Cinnamomum tamala
Indian bay leaf
Cinnamomum tamala, commonly known as Indian bay leaf, is a versatile medicinal plant native to the Indian subcontinent. Renowned for its aromatic leaves, it serves as a culinary staple and a potent therapeutic agent. It offers significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and digestive benefits, making it essential in traditional holistic medicine.
- Scientific name: Cinnamomum tamala
- Family: Lauraceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Laurales | WCVP |
| Family | Lauraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cinnamomum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Cinnamomum tamala, is known by various names across different languages and cultures. In Chinese, it is referred to as 柴桂 (zh), while in Malayalam, it is called വഴന (ml). It is commonly known as তেজপাতা (bn) in Bengali and तेजपात (ne) in Nepali. Additionally, in German, the plant is identified as Indiisches Lorbeerblatt (de).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 柴桂 | Wikidata |
| ml | വഴന | Wikidata |
| bn | তেজপাতা | Wikidata |
| de | Indisches Lorbeerblatt | Wikidata |
| ne | तेजपात | Wikidata |
| ar | ساذج هندي | Wikidata |
| pl | Cynamonowiec tamala | Wikidata |
| ca | Malabathrum | Wikidata |
| kn | ಕಾಡು ದಾಲ್ಚಿನ್ನಿ | Wikidata |
| ja | タマラニッケイ | Wikidata |
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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Cinnamomum tamala, is highly valued for its various therapeutic components derived from different anatomical structures. The aromatic leaves are perhaps the most widely recognized part, often used in culinary and medicinal preparations to provide a distinct scent. A single leaf can be processed to yield a potent leaf extract, which is frequently studied for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Beyond the foliage, the bark of the tree is also utilized in traditional medicine due to its rich essential oil content. Whether utilizing the dried Leaves for infusion or concentrated extracts, each part of this species contributes to its significant medicinal profile.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 13
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| leaf | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaf Extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cinnamomum tamala has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include eugenol, phenols, Catechin, Eugenol, apigenin.
- Total chemicals
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 18
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| eugenol | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Eugenol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| apigenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cinnamaldehyde | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cinnamic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cinnamyl acetate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cinnamyl alcohol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coumarin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
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.
- Total activities
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Free-Radical Scavenging | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Spasmolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cinnamomum tamala has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Staphylococcus aureus, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Diabetic nephropathy, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, antidiabetic.
- Total uses
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Staphylococcus aureus | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diabetic nephropathy | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperglycemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |