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| Latin Name |
English Name |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Santalum album Santalaceae
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Sandal Tree |
Chandana,
Ananditam, Taliaparnam |
Safed-chandan,
Chandan |
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| Habitat |
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It is
commonly found in the comparatively dry regions of peninsular India
from Vindhya mountains southwards, especially in Mysore and Tamil
Nadu, ascending to an altitude of c. 1,200 m. It has also been introduced
into Rajasthan, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa,
where it has become naturalized at some places, but the sandalwood
produced in these areas is usually of an inferior quality.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
A small
to medium-sized, evergreen semi-parasitic tree, with slender branches,
sometimes reaching up to 18 m. in height and 2.4 m. in girth. The
bark is reddish or dark-grey or nearly black, rough, with deep vertical
cracks on old trees; leaves glabrous, thin, elliptic- ovate or ovate-lanceolate,
1.5-8 cm. x 1.6-3.2 cm., sometimes larger, flowers straw-coloured,
brownish purple, reddish purple, or violet, unscented, in terminal
and axillary paniculate cymes; the drupe globose, 1.3 cm. diam., purple-black,
with hard, ribbed endocarp; the seeds globose or obovoid.
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| Principal
Constituents |
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The main constituent
of sandalwood oil is santalol. This primary sesquiterpene alcohol
forms more than 90 per cent of the oil and is present as a mixture
of two isomers, a -santalol and ß-santalol, the former predominating.
The characteristic odor and medicinal properties of sandalwood oil
are mainly due to the santalols. The other constituents reported in
sandalwood oil include: the hydrocarbons santene, nor-tricycloekasantalene
and a- and ,ß-santalenes; the alcohols santenol and teresantalol;
the aldehydes nor-tricycloekasantalal, and isovaleraldehyde; the ketones
l-santenone and santalone; and the acids teresantalic acid occurring
partly free and partly in esterfied form, and a-and ß-santalic
acids 1.
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| Indications |
Both the wood and
the oil have long been employed in medicine. They are credited with
cooling, diaphoretic, diuretic and expectorant properties, and sandalwood
finds several applications in household remedies: a paste of the wood
is applied to burns; in fevers and headache, it is applied to the
forehead and upper eyelids. The oil was at one time official in many
pharmacopeias and was prescribed for the treatment of gonorrhea. It
is reported to be active against Eberthella typhosa and Escherichia
coli. The oil from the seeds is used in skin troubles2.
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| Product
Range |
Abana (HeartCare),
Evecare (MenstriCare), Lukol, Styplon, Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, Anti-Wrinkle
Cream, Baby Cream, Baby Powder, Styplon Vet, Chyavanaprasha.
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| References |
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- Guenther , V, 183, 185-86; II, 265-69, 79, 112-16, 229, 257,
350, 438, 494, 611; Ghatgey & Bhattacharyya, Perfum. essent.
Oil Rec., 1956, 47, 353; Bhati, Flavour Ind., 1970, 1, 235.
- Chopra, 1958, 243; Claus, 1961, 211; I.P.C., 189; Thum- gappa,
Indian Perfum., 1968, 12, pt II, 11; Youngken, 286; Wren, 267;
George & Pandalai, Essential Oils & Aromatic Chemicals,
A Symposium, Coun. Sci. Industr. Res., New Delhi, 1955, 154.
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