Abstract:
Pterocarpus santalinus Linn.f., commonly known as Red sanders, belongs to the family Fabaceae.
It is endemic to India and considered globally endangered, with illegal harvest being a key threat.
The plant is renowned for its characteristic timber of exquisite color, beauty, and superlative
technical qualities. The red wood yields a natural dye santalin, which is used in coloring
pharmaceutical preparations and foodstuffs. In the traditional system of medicine, the decoction
prepared from the heartwood is attributed various medicinal properties. It has been used in
inducing vomiting and treating eye diseases, mental aberrations, and ulcers. The heartwood of Red
sanders is known to have antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, tonic, hemorrhage,
dysentery, aphrodisiac, and diaphoretic activities. It has also been used as a cooling agent. Ethanol
extract of stem bark was reported to possess anti-hyperglycaemic activity. The wood in
combination with other drugs is also prescribed for snake bites and scorpion stings. Phytochemical
investigations of aqueous and ethanol extracts of stem bark revealed the presence of alkaloids,
phenols, saponins, glycosides, flavonoides, triterpenoides, sterols, and tannins. The heart wood
contains isoflavone glucosides and two anti-tumour lignans, viz., savinin and calocedrin. However,
the species has remained unexplored for many pharmacological activities claimed. The present
paper reviewed botany, uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of P. santalinus.
