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MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE AND ASSOCIATION OF

PATHOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS WITH
DALBERGIA SISSOO

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REVIEW ARTICLE Pak. J. Phytopathol.,
Vol 22 (2):135-138, 2010.

MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE AND ASSOCIATION OF PATHOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS

WITH DALBERGIA SISSOO

Mukhtar Hussani Shah, Irum Mukhtar and Salik Nawaz Khan

Institute of Mycology and Plant Pathology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus Lahore.
*
E. mail: salik_nawaz@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
In traditional medicinal trees, D. sissoo an extremely popular tree species in South Asia. Dalbergia sissoo is used
as medicine since many centuries. As we know that this plant is suffering from many disease in South East Asia
specially dieback and wilting. The main object of this review article was to aware traditional medicine
practitioners to understand the importance of Dalbergia sissoo and conservation of medicinal plant species. D.
sissoo has many reputed medicinal properties. Many medicinal uses for its fresh leaves, dried bark, and wood
raspings are reported from its native region. It has been reported to use as aphrodisiac, abortifacient, expectorant,
anthelmintic and antipyretic. This article is a pioneering approach, which entails working directly with the very
people whose livelihoods and health depend on medicinal plant resources, sets the stage for partnerships and
collaborative efforts that support efforts to secure sustainable supplies of healthy medicinal plants for future
generations.
Key words: Dalbergia sissoo, medicinal trees, traditional medicine, medicinal plants

INTRODUCTION stomach problems, dysentry, nausea, eye and nose

There are considerable economic benefits in the
development of indigenous medicines and in the use
of medicinal plants for the treatment of various
diseases (Azaizeh et al., 2003). Traditional and
indigenous medical knowledge of plants, both oral
and codified, are undoubtedly eroding. Traditionally
Dalbergia sissoo is used as timber and fuelwood, the
trees provide a channel to farmers for savings and a
cost-effective method of land protection and
reclamation. Their importances as medicinal,
insecticidal and harboring of honey bee importance
have been recognized since centuries.
Dalbergia sissoo originates from the Indian
subcontinent where its habitat seems to be alongside
small streams in the foothills of the Himalayas of
India, Pakistan and Nepal. It is primarily found
growing along riverbanks below 900 m elevation, but
can ranges naturally up to 1500 m. In Pakistan 80% of
the people belonging to the rural areas still depends
upon the herbal medicines (Anonymous, 1997).
Medicinal importance of D. sissoo: D. sissoo has
many reputed medicinal properties. It has been
reported to use as aphrodisiac, abortifacient,
expectorant, anthelmintic and antipyretic. It is used in
conditions like emesis, ulcers, leucoderma, dysentery,
stomach troubles and skin diseases (Nadkarn, 1954;
Chopra et al., 1956; Kirtikar and Basu, 1993).
Different parts such as roots, bark, wood, leaves and
seeds are being used as remedy in many diseases.
Including: skin diseases, blood diseases, syphilis,
disorders, aphrodisiac, expectorant (Duke and Wain,
1981). D. sissoo is antidiarrhoeal as it affects bacterial
virulence. However, it has no antimicrobial activity
(Brijesh et al., 2006). D. sissoo is a folk remedy
especially for excoriations, gonorrhea, and skin
ailments (Duke and Wain, 1981). D. sissoo leaf
extract has marked antipyretic and moderate analgesic
activities due to alcoholic compound (Hajare et al.,
2000). Ayurvedics also prescribe the leaf juice for eye
ailments. The alcoholic extract of D. sissoo leaves
produces significant anti-inflammatory effects in
different models of inflammation, without having side
effects on the gastric mucosa (Hajare et al., 2001).
Rural people in India and Nepal use Dalbergia sissoo
leaves to treat animals suffering from non-specific
diarrhea. Leaf extract has been used to treat sore
throats, heart problems, dysentery, syphilis, and
gonorrhoea (Al-Quran, 2008). The extract of D.
sissoo leaves showed antioxidant activity, is almost
two times higher than other commonly used
antioxidants like Selenium and vitamin E. The content
of flavonoids in the extract from D. sissoo leaves is
significant. D. sissoo leaves extract can be used with
confidence to treat colorectal cancer along with other
conventional treatments with chemotherapeutic
agents. Studies also showed that a herbal preparation
containing Dalbergia sissoo and Datura stramoium
with cow urine can be used as a potent antiseptic
preparation for prevention and treatment of chronic
bacterial infections (Yadav et al., 2008).The juice of
the leaves is good for anthelmintic, enriches the

