Prosopis juliflora

HABIT: It is a shrub or tree having 8-12 metres long, growing to a height of up to 12 metres (39 ft). Its leaves are deciduous, geminate-pinnate, light green, with 12 to 20 leaflets. Flowers appear shortly after leaf development. The flowers are in 5–10 cm long green-yellow cylindrical spikes, which occur in clusters of 2 to 5 at the ends of branches. Pods are 20 to 30 cm long and contain between 10 and 30 seeds per pod. 

CONSERVATION STATUS: Evaluated as 'Data Deficient' by IUCN.

MEDICINAL USES: The several alkaloid constituents present in the Prosopis juliflora were assessed for their antibacterial property using disc diffusion method on several Gram-negative and Grampositive bacterial strains like E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus, etc. The aqueous extract of the leaves are involved in showing the fungicidal activity either by using in the combination or used alone. The methanolic crude extract of P. Juliflora showed the inhibition of the bacteria. Several alkaloid extracts are involved in showing the cytotoxic activity. The ethanolic extract of the plant Prosopis juliflora has shown its potential, effective and safer anti-pyretic activity. The Acetone extract of plant Prosopis juliflora (AEP) shows the effective anti-pustule activity by inhibiting Staphylococcus species through well diffusion method.

(Ukande, M. D., Shaikh, S., Murthy, K., & Shete, R. (2019). Review on Pharmacological potentials of Prosopis juliflora. Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics, 9(4-s), 755-760.) 

ETHNOBOTANICAL USES: Prosopis genus is used in the old days, for various activities and has a lot of biological, agricultural, chemical and medicinal uses. . People use it for medicinal purposes in rheumatism, as remedies against snake bite and scorpion stings. Also, powdered flowers mixed with sugar are used by pregnant women for safety purposes in various regions. Other Prosopis species are also used as diuretic and treat ocular and hepatic problems. Prosopis africana (leaves, bark twigs, roots) is used to treat dermatitis, bronchitis, tooth decay, malaria, stomach cramps and dysentery. In some areas, it is also used to treat sore throat, tooth decay and heal wounds and cuts.

(Yadav, N., & Rana, A. C. (2020). Pharmacological and pharmacognostical aspect of Prosopis juliflora: A review. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 8(1), 036-052.)