Indian rosewood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian rosewood
• sissoo
• sisu
• North Indian rosewood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pterocarpus sissoo
• Dalbergia pendula
• Endespermum diversifolium
• Amerimnon sissoo

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, scientifically known as Dalbergia sissoo, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Fabales. Finally, it is a member of the Fabaceae family and falls under the genus Dalbergia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern throughout the region of West Tropical Africa. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Additionally, its presence is noted in the country of Burkina. The species also extends into the territories of Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its geographical range includes the nation of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dalbergia sissoo is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse environmental conditions, typically favoring alluvial soils and riverine habitats where moisture is periodically available. It is highly adaptable to varying climatic zones, demonstrating a broad tolerance for different soil types, including sandy and loamy substrates. In terms of altitudinal distribution, the species is found across a specific vertical gradient, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 250 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1550 m AMSL. This range allows it to colonize various landscapes, from lowland plains to mid-altitude hilly regions, where it plays a vital role in forest ecosystems and soil stabilization.

Elevational range max:

1550 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

250 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dalbergia sissoo is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the individual to persist through many growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation typical of its tree-like growth habit. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage seasonally as part of its natural phenological cycle. In terms of its botanical classification regarding life forms, it is categorized as a phanerophyte, reflecting its ability to maintain significant biomass and height throughout its long-lived existence.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dalbergia sissoo is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically categorized as a tree. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing behavior such as a vine or liana. The physical stature of the plant varies significantly, with a minimum height of 3 m, a maximum height of 8 m, and a mean plant height of approximately 20 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dalbergia sissoo is characterized by its efficient metabolic and nutrient-acquisition strategies, which allow it to thrive in diverse environmental conditions. As a plant utilizing the C3 photosynthetic pathway, it captures carbon dioxide through the standard Calvin cycle, a process typical of many temperate and subtropical woody species. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a significant physiological advantage through its capacity for nitrogen fixation; it possesses a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, enabling it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form, thereby enhancing its growth in nitrogen-deficient soils.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dalbergia sissoo is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins in March and concludes in May, though the timing can remain variable across different seasons. The species utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, relying primarily on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. In terms of fertilization, the plant possesses the capability for self-fertilization. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.0417925 g; however, individual seed weights can fluctuate, ranging from a minimum of 0.0202 g to a maximum of 0.0541 g.

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

May

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.0541 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0417925 g

Seed mass min:

0.0202 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dalbergia sissoo has 3 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Menopause (New York, N.Y.)
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
4. Fitoterapia
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Root

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Stem

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Dalbergia sissoo has 41 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isoflavones, Terpenoids, stearic acid, (e)-4-methoxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-4-oxobutanoic acid, Behenic acid.

Isoflavones

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Terpenoids

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

stearic acid

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

(e)-4-methoxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-4-oxobutanoic acid

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Behenic acid

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

CAPRIC ACID

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Cearoin

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Chondrillasterol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

D-galactose

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

D-glucose

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Activities

Dalbergia sissoo has 7 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antiosteoporotic.

Antioxidant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Antibacterial

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Anticancer

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Antimicrobial

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antiosteoporotic

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Antipyretic

1. Scientific reports

Cardioprotective

1. Scientific reports

Conditions

Dalbergia sissoo has 20 reported investigations on conditions identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include osteoporosis, cancer, fracture healing, Alzheimer's disease, Neuroinflammation.

Osteoporosis

1. European journal of pharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Current drug metabolism

Cancer

1. Scientific reports
2. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Fracture healing

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Alzheimer's disease

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Neuroinflammation

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Oxidative stress

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastric diseases

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Preparations

Dalbergia sissoo has 15 reported preparations identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanolic Extract, Ethanolic extract, Methanolic extracts of trunk exudates, butanol-soluble standardized fraction [BSSF], callus cultures.

Ethanolic extract

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Ethanolic extract

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Methanolic extracts of trunk exudates

1. Journal of natural products

Butanol-soluble standardized fraction [bssf]

1. Menopause (New York, N.Y.)

Callus cultures

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Crude aqueous and ethanolic extracts

1. Travel medicine and infectious disease

Crude aqueous extracts

1. Travel medicine and infectious disease

Ethanolic extracts

1. Travel medicine and infectious disease

Ethanolic extracts of d. sissoo leaves

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Extract employing methanol:water extracting media (hn-2)

1. Scientific reports