Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.Family: Fabaceae
Synonyms: Cajan indorum Medik., Cajan inodorum Medik., Cajanus bicolor DC., Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth, Cajanus cajan var. bicolor (DC.) Purseglove, Cajanus cajan f. bicolor Baker, Cajanus cajan var. flavus (DC.) Purseglove, Cajanus flavus DC., Cajanus indicus Spreng., Cajanus indicus var. bicolor (DC.) Kuntze, Cajanus indicus var. flavus (DC.) Kuntze, Cajanus indicus var. maculatus Kuntze, Cajanus inodorum Medik., Cajanus inodorus Medik. [Spelling variant], Cajanus luteus Bello, Cajanus obcordifolia Singh, Cajanus obcordifolius V.Singh, Cajanus pseudo-cajan (Jacq.) Schinz & Guillaumin, Cajanus striatus Bojer, Cytisus cajan L., Cytisus guineensis Schum. & Thonn., Cytisus guineensis Schumach. & Thonn., Cytisus pseudocajan Jacq., Phaseolus balicus L.
English: Pigeon Pea
Afrikaans: Kongo-boontjie
Assamese: অৰহৰ arahar
Bambara: jo yeri
Bengali: অড়হর arahar
Chinese: 三叶豆 :
Finnish: Kyyhkynherne
French: Pois d'Angole
German: Straucherbse
Gujarati: તુવેર tuver
Hindi: तूर , अरहर
Japanese: ki-mame
Malayalam: തുവര tuvara
Portuguese: ervilha de Angola
Sanskrit: adhaki
Spanish: frijol del monte
Tamil: துவரை
Telugu: కంది
Used for diseases due to vitiated blood (properties of seeds have been quoted from texts from , 1000 bc to sixteenth century)., Anti-plasmodial activities have been confirmed in , betulinic acid., Pinostrobin is anti-inflammatory; genistein and , genistin possess anti-oxidant activities and , cajanol possesses anti-cancer activity (activity , towards MCF-7 human breast cancer cells). The pharmacological profile of pinostrobin , resembles that of anti-depressant drugs that , block sodium channels., In ethnomedicine, the roots and mature leaves are , prescribed for sinus fistulae, [Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeial Plant Drugs: Expanded Therapeutics]
Used in Ayurveda, Unani and Sidha. Leaves decoction for measles, cough, diarrhea, abdominal troubles, catarrh and hepatitis; sap of leaves, drops in eyes, for epilepsy; powdered leaves applied to sores; leaf juice given for flu, jaundice and as a poison antidote; leaf infusion baths for stroke and bewitchment; green leaves hypocholesterolemic, hypoglyce- mic and antimicrobial; poultice of the young leaves used for burning skin and gums inflammation; young leaves chewed for curing reddish sores on tongue, spongy gums, aphthae; leaves decoction drunk by pregnant women for easy delivery. Flowers paste or leaf paste applied on sores of mouth and tongue. Boil the roots, drink the decoction to cure food poi- soning from eating bad fish; roots for mental illness. Seeds used in snakebite; seed coat powder applied as a paste on skin eruptions, when mixed with root powder of Cordia dichotoma in severe toothache; boiled seed juice taken in jaundice; juice from the seeds put into the ear for earache; seeds and leaves made into a warm paste applied over the mammae to check secretion of milk. Ceremonial, important food during ceremonies. Veterinary medicine, cooked leaves fed to cattle with diarrhea. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]
The beans (pigeon peas) of this plant are used for nutrition and nourishment and prepared as a part of Dominican culinary traditions. For arthritis and joint pain, the leaf is applied locally to the affected area to relieve pain and inflammation. To induce abortion, the root of this plant is boiled to make a strong decoction and taken internally as a tea. In the Caribbean, this plant is used to treat toothache and conjunctivitis. [Dominican Medicinal Plants: A Guide for Health Care Providers]
It is used in ayurveda as volerant; a medicine that heals wounds and sores; as an astringent; a medicine that stops bleeding by constricting the tissues, and as a medicine that cures diseases of lungs and chest. It also works as anthelminthic to destroy internal parasitic worms. Pigeonpea leaves have been used to treat malaria. [Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants Vol-2]
Green leaves are considered hypocholesterolaemic. Pulse shows cholesterol and phospholipid lowering effect (reported to cause flatulence). A paste of leaves with salt and water, is taken on an empty stomach for jaundice. Leaves are used in diseases of the mouth, and topically for treating measles and other eruptions. [Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary]
The seeds are a favourite food in Jamaica while the leaves are sometimes used to make tea for colds. Both the leaves and roots are said to contain tannins. In Africa the leaves have been used to prepare a gargle and mouthwash: for diarrhoea and for smallpox. [ Medicinal Plants of Jamaica]
