling (sheeta) energy.
Ayurvedic Actions (Karma)
Vishamajvara nasana, Bhrama, Hrillasa, Chardhi, Kushtahara, Rata pitta, Prameha, Swasa, Gulma Mushika visha.
Modern Phytochemistry
Chemistry & Pharmacology
How modern science maps onto the classical understanding of this dravya.
Pharmacological Action
What the Science Says
Anti inflamatory, Analgesic, Hepatoprotective.
Phytoconstituents
Active Compounds
Leaves contain Azadirachtin, azadirachtanin, azadirone, nimbandiol, nimbin and nimbolide . Stem bark contains nimbin, nimbidin, nimbinin, sitosterol, kulinonea and margosinolide Root bark contains nimbin, nimbidin. Fruits contain Azadirachtin, azadirachtol, azadirachnol, melianone, nimbiol and nimocin . Seed oi contains Tocopherol, azadirone, azadiradione, nimbinin, salannol, nimbin and nimbidin Flowers contain Azadiradione, margosene, linoleic acid and arachidic acid
Therapeutic Usage
Clinical Applications of Mahanimba
Classical Ayurvedic indications drawn directly from the Dravyaguna tradition — paired with the preparations recommended in shastra.
01
Leaves are stimulant of liver. Its bark decoction with honey is useful in jaundice, anorexia, vomiting, dysentery, intestinal worms, liver diseases. Ointment prepared from seeds is applied in piles.
02
Leaves are more useful in excessive mucous secretion and chronic cough.
03
Seed powder is used in dysmenorrheal.
Always consult a qualified Ayurvedic physician before using any herb therapeutically. Dose, anupana and Prakriti-specific suitability matter.
Yoga / Kalpana
Classical Formulations
Common Ayurvedic preparations where Mahanimba is a key ingredient.
- Brihat manjishtha kwath, Maha vishagarbha taila, arshoghni vati
Shastra Pramana
Classical Reference
महानिम्बो हिमो रूक्षस्तिक्तो ग्राही कषायकः |कफपित्तभ्रमच्छर्दिकुष्ठहृल्लासरक्तजित् |प्रमेहश्वासगुल्मार्शोमूषिकाविषनाशनः ||८६