Madhuca longifolia

It is cultivated in warm and humid regions for its oleaginous seeds (producing between 20 and 200 kg of seeds annually per tree, depending on maturity), flowers and wood. The fat (solid at ambient temperature) is used for the care of the skin, to manufacture soap or detergents, and as a vegetable butter. It can also be used as a fuel oil. The seed cakes obtained after extraction of oil constitute very good fertilizer. The flowers are used to produce an alcoholic drink in tropical India. This drink is also known to affect animals.{{Cite web|url=https://myfox8.com/2012/11/07/50-drunken-elephants-ransack-village-in-india-drink-130-gallons-of-moonshine/|title = 50 drunken elephants ransack village in India, drink 130 gallons of moonshine|date = 7 November 2012}} Several parts of the tree, including the bark, are used for their medicinal properties. It is considered holy by many tribal communities because of its usefulness.{{Citation needed|date=November 2016}}

Image:Madhuca indica (Mahua) in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 0068.jpg]]

The leaves of Madhuca indica (= M. longifolia) are fed on by the moth Antheraea paphia, which produces tassar silk, a form of wild silk of commercial importance in India.{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ab598e/AB598E13.htm |title=Non-Wood Forest Products in 15 Countries Of Tropical Asia : An Overview |publisher=Fao.org |access-date=2013-11-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418203749/http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ab598e/AB598E13.htm |archive-date=2014-04-18 }} Leaves, flowers and fruits are also lopped to feed goats and sheep.Heuzé V., Tran G., