Details :

General description(Size, commonly seen , status of availability etc.)

Wrightia tinctoria commonly called as Pala Indigo Plant/ Dyer's Oleander/ Indrajau is a small, deciduous tree that grows up to a height of 3-15metres. The tree is distributed throughout the world and occurs abundantly in India, Southeast Asia and Australia. The bark is smooth, yellowish-brown and about 10 mm thick, producing a milky-white latex. Leaves are simple, oppositely arranged, ovate, and 10–20 cm, which yield a blue dye called Pala Indigo. The tree bears white fragrant flowers that appear as snowflakes on the tree and produces fruits which dehisce to release brown, flat and hairy seeds.   

Medicinal properties

In traditional medicine, the bark of the plant is used in treating abdominal pain, skin diseases, wounds, snake bites etc. and also act as an anti-pyretic, anti-dysenteric, anti-diarrheal, and anti-hemorrhagic agent. Fresh leaves when crushed and applied to the cavity of a decayed tooth, provide relief from toothache and the juice of the tender leaves is efficaciously used in treating jaundice. In folk medicine, a mixture of dried and powdered roots of Wrightia tinctoria, along with Phyllanthus amarus (keezhanelli) and Vitex negundo (nochi), is combined with milk and orally administered to women to enhance fertility. The bark and seeds are effective against psoriasis and non-specific dermatitis, possessing anti-inflammatory and anti-dandruff properties, making them suitable for use in hair oil preparations. Additionally, the plant's seeds are also employed as an aphrodisiac.

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