Scientific name: Eugenia jambolana

Common names: Java plum, jambolan, jamun, duhat

Sanskrit name: Jambu

Family: Myrtaceae

Plant part used: Seeds

Color: Brown powder

Odor: Characteristic odor

Taste: Bitter taste

Herb extract: 8:1

Shelf life: 2 years

General Description: Evergreen tree to 25 m (80 ft) tall, with young stems grayish white and lower bark coarse and discolored. Leaves opposite, simple, entire, elliptic to broadly oblong, smooth, glossy, somewhat leathery, 5-10 cm (2-5 in) long, short pointed at tips; petioles to 3 cm (1.2 in) long; leaf midrib prominent, yellowish; blades with many lateral veins closely parallel. Flowers white to pinkish, about 1 cm (0.5 in) across, in branched clusters at stem tips; calyx cuplike; 4 petals, fused into a cap; many stamens. Fruit an ovoid, 1-seeded berry to 2 cm (0.8 in) long, dark purplish red, shiny, with white to lavender flesh.

Traditional uses: All parts of the java plum can be used medicinally and it has a long tradition in alternative medicine.

In India the bark is used for anemia, the bark and seed for diabetes which reduce the blood sugar level quickly, the fruit for dysentery, leaves juice for gingivitis (bleeding gums).

In the Phillippines and Suriname wine is made from the fermented fruit.

Phytochemistry: Fruits contains moisture that is 83.7 %, proteins 0.7 %, fat 0.3 %, carbohydrate 14 %, minerals, vitamin A,B,C, melic acid. Oxalic acid, gallic acid, tannin, a aromatic oil and a blue color substance which is cyaniding diglycosides. Besides it contains tannins 19 %, elgic acid, gallic acid 1 to 2 % and a glycoside named jamboline. It also contains starch and light yellow colored aromatic oil which is 0.05 %. Bark contains betulenic acid, beta sitosterol, elagic acid and mirisetin.

Pharmacology: It is useful in ailments caused by kapha and pitta. It has a cohesive action. Because of cool nature it is helpful in skin related ailments and suppresses burning sensation occurring in the body. It helps in proper digestion in the body. It stimulated liver. It helps in curbing infection in the body. It is anti- diuretic in nature and reduces the sugar levels in blood and urine.

Main Actions: Spasmolytic, anti-Parkinson's, androgenic, aphrodisiac, hypoglycemic, anabolic