Mallotus philipensis is specie belongs to Euphorbiaceae family in the
genus Mallotus.
Mallotus consists of 140 species which are distributed in tropical
Africa, Madagascar, east and Southeast Asia, Indomalaysia to New Caledonia
and Fiji, northern and southern Australia.
The height of M. philipensis reaches upto 10 meters and the leaves are 1
to 2 inches long, alternate, ovate and articulated.
The branches are straight slender with pale bark and flowers are
dioecious arranged in male and female together in the axils of small
bracts.
The plant also consists of trilobed small capsule of pea size having
minute glands and bearing small hairs.
These capsules are odourless and tasteless but used in various purposes.
It is cultivated in Europe, Africa, North America, Central America and
southern Missouri and Kentucky.
Leaves, seeds, bark.
Rottlerin, yellow and red resins, wax, yellow crystalline substance,
tannic acid, gum, volatile oil.
Kamala has been extensively used in India for cutaneous eruptions like
tapeworms, ringworms etc.
A red powder is obtained from capsules which are used for dyeing and as
traditional medicine for eyes and tapeworm.
The various actions performed by kamala are anthelmintic, aphrodisiac
and cathartic.
Poultice made of leaves and bark is applied on skin infection
especially on ringworm and scabies.
Other uses of kamala are- its wood pulp is being used in making paper,
also used as antioxidant for ghee and vegetable oil.