2. Family: Leguminosae

3. Local Name: Ashoka

4. Habit and Habitat

A small evergreen tree 6-9 m. high, found wild along steams or in the shade of evergreen forests. It occurs almost throughout India up to an altitude of 720 m in the Centre and Eastern Himalayas & khasi, Garo & Lushai hills. It is also found in the

Andaman islands. Leaves pari-pinnate, 15-20 cm long, leaflets 6-12, oblong, lanceolate, flowers organe or orangeyellow, very fragrant, pods flat, leathery, seeds 4-8, ellipsoidoblong.

5. Important Habitat

Himalayas, Bengal and Western Peninsula.

6. Cultural Practices

i. Propagation methods and planting time

ii.Irrigation Schedule

Seeds.

Seedlings are raised and planted in rainy season

Rainfed

7. Biochemical analysis (Active Ingredients)

Haematoxylin, tannins and glycoside, leucopelargonidin and leucoeyanidin have been extracted from the barks

8. Post Harvest Management Bark is removed and sun dried fur use in preparation of various herbal medicines.

9. Utilisation The bark is reported to stimulate the uterus, making the contractions more frequent and prolonged without producing tonic contraction as in the case of pituitary ergot. It is also reported to cure biliousness dyspepsia, dysentery, colic, piles and pimples. Leaves possess blood purifying properties. Flowers used in dysentery and diabetes.

10. Plant used Bark

11. Actual Ingredients

Tannin and Catechol