Digital Garden

Melia  azedarach 

Bakain

Scientific name- Melia azedarach 

Common name- Bakhain 

Plant family- Meliaceae 

Habit Type- small to medium-sized shrub or tree 

Distribution- M. azedarach L. is native to tropical Asia. It is widespread and naturalized in most of the tropics and subtropical countries. It was introduced and naturalized in the Philippines, United States of America, Brazil, Argentina, and many African and Arab countries. 

Leaves 

Leaves are twice to three-times compound, alternate, and puberulent to glabrous. Leaflets are 2-8 cm long, serrate or crenate, dark green above, often with sparse hairs along the veins and lighter green and generally smooth below. 

Bark reddish-brown smooth bark. The fruit is stalked, one-seeded drupe that is greenish yellow to yellowish tan, globose, and 1-1.5 cm in diameter 

Inflorescence 

panicle from leaf axils and from leafless nodes on the lower part of the new growth. The perfect flowers are 5-parted. 

Flower 

The perfect flowers are 5-parted. Sepals are green, 1.5-2 mm long. Petals are pinkish lavender, ligulate, 1-1.3 cm long. Stamens are united into a cylindrical, dark purple tube, 6-8 mm long, cut at the apex into 15-25 slender teeth. Each flower has ten anthers and are fragrant. 

Fruit 

The fruit is a stalked, one-seeded drupe that is greenish yellow to yellowish tan, globose, and 1-1.5 cm in diameter. 

FACTS & MEDICINAL USES 

It is used to manufacture agricultural implements, furniture, plywood, boxes, poles, tool handles; it is used in cabinet making and in construction because of its resistance to termites. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of leaves and seed reportedly control many insect, mite and nematode pests. However, because they contain toxic components, care is needed in their use. Melia azedarach is well known for its medicinal uses. Fruit stones make ideal beads and are used in making necklaces and rosaries. However, these uses cannot compensate for this plant's overall negative impacts. 

It is used to manufacture agricultural implements, furniture, plywood, boxes, poles, tool 

Leaves: 

● Leaves are used in leprosy, scrofula, anthelmintic, antilithic, diuretic, deobstruent, and resolvent 

● leaf extract is applied externally for burns. Fresh leaf extract is used as mouthwash for gingivitis (Inflamed bleeding gums) 

Root: Roots are effectively used as resolvent and deobstruent. 

Bark: Stem bark infusion is administered orally twice a day for gonorrhea. 

Seed: Seed oil is the most active medicinal product of the plant and used as an antiseptic for sores and ulcers that show no tendency to heal. It is also used for rheumatism and skin diseases such as ringworm and scabies. Internally, the oil is useful in malaria fever and leprosy.