Pathimugam Tree: A Natural Dye Yielding Ornamental Medicinal Plant Pathimugam tree or east Indian red wood is a multipurpose

tree. It is botanically known as Caesalpinia sappan L. It is a natural dye yielding medicinal plant and is a small thorny spreading tree which grows up to 30 feet in height and its wood reaches 15-30 cm in diameter. It bears 3-4 seeds, ellipsoid, and brown to black colored. Within a years time after planning the plant reaches a height of 5-8 feet and begins to bloom in April and continues till December. Flowers are golden yellow in colour and are cross pollinated by bees, butterflies and insects. At the time of flowerings the side branches are cut for healthy growth of the tree.

Fruit set starts after 5-15 days of flowering. They come to maturity in three months time. Only few seeds mature. Pathimugam is cultivated as a horticultural plant for its wood, bark and large compound leaves and bright yellow flowers. Its branches when interlaced make a strong barrier, hence, it is considered as a live fencing plant.
It grows well in all kinds of soil and lush growth is obtained in red soil. It withstands any amount of drought and defoliates only for a short period of 10 days. The pods contain 40 per cent tannin and can be used in the place of Sumac. They impart uniform tan and a soft touch to the leather. The seeds on extraction with petroleum either yield an orange colored fixed oil. The important part of this plant is the heartwood that contains water soluble dyes such as brazilin, protosappanins, Pathimugam chalk cone and haematoxylin. Brazilian on oxidation yields a red dye called brazilein the most valuable dye used in coloring leather, silk, cotton, wool, fibers of different kinds, batik, and calico printing, furniture floors feather medicines and several handicrafts.

More commonly this natural dye has been used in mat industries at Pathamadai of Tirunelveli district, where the fibers obtained from sedges (Korai) are colored by Pathimugam dye prior to weaving. Super fine and silk mats dyed with Pathimugam are world famous handicrafts of Pathamadai. The dye is extracted by boiling chipped wood pieces in water while extracting few paddy grains are thrown into boiling liquid to check if the extraction is complete or not. If the husk scales off, boiling is considered sufficient and not otherwise. Pathimugam yields different shades of red with or without mordant. Natural mordant such as the bark of Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa) and Ebenum (Diosphyroseebenum) are frequently used to increase the binding potential of the dye. Pathimugam dye along with kayo (Memecylon edule) produces red, violet and black colour combinations on made of Korai, palm leaves and screw pine. The Heartwood (part extracted from Pathimugam) is used in carpentry. The timber, which has straight grains, is of great value under the name of Pernambuco for making violin bows. Besides these, Pathimugam has myriad medicinal properties. The plant is one of the ingredients of an indigenous drug Lukol which is administered orally for the treatment of nonspecific leucorrhoea. Decoction of the wood is powerful astringent and demagogue. It is a tonic for diarrhea and dysentery.

Products and uses

Colored heartwood is the useful part extracted from this plant, the wood is yellowish or brownish orange in colour, darkening on exposure and is hard and heavy with a specific gravity of about 1.03 (air dried) it weighs about 880-975 kg/m3, and is even grained. The wood is very beautiful and takes fine, lustrous polish and is excellent for inlaying and other decorative purposes such as making cabinet, walking sticks and scabbards. However, the wood of Pathimugam is more valued as the source of a red dye, commercially extracted and used for coloring cotton, silk and woolen fabrics, in calico printing and for dyeing coir mats, the dye is extracted by putting chips or powdered wood in water. Once or twice powdered wood, known as Abir or Gulal is also used as the colour spray for the occasion of the Holy festival. The bark and pods of the tree also contain orange yellow or red dye used as a colour in agent for cakes. Wood decoction is medically used as astringent and also in the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea and skin diseases. It is also a powerful emmenagogue. The resin extract of wood fused with potash yield resorcin. Locally, decoctions or powder of the stem is

known as a preventive of abortion, leprosy, insanity and epilepsy. Fruits (pods) of Pathimugam contain about 40% tannin, used for tanning leather; the wood of the plant is also much preferred for making drumsticks.

Cultivation techniques
Economics of cultivation Duration of the crop Soil Climate Spacing Pit Size Irrigation Yield Plant part used Perennial tree / Life Span of Minimum fifty years. Wide range of soil: deep sandy soil Tropics and subtropics (18 C to 40 C) 7 x 7 feet (889 trees/ Acre) or 51/2 x 51/2 feet (1500 trees) / Acre/Fence plantation 21/2 x 21/2 feet 45x45x45 cm cover the pit with 5kg farm yard manures Once in 3 4 days (first six months) Drip Irrigation is more suitable Start from 7th of planting 50 120kgs of wood (Including root) available from one tree / branch Heart wood, Bark, Pod

