Pterocarpus marsupium

Introduction

Pterocarpus marsupium, commonly called the Indian Kino Tree or Vijaysar, is a large deciduous tree of the Fabaceae family, valued in Ayurvedic medicine for its anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular-supporting properties. The heartwood and bark resin (“kino”) have been used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine, and modern research has begun to validate many of these applications.

Botanical Description

The tree grows up to 20–30 m in height, with a straight trunk and cracked brownish bark that may exude a reddish resin when cut. Leaves are pinnate with 5–7 leaflets, each leaflet elliptic to ovate. Flowers are yellow, borne in drooping panicles. The fruit is a flat, winged pod containing a single seed. The heartwood is yellow-to-reddish and rich in medicinal compounds.

Geography & Habitat

Pterocarpus marsupium is native to the Indian subcontinent, especially in India (central, western and southern regions including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala), Nepal, and Sri Lanka. phcogrev.com+2tropical.theferns.info+2 It grows in moist deciduous forests, often on slopes or in well-drained soils with moderate rainfall, and is sometimes cultivated in agro-forestry systems.

Harvest Time

Medicinal material is primarily collected from trunks and heartwood of mature trees (typically many years old). Bark and resin can be tapped or removed seasonally; heartwood is harvested when trees are mature and after resin accumulation. Leaves and other parts may be harvested seasonally, but the core medicinal use lies in bark/heartwood.

Parts Used

• Heartwood/Bark/Resin (kino) – the principal medicinal material.

• Leaves & Seeds – used in some preparations.

• Resin exudate from bark cuts is called “kino” and is used for astringent and anti-diarrhoeal functions.

Phytochemistry

Pterocarpus marsupium is rich in a variety of chemical constituents:

• Triterpenoids, stilbenes (e.g., pterostilbene), flavonoids, phenolic C-glycosides (e.g., marsupsin), (−)-epicatechin. PubMed+2phcogrev.com+2

• High content of tannins (kinotannic acid), kino-red, and other phlobaphenes in the resin/exudate. pharmacy180.com+1

• Screening studies found alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, proteins, flavonoids and terpenoids in extracts. PubMed+1
  These compounds underpin the medicinal activities attributed to the species.

Traditional & Medicinal Uses

Traditionally, Pterocarpus marsupium has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat:

• Diabetes mellitus (“Prameha”) — heartwood bark extracts reduce blood sugar and regenerate pancreatic β-cells. PMC+1

• Digestive disorders, diarrhea, dysentery, leucoderma, skin disorders, wounds. easyayurveda.com+1

• Cardiovascular and liver disorders, obesity, gout, bronchitis. phcogrev.com+1
  Modern pharmacological studies confirm antihyperglycaemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and lipid-lowering effects. PMC+1

Emerging Research Highlights

• Heartwood extract improved glucose uptake in HepG2 liver cells, reduced oxidative stress and apoptosis. PMC

• The stilbene pterostilbene, isolated from the species, shows DPP-4 inhibitory activity, anti-glycation and platelet aggregation suppression. PMC+1

• Studies suggest potential anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and cardiotonic actions, though human clinical trials are still limited. florajournal.com+1

Safety & Sustainability Notes

Over-harvesting of this species for wood and medicinal bark has threatened its populations, and it is listed in some places as “vulnerable”. Wikipedia+1 Conservation and sustainable harvesting are recommended. As with any potent botanical, standardisation, side-effect monitoring and contraindications (e.g., hypoglycaemia when used concomitantly with anti-diabetic drugs) should be considered.

References

1. “Constituents of Pterocarpus marsupium: an Ayurvedic crude drug.” J Natural Prod. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15081294/ PubMed

2. “Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. – A comprehensive review.” Phcog Rev. https://phcogrev.com/sites/default/files/PhcogRev-3-6-359.pdf phcogrev.com

3. “Therapeutic Potential of Pterocarpus marsupium: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Pharmacological Applications.” IJPS Journal. https://www.ijpsjournal.com/article/Therapeutic%2BPotential%2Bof%2BPterocarpus%2BMarsupium%2BFrom%2BTraditional%2BMedicine%2Bto%2BModern%2BPharmacological%2BApplications%2Bwith%2BIts%2BPhytochemistry%2B/ ijpsjournal.com

4. “Heartwood Extract of Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. Offers Defense in HepG2 Cells.” PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9607431/ PMC

5. “Phytochemical screening and antioxidant, antimicrobial study of Pterocarpus marsupium.” PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28512598/ PubMed

6. “Vijaysar (Pterocarpus marsupium) Uses, Research, Side Effects.” EasyAyurveda. https://www.easyayurveda.com/2015/10/12/vijaysar-asana-pterocarpus-marsupium-beejaka/ easyayurveda.com

7. “Pterocarpus marsupium – Useful Tropical Plants.” http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pterocarpus+marsupium tropical.theferns.info

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