135
blood, good for diseases of the eye and the nose. It is
used in scabies, burning sensation of the body,
scalding urine, syphilis, and digestive disorders
(Kirtikar and Basu, 1933; Sharma et al., 2001; Ishtiaq
et al., 2006; Ahmad, 2005).Boiled leaf Filtrate is also
used to wash hair for removing dandruff and for long
hair (Sultana et al., 2006). D. sissoo oil also showed
strong repellent action (Ansari et al., 2000).
Wood and bark are considered to abortifacient,
anthelmintic, antipyretic, apertif, aphrodisiac,
expectorant, and refrigerant. D. sissoo bark has
antioxidants and can used for inflammatory disorders
(Kumari and Kakkar, 2008). Ayurvedics also use the
wood and bark for anal disorders, blood diseases,
burning sensations, dysentery, dyspepsia, leucoderma,
and skin ailments. Yunani use the wood for blood
disorders, burning sensations, eye and nose disorders,
scabies, scalding urine, stomach problems, and
syphilis. The alterative wood is used in India for
boils, eruptions, leprosy and nausea (Kirtikar and
Basu, 1975). The bark and wood are bitter, hot, acrid,
aphrodisiac, abortifacient, expectorant, anthelmintic
and antipyretic allays thirst, vomiting, burning
sensation, cures skin diseases, troubles of the anus,
ulcers, and diseases of the blood, leucoderma,
dyspepsia and dysentery (Ahmad, 2007). A decoction
of the bark is used for cleaning wounds. Additionally,
the bark and wood are reported to stimulate appetite,
act as an aphrodisiac and induce abortion. Tannins
extracted from the bark are used for a number of
medicinal purposes. Bark, leaves and roots of D.
sissoo, are used as stimulant and astringent (Hussain
et al., 2008). Many medicinal uses for its fresh leaves,
dried bark, and wood raspings are reported from its
native region. D. sissoo is reported to be a stimulant
used in folk medicine and remedies (Nadkarni
1954). The healers use the different parts of D. sissoo
as supplement to major treatment. According to
traditional healers of Bastar region (India), Shisham is
a promising blood purifier and very useful in
treatment of Leprosy. The healers clamed that all
parts of D. sissoo are useful in treatment but barks are
mostly and frequently used part. The traditional
healers of India use Babool Bark in same manner as
D. sissoo bark is used by the healers of Bastar region.
But according to them, it is less effectives as
compared to Shisham bark. The bark from the root
and the stem is an antidiarrhetic and the smoke of
burning roots is inhaled to treat headaches and
bronchitis. The roots contain tectoridin, which is used
medicinally.The roots provide an astringent used to
treat inflammations and infections. The roots can also
be used to treat abdominal pain, hernia, gonorrhoea,
and in abortion. Oil obtained from the seeds is used to
cure skin diseases.
Abiotic stresses and management constraints:
Abiotic stresses and management constraints are
136
linked with resistance response of germplasm genetic
purity and resistance to input and mciro environment
of the plant. Response of natural accessions and
varieties declared on the basis of phenotypic
characters of the plant. Much information on this
issue in not available but scattered work has been
reported in various regions of the Asia. South Asia
can be claimed as major contributor. In this regard
Bajwa and Arshad(2007) conducted detailed Surveys
of different areas of Punjab conducted during 2003-
2005 and worked on distribution and disease
development pattern of wilts and dieback. They
reported, revealed that Maximum mortality of up to
80% was observed along the canal bank followed by
20–40% along the highways and roadsides. The least
disease incidence and mortality rate was observed in
plants growing on agricultural and well managed
lands. Generally older plants were found to be more
susceptible to dieback attack than the younger ones.
Shisham decline can be controlled by adopting
integrated disease management (IDM) approach.
Besides its occurrence in natural forests it is also
raised as farm forestry. Very little information is
available effect of production technology on plant
health. Singh and singh (2006) reported effect of
irrigation on nitrogen uptake and seedlings, according
to these studies Seedlings were irrigated at 20 mm
(W1), 14 mm (W2), 10 mm (W3), 8 mm (W4)
throughout the experimental period to maintain the
respective treatment up to the lowest soil water
content of 7.43%, 5.64%, 4.30% and 3.23%,
respectively. Decreased irrigation level resulted in
lowering of leaf water potential (LWP), net
photosynthetic rate (Pn), total number of root nodules
and nodule dry mass and nitrogen uptake in the
seedling. Pn, leaf nitrate reductase (NR) activity and
seedling biomass were highest in W1 indicating a
positive relations of NR activity with CO2
assimilation and biomass production. These studies
suggests that severe water deficit adversely affect
physiological and biochemical processes that resulted
in reduced growth, nutrient uptake and biomass
productivity in D. sissoo seedlings. Re-irrigation
above W3 level is recommended for this species.
Ashraf et al 2010 and Harsh et al, 2007 studied
genetic diversity and resistance against Ganoderma