Pests/diseases: - In tropical areas Pathimugam wood and roots are attacked by a white Fungicide. Therefore, middle of May each year bordeaux mixture should be used. Preparation: - It is prepared by mixing copper sulphate and lime powder in water. To get 1% mixture, 1 kg of CuSO4 and 1 kg of lime powder in 100 liters of water should be mixed and five liters for each tree should be used. A. Cost of cultivation/ Acre Sl. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Item Land preparation Digging of pits Manures and fertilizers Cost of seedlings (1050 nos.) Cost of drip irrigation Other cost Total Amount (1 Acre) Rs. 2500 Rs. 6000 Rs. 6000 Rs. 10500 Rs. 25000 Rs. 4500 Rs. 54000

B. Expected income (average) 8th year Sl. No. 1 2 Item 80 kgs wood/tree x 850 trees= 68000 kgs x@ Rs. 50/kg 40 kg root/tree x 850 trees = 34,000 kgs x@Rs. 80/kg Amount (Rs. In lakhs ) Rs. 34,00,000 61,20,000

Irrigated crop will yield higher than unirrigated crop 80 to 180 kg wood per tree, present market rate of around Rs.200 to 300 kg

Important chemical consumptions in Pathimugam Wood

Tannin, aromatic oil brazilin, d-x-pheleandrene b-anyria, alanin, aspartic acid, palmatic acid, linotic acid, etc.

Medicinal Value
Pathimugam is a herbal medicine. From the ancient days it has seen widely used for various medicinal purposes. The hard part of the wood of the tree is used for the medicine. The Tibetan medical encyclopedia, the Ashtangahridayam, the Sahasrayogam, the Dhanwanthari Nikhandu and all Pauranic Ayurvedic books state its medical usages. Recently a lot of articles were published in the print media about the medicinal value of this product. Experts state that Pathimugam can prevent and cure diseases like certain types of cancer, kidney disorder, piles, cholesterol, blood purification, stomach ailments, skin diseases, diabetics, heart diseases, etc. If Pathimugam is boiled in water, the water gets purified and thereby drinking this water can prevent epidemic diseases spreading through water. It is used as an ingredient in almost all Ayurvedic medicines and because of its prophylactic nature; it can be used by itself as a medicine.

Commercial Feature
Pathimugam is an excellent dye raw material. WTO and WHO has decided to ban the usage of artificial chemical dye for human usage, both internal and external, within a short span of time. By doing so, the experts foresee that the natural colour dye demand will increase by 1,000 times than the current consumption. Hence, agricultural experts state that Pathimugam has a bright future in the natural colour dye industry. It is also an ideal plant for dry land development. It requires very little amount of water. When it grows it provides plenty of oxygen and cools the atmosphere of the surrounding areas. It provides an ideal environment for patients who require treatment in agro-therapy.

Financial Benefit At present the market price of this wood is Rs 200-300 per kg. With increasing utilization a greater demand for it can be foreseen in the near future. If the government develops dry land with this plant, in all respects, it will benefit financially and environmentally. Besides, it will also be a great achievement for the agricultural/medicinal plant cultivation sector.

Propagation
Pathimugam can be propagated through seeds. Fresh seeds collected from minimum seven-year-old healthy trees are ideal for better germination and colour of wood. 11/2 kg seeds is used for one acre plantation. Seeds propagate and it is a fast growing tree. Seeds require scarification or hot water treatment (10min @ 50-60 C) for easy germination.

Pathimugam Wood
Pathimugam wood also known as East Indian Redwood comes from a tree that has both ornamental and medical properties. A small thorny tree, it can reach a height of more than 30 feet and is also cultivated in gardens and nurseries. The inner, or heart, wood of the tree is harvested by being sawn into large pieces and then cut into smaller slices. In addition, Pathimugam wood has salty and natural properties and is associated with the heart, liver and spleen meridians. Its main functions are to invigorate the blood and reduce pain and swelling. It is often used to treat blood-related conditions such as dysmenorrheal and amenorrhea and to reduce abdominal pain following child birth. Pathimugam wood is also used to reduce pain and swelling caused by external injuries. The typical dosage of Pathimugam Wood is between 3 and 10gms. Boiled in water as a decoction, some practitioners also recommend Pathimugam wood powder.

Forms of Pathimugam wood

Whole slice of Pathimugam wood can be found at some herbal shops and Asian markets. In addition, many stores sell Pathimugam wood powders, pills as extracts.

Production and Marketing

The wood of the plant is procured and marketed by The Farming Trust of India as a nonforest wood produce. The trust procures the wood for Rs.50 to 200 Kg and sells it for Rs. 60 to 225 Kg. The Farming Trust of India assured 100% marketing support to farmers with Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Caution: The crop yield and performance indicated are based on trials conducted of the research and development farm. Field performance is subjected to agro conditions and management practices adopted by the farmers. D. G. Vijayan
The Farming Trust of India An Agro-based Industrial Development Enterprise Em. No ; 320061101095 BPL Koottupatha Jn, Marutharoad PO, Palakkad-678 007, Kerala, India Phone: - 0491-2572246, 2572259, 2908948, Fax: - 0491-2572259 E-mail:- agromedi_agro@yahoo.co.in, Website: - www.thefarmingtrustofindia.org

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