Indian Bay Leaf

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian Bay leaves
• Indian-bark
• Indian-cassia
• Indian bay leaf
• indian bark

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Persea tamala
• Cinnamomum tamala var. elliptifolium
• Laurus sailyana
• Laurus tamala
• Laurus soilyana
• Cinnamomum zwartzii
• Laurus albiflora
• Cinnamomum lindleyi
• Cinnamomum veitchii
• Cinnamomum tamala var. albiflorum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Laurales, and the family Lauraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cinnamomum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions in Asia. In East Asia, its presence is noted specifically within South-Central China. Moving into the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in the state of Assam and throughout Bangladesh. The species also thrives in the rugged terrain of the East Himalaya. Additionally, its geographical range extends into the mountainous landscapes of Nepal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cinnamomum tamala is characterized by its specific distribution within montane and sub-montane forest ecosystems, where it occupies a distinct altitudinal niche. This species thrives within a precise elevational range, typically found at altitudes starting from a minimum of 1180 m AMSL. Its presence is most frequent across a mid-elevation belt, with a calculated mean elevation of 1555 m AMSL, indicating a preference for temperate or subtropical highland environments. The upper limit of its ecological tolerance extends to a maximum elevation of 1930 m AMSL, defining the vertical boundaries of its natural habitat.

Elevational range max:

1930 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1555 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1180 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cinnamomum tamala is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, meaning it maintains its physiological functions and structure over many years rather than completing a single reproductive cycle in one season. Throughout its extended lifespan, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, consistently retaining its foliage and ensuring a continuous photosynthetic capacity regardless of the season. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and evergreen deciduousness allows the species to establish a stable presence in its native habitat, providing a persistent canopy and a reliable source of medicinal components over time.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cinnamomum tamala is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which reaches an average height of approximately 17.33 meters. As an independent species, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and grows as a terrestrial plant rather than an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, the plant is categorized as self-supporting, lacking the climbing tendencies of lianas or vines, and maintains a robust, woody composition throughout its development.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

17.3333333333333 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of Cinnamomum tamaala are significantly defined by its foliar morphology and nutritional processes. The leaves exhibit a notable range in dimensions, with a minimum length of 7.5 cm and a maximum length reaching up to 15 cm, resulting in a mean leaf length of 11.25 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 5.5 cm. Regarding its metabolic nitrogen acquisition, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the absorption of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system rather than establishing a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

11.25 cm

Leaf length min:

7.5 cm

Leaf width max:

5.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cinnamomum tamala is characterized by the production of small, inconspicuous flowers typically arranged in axillary panicles. These inflorescences are relatively short, exhibiting a length that ranges from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.1 m. The flowering process facilitates pollination, which eventually leads to the development of fleshy, drupe-like fruits. These fruits play a crucial role in the dispersal of seeds, ensuring the continuation of the species through successful germination in suitable environmental conditions.

Inflorescence length max:

0.1 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.05 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cinnamomum tamala has 1 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Tissue & cell
4. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
5. Mymensingh medical journal : MMJ

Chemicals

Cinnamomum tamala has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include eugenol, Phenols, CATECHIN, CINNAMIC ACID, Cinnamyl acetate.

eugenol

1. Tissue & cell
2. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology
3. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
4. Natural product research

Phenols

1. Food science & nutrition
2. TheScientificWorldJournal

CATECHIN

1. Tissue & cell

CINNAMIC ACID

1. Heliyon

Cinnamyl acetate

1. Heliyon

EUGENYL ACETATE

1. Natural product research

Flavonoids

1. Food science & nutrition

Linalool

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

RUTIN

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Terpenes

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Activities

Cinnamomum tamala has 9 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antimicrobial.

Antidiabetic

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
2. Cell biochemistry and function

Antioxidant

1. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Antibacterial

1. Mymensingh medical journal : MMJ

Anticancer

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Antimicrobial

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Diuretic

1. Cell biochemistry and function

Free-Radical Scavenging

1. Biological trace element research

Hypoglycemic

1. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology

Spasmolytic

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Conditions

Cinnamomum tamala has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Staphylococcus aureus, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Diabetic nephropathy, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, antidiabetic.

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Mymensingh medical journal : MMJ
2. Journal of tropical medicine

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

1. Kathmandu University medical journal (KUMJ)

Diabetic nephropathy

1. Current issues in molecular biology

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Mymensingh medical journal : MMJ

Antidiabetic

1. Cell biochemistry and function

Antioxidant

1. Food science & nutrition

Breast cancer

1. Tissue & cell

Diuretic

1. Cell biochemistry and function

Hyperglycemia

1. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology

Preparations

Cinnamomum tamala has 10 reported preparations identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaves, Dried leaves, Methanolic extracts, aqueous extracts of bay leaves, ethanolic extract of dried CT leaves.

Leaves

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Dried leaves

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Methanolic extracts

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Aqueous extracts of bay leaves

1. Biological trace element research

Ethanolic extract of dried ct leaves

1. Tissue & cell

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf essential oils

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Leaf extract

1. Biological trace element research

Plant extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Supercritical (sc)-co2 extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)