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| Latin Names |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Cedrus deodara
(Roxb. ex Lamb.)
G. Don (Pinaceae) /
C. libani Barrel /
Pinus deodara Roxb.
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Deodar, Himalayan
Cedar, True Cedar |
Devadaru,
Mastadaru |
Dedwar, Deodar |
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| History |
 This
was an important tree species in north India for domestic and also
for commercial appliances. Its wood was as good as sal and teak. Oil
was distilled from the waste wood and from woodcarvings in earlier
periods, which was useful in relieving pains and rheumatic complaints.
Oil was useful for skin complaints including mange in horses in ancient
times. In a 20 per cent concentration made in castor oil, it produced
100 per cent curative effect against sarcoptic mange in buffalo-calves.
It was also used effectively against sarcoptic mange in dog, sheep,
goat and camel.
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| Habitat |
It is found throughout
the western Himalayas from Afghanistan to Garhwal, at elevations ranging
from 1,200 m to 3,000 m above the sea level. It is most common from
1,800 m to 2,600 m. In India deodar forests are common from Kashmir
to Garhwal and form the bulk of the vegetation in these regions.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
It is a large evergreen
tree, often reaching 60 m in height. It reaches 90 m in places where
it is protected from injuries. Branches are horizontal or slightly
ascending or descending, not whorled, but arising irregularly. The
leaves are 2.5 cm-5 cm long, dark green, three sided, glaucous or
silvery and sharply pointed. It is a monoecious plant, although male
and female cones appear on separate branches. Dioecious trees are
very rare. Female cones are barrel-shaped and borne singly at the
tip of the dwarf shoots. Male cones are solitary at the end of the
dwarf shoots. They are cylindrical and 2.5 cm-4.5 cm in length. Seeds
are triangular with a broad wing.
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| Principal
Constituents |
Himalayan Cedarwood
Oil contains two major sesquiterpenoids a - and ß- himachalenes1.
Deodarone2 and deodardione3 are also isolated
from the essential oil.
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| Pharmacology |
The extract from
the wood shows marked anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities4.
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| Clinical
Studies |
It has anti-rheumatic
property.
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| Toxicology |
Due to the high contents
of heavy metals like zinc, copper, manganese in pollen due to pollution,
it causes allergy.
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| Indications |
It is anti-inflammatory. Oil is
rubbed on the painful parts to remove the pain.
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| Product
Range |
Rumalaya gel, Muscle
& Joint Rub, Pain Massage Oil, Scavon.
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| References |
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- Tetrahedron Lett.1961, 216.
- Tetrahedron Lett. 1973, 427.
- Tetrahedron Lett.1978, 34, 599.
- J. Ethnopharmacol., 1999, vol. 65(1), pp. 21-7.
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