Bead tree

Scientific name of Bead tree: Elaeocarpus sphaericus

Name of Bead tree in different languages:-

English: Rosery nut, Utrasum bead tree, Blue Marble Tree

Sanskrit: Rudraksha, Neelakandaksha, Sivapriya, Bhootanasana

Hindi: Rudarki, Rudraks, Utrassam

Tamil: Akkamrudrakai.

Malayalam: Rudraksham- രുദ്രാക്ഷം

Plant description:

Bead tree is an evergreen large tree, fast growing, spreading, and grow up to 35 m tall, commonly found in North-East of India, in rain forest areas, the leaves are dark green above, arranged alternately, oblong-elliptical leaves, size to 10 to 18 cm long, toothed margins.

Flowers are bell-shaped, greenish or white, with 5 petals, in numerous racemes borne along branches. The fruits are berries metallic blue in color and 3 cm in diameter and single seed contains in the fruit which is hard as stones and believe that it has a magical power, it is believed that wearing of seeds bring a supernatural power.

Useful plant parts:

Fruits, seeds

Medicinal uses:

To treat hypertension, heart and liver problems,  headaches, high blood pressure, fever, asthma, jaundice etc. Wear the seed is as an ornament can improving the blood circulation in the body.

Chemical contents:

Tannins, trimethoxy geranin, indolizine alkaloids, flavonoids.

Bead tree is used as an ingredient to prepare the Ayurveda medicines like:-

• Mrita Sanjivani Gulika
• Mahadhanwantharam Gulika
• Chukkumthippaliyadi Gulika

Learn more:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10641045