Commiphora berryi
(Arn.) Engl.
Burseraceae
Balsamodendrum berryi Arn.
Common Name: Mudgiluvai
General Information
Commiphora berryi is a small, fragrant, much-branched deciduous shrub or tree that can grow up to 10 metres tall[
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
543- Title
- Pharmacognostical standardization of Commiphora berryi and phytochemical studies on its crude extracts
- Publication
-
- Author
- Selvamani P.; Sen D.J.; Gupta J.K.
- Publisher
- African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 1996-0816
- Description
- A microscopic study of the physical structure of Commiphora berryi.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild as a local source of gum and medicines. It is often grown as a living fence within its native range[
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka.
Habitat
Dry and desert regions[
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Dry forests[
543- Title
- Pharmacognostical standardization of Commiphora berryi and phytochemical studies on its crude extracts
- Publication
-
- Author
- Selvamani P.; Sen D.J.; Gupta J.K.
- Publisher
- African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 1996-0816
- Description
- A microscopic study of the physical structure of Commiphora berryi.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Deciduous Tree |
| Height | 6.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the semi-arid tropics, though it has been shown to grow in much moister climates[
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Requires a sunny position and a well drained soil.
When grown in the moister tropics, the spines almost disappear, the leaflets become much larger, and the inflorescence more developed, the whole plant thus putting on a very different look[
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Closely allied to the species that yield Myrrh [C. Myrrha), and Balm of Gilead, (C. Gileadensis)[
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The fragrant gum resin obtained from the plant is used in traditional medicine as an ingredient in various formulations, where it is used as an astringent, antiseptic, carminative, diuretic, appetite stimulator, uterine stimulant and emmenagogue[
543- Title
- Pharmacognostical standardization of Commiphora berryi and phytochemical studies on its crude extracts
- Publication
-
- Author
- Selvamani P.; Sen D.J.; Gupta J.K.
- Publisher
- African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 1996-0816
- Description
- A microscopic study of the physical structure of Commiphora berryi.
].
Research has shown the diuretic activity of a petroleum ether extract of the bark and some of its isolated fractions[
543- Title
- Pharmacognostical standardization of Commiphora berryi and phytochemical studies on its crude extracts
- Publication
-
- Author
- Selvamani P.; Sen D.J.; Gupta J.K.
- Publisher
- African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 1996-0816
- Description
- A microscopic study of the physical structure of Commiphora berryi.
].
Antibacterial activity of the leaves has been reported[
543- Title
- Pharmacognostical standardization of Commiphora berryi and phytochemical studies on its crude extracts
- Publication
-
- Author
- Selvamani P.; Sen D.J.; Gupta J.K.
- Publisher
- African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 1996-0816
- Description
- A microscopic study of the physical structure of Commiphora berryi.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
A spiny plant, it is widely grown as a hedge in southern India[
].
Other Uses
A fragrant gum resin, called 'Mulu kilavary', is obtained through incision of the stems[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. It is used as a fixative in perfumery[
543- Title
- Pharmacognostical standardization of Commiphora berryi and phytochemical studies on its crude extracts
- Publication
-
- Author
- Selvamani P.; Sen D.J.; Gupta J.K.
- Publisher
- African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 1996-0816
- Description
- A microscopic study of the physical structure of Commiphora berryi.
]. It has been recommended as a myrrh substitute[
].
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
