A REVIEW ARTICLE ON PALASH (BUTEA MONOSPERMA (LAMB.)TAUB.)

Palash also known as Butea monosperma (Lamb.) Taub. is found in the northern part of India. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree. The plant also known as Palash or “dhak tree” or "flame of the forest," belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is utilized at several festivals and for religious worship in the majority of India's regions. Palash has an astringent (kashaya), bitter (tikta), and pungent (katu) taste (Rasa); its veerya is ushna, and its vipaka is katu. It aggravates the pitta doshas while calming the kapha and vata doshas. Numerous illnesses, including Trishna (thrist), Atisara (diarrhea), Pradara (leucorrhea), Jwara (fever), Charmarog (skin disorders), Astibanga (fracture), Vatarakta (gout), Kushta (leprosy), Apasmara (epilepsy), and Prameha (diabetic), are reported to benefit from Palash according to literature. The ‘Palash ‘tree is known to possess important phytoconstituents like flavonoids, chalcones, alkaloids, tannins. The herb possesses anthelmintic, antibacterial, aphrodisiac, and anti-asthmatic properties. "Butea gum" or "Bengal kino" are the red juices that the bark of palash produces. There has been a global resurgence of interest in herbal medicine.