Stem, Leaf and Fruit: Shoots and green pods used for a good pectoral infusion. Leaf: Infusion is consumed for pulmonary conditions such as coughs and bronchitis. In Surinam, leaves are mixed in an infusion with Dactyloctenium aegyptium to accelerate childbirth. Juice used for haemorrhages; leaves decocted for washing ulcers. Boiled leaves applied to sores and wounds to hasten cicatrization. Leaves or pods boiled with salt and "steel drops" (ferric chloride solution) for treatment of leucorrhoea. Infusion for fever-bath, headaches; macerated for an antiperspirant or deodorant. Leaves used in a complex liquid with Plectranthus, cloves and "steel drops" for venereal disease. Leaf and Flower: Boiled for a diuretic and diabetes remedy. Flower: Infusion is pectoral. Seed: Infusion for a diuretic. Flour made from seeds is resolutive. [Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana) ]
Used in Ayurveda, Unani and Sidha. Leaves decoction for measles, cough, diarrhea, abdominal troubles, catarrh and hepatitis; sap of leaves, drops in eyes, for epilepsy; powdered leaves applied to sores; leaf juice given for flu, jaundice and as a poison antidote; leaf infusion baths for stroke and bewitchment; green leaves hypocholesterolemic, hypoglyce- mic and antimicrobial; poultice of the young leaves used for burning skin and gums inflammation; young leaves chewed for curing reddish sores on tongue, spongy gums, aphthae; leaves decoction drunk by pregnant women for easy delivery. Flowers paste or leaf paste applied on sores of mouth and tongue. Boil the roots, drink the decoction to cure food poi- soning from eating bad fish; roots for mental illness. Seeds used in snakebite; seed coat powder applied as a paste on skin eruptions, when mixed with root powder of Cordia dichotoma in severe toothache; boiled seed juice taken in jaundice; juice from the seeds put into the ear for earache; seeds and leaves made into a warm paste applied over the mammae to check secretion of milk. Ceremonial, important food during ceremonies. Veterinary medicine, cooked leaves fed to cattle with diarrhea. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]
The beans (pigeon peas) of this plant are used for nutrition and nourishment and prepared as a part of Dominican culinary traditions. For arthritis and joint pain, the leaf is applied locally to the affected area to relieve pain and inflammation. To induce abortion, the root of this plant is boiled to make a strong decoction and taken internally as a tea. In the Caribbean, this plant is used to treat toothache and conjunctivitis. [Dominican Medicinal Plants: A Guide for Health Care Providers]
It is used in ayurveda as volerant; a medicine that heals wounds and sores; as an astringent; a medicine that stops bleeding by constricting the tissues, and as a medicine that cures diseases of lungs and chest. It also works as anthelminthic to destroy internal parasitic worms. Pigeonpea leaves have been used to treat malaria. [Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants Vol-2]
Green leaves are considered hypocholesterolaemic. Pulse shows cholesterol and phospholipid lowering effect (reported to cause flatulence). A paste of leaves with salt and water, is taken on an empty stomach for jaundice. Leaves are used in diseases of the mouth, and topically for treating measles and other eruptions. [Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary]
The seeds are a favourite food in Jamaica while the leaves are sometimes used to make tea for colds. Both the leaves and roots are said to contain tannins. In Africa the leaves have been used to prepare a gargle and mouthwash: for diarrhoea and for smallpox. [ Medicinal Plants of Jamaica]
Stem, Leaf and Fruit: Shoots and green pods used for a good pectoral infusion. Leaf: Infusion is consumed for pulmonary conditions such as coughs and bronchitis. In Surinam, leaves are mixed in an infusion with Dactyloctenium aegyptium to accelerate childbirth. Juice used for haemorrhages; leaves decocted for washing ulcers. Boiled leaves applied to sores and wounds to hasten cicatrization. Leaves or pods boiled with salt and "steel drops" (ferric chloride solution) for treatment of leucorrhoea. Infusion for fever-bath, headaches; macerated for an antiperspirant or deodorant. Leaves used in a complex liquid with Plectranthus, cloves and "steel drops" for venereal disease. Leaf and Flower: Boiled for a diuretic and diabetes remedy. Flower: Infusion is pectoral. Seed: Infusion for a diuretic. Flour made from seeds is resolutive. [Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana) ]
345 Published (Medicine related only) articles of Cajanus cajan
