Bombax Malabaricum Dc: a Salutary Boon

Plants from the ancient time have been consumed as a part of food and sidewise for the prevention and treatment of diseases. Indian literatures mention the use of plants in treatment of various human ailments. In traditional system of drugs various plant parts such as stem, stem bark, roots, root bark, leaves, fruits and exudates are used in dysentery, diarrhea, diabetes, leucorrhoea, menorrhagia, leprosy, jaundice, fever, aphrodisiac and anti-HIV activity, anti-Helicobacter pylori, antiangiogenic, analgesic, antioxidant activity and hypotensive, hypoglycemic and antimicrobial activity. Bombax malabaricum DC (Bombacaceae) or semal is a tall deciduous tree. It is distributed throughout the hotter parts of the country upto 1500 meter or more. Many parts of the plant (root, stem bark, gum, leaf, prickles, flower, fruit, seed and heartwood) are used by various traditional healers for medicinal purposes.