lucidum by using RAPD and reported that out of 22
accessions 72%similarity and 98% dissimilarity were
observed. Low level of genetic variation and high
level of genetic relatedness occurred among the canal,
road, farmer’s field and forest sites. The accessions
were closely related with each other and showed mix
pattern of genetic diversity. Ganoderma lucidum is a
serious root rot pathogen of trees and is known to
cause large scale mortality in Dalbergia sissoo. The
resistance response of the germplasm was classified
into highly resistant susceptible categorized on the
basis of total score for growth form characters and
disease development.
Similarly Edward et al, (2004) reported the varietals
response of D.Sissoo germplasm to environment and
management techniques. These studies highlighted
the role of population density and soil characteristics
on plant mortality and preferred to change plantation
species rather than to change management strategies,
similar to the response of rural farmers in Nepal.
Investments in new species trials are also
recommended.
Foliage diseases: There is no mention in the literature
of a host specific organism that is being researched or
tested as a biological control agent for D. sissoo,
however several species of fungi, insect, and bacteria
cause mortality or reduced growth of the tree. Species
of fungi that attack and commonly kill Indian
rosewood are the genus Fusarium, Ganoderma
lucidum, and Phellinus gilvus, all of which attack the
root and vascular system (Sharma,et al, 2000).
Several foliage diseases have been reported in D.
sissoo seedlings. Fusarium oxysporum caused wilt in
seedlings in Pakistan and Rhizactonia solani caused
web blight that seriously damaged seedlings in India
and Pakistan (Bakshi, 1974). Maravalia achroa rust
caused dieback and seedling death in India (Bakshi,
1974). Many leaf-spotting pathogens have been
reported in D. sissoo, but their importance has seldom
been documented. Cercospora sissoo produced
yellow-green discolorations on the lower surfaces of
leaves in India (Bakshi, 1974). Related pathogens
include C.dalbergiae-latifoliae reported from India,
Pseudocercospora dalbergiae reported from Sierra
Leone and India, and Cercospora sp. from India.
Colletogloeum sissoo has been reported to cause leaf
spots on D. sissoo throughout India and Pakistan. In
India, Phyllosticta sissoo produced rounded or
irregular, grayish-brown spots that sometimes covered
entire leaves (Bakshi, 1974), and several Phyllachora
spp. caused tar spots in India, Tanzania, Zambia and
the Philippines (Bakshi, 1974).
Powdery mildew, caused by Phyllactinia dalbergiae,
is widely reported from India and Pakistan (Bakshi,
1974; Joshi and Baral, 2000). The disease manifests
itself as yellowish, persistent, dense mycelium on
lower leaf surfaces. Leveillula taurica has also been
reported from Pakistan. The rust Uredo sissoo occurs
in nurseries, plantations and natural forests
throughout India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan (Bakshi,
1974; Joshi and Baral, 2000) but is not considered
economically important.
Root diseases: Large-scale dieback of Dalbergia
sissoo trees in India and neighboring countries is
causing concern to the state forest departments and
farmers as trees of all age group are dying. Fusarium
solani f.sp. dalbergiae, isolated from the roots of
dying trees and from the oozing pitch on stems, was
137
tested for pathogenicity. Seeds were collected from
107 mature healthy trees, from 21 heavily infected
localities in the country. As many seed failed to
germinate, resistance testing was carried out on a
limited number of provenances. Seedlings were tested
for disease resistance by soil drenching and root-dip
methods using spore suspensions of F. solani f.sp.
dalbergiae. On the basis of seedling survival,
provenances were classified into four susceptibility
classes; seedlings from Amritsar (Punjab) showed
maximum survival and were considered very
resistant, whereas Dehra (Kangra), Himachal Pradesh,
were the most susceptible.
Fusarium solani causes systemic wilt in D. sissoo in
north India and Pakistan (Bagchee, 1952; Bakshi,
1974). Symptoms include wilting, chlorosis, leaf
death and progressive defoliation. Older trees are
most susceptible and may die within a few months.
Incidence is high on poorly drained sites and low on
sandy, well-drained soils. Neocosmospora vasinfecta
var. africana also affects D. sissoo in India .
Ganoderma lucidum attacks mature trees in natural
forests and plantations (Bakshi, 1974). On light-
textured soils, the pathogen spreads rapidly and trees
are soon killed. Affected trees exhibit a staghead
appearance that may develop progressively for up to
two years before death. Phellinus gilvus causes white
rot of sapwood and limited heart rot, most commonly
of old trees The fungus is primarily a wound parasite
affecting trees on unfavorable sites or already infected
by G. Iucidum or F.solani. The fungus, Ganoderma
lucidum, which causes root and butt rot, is common.
Fusarium solani and Polyporus gilvus cause similar
diseases (Bakshi, 1974).
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