Bakul (Mimusops elengi L.) is an evergreen tree of the Sapotaceae family, valued in traditional medicine for its fragrant flowers, astringent bark, and edible fruit. Different parts of the plant such as flowers, bark, seeds, leaves, and fruits have traditionally been used in Ayurvedic and folk medicine. These plant components are valued for their tonic, astringent, cardiotonic, and expectorant properties. They are also widely used for maintaining oral and dental health in traditional herbal practices.
Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade / Phylum: Angiosperms
- Clade / Class: Eudicots
- Order: Ericales
- Family: Sapotaceae
- Genus: Mimusops
- Species: Mimusops elengi L.
Common Names
- English: Bakul, Bullet wood, Spanish cherry, Indian medlar
- Sanskrit: Bakula, Maulsari / Maulsiri
- Hindi: बकुल (Bakul) / बकुली
- Bengali: বাকুল (Bakul)
- Tamil: பாகுல் (Pākul) / மெளல்சரி
- Telugu: బకుల్ (Bakul)
- Marathi: बकुळ (Bakul)
Traditional and Medicinal Uses
- Oral and dental care: Chewing the bark/twigs as a natural toothbrush; used for stomatitis, gingivitis, halitosis and spongy gums.
- Astringent / Antidiarrheal: Bark and fruit used as astringent; decoctions employed in diarrhea and dysentery.
- Cardiotonic and tonic: Used as a general tonic and cardiotonic in classical formulations.
- Respiratory uses: Flowers and preparations used as expectorant and in cough/asthma in folk practice.
- Wound healing & Anti-inflammatory: Topical use for wounds and anti-inflammatory preparations recorded in traditional reports.
References
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Part I, Volume IV. Government of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dept. of AYUSH. Monograph: Mimusops elengi L.
- Chopra, R. N., Nayar, S. L., & Chopra, I. C. (1956). Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. CSIR, New Delhi. (Entry: Mimusops elengi).
- Gami, B., et al. (2013). Mimusops elengi Linn. — A review on its ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Pharmacognosy Reviews / Journal of Ethnopharmacology (review article).
- Phytochemical and pharmacognostic review: Pharmacognostic standards and phytochemical profile for Mimusops elengi. Phytojournal. 2013; Vol.2(Issue 3): Part A — monographic/summary report.
- Shailajan, S., & co-authors. (2015). Pharmacognostic and phytochemical evaluation of Mimusops elengi flowers. Pharmacognosy Communications. 5(1):83–(pages).
- Comprehensive review: Mimusops elengi L.: A potential medicinal plant — phytochemistry and pharmacology. European International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Phytopharmacological Research (Review).
- Monograph / regulatory listings: Central Council of Indian Medicine / Indian pharmacopoeial listings and monographs relating to Mimusops elengi (relevant pharmacopeial entries and standards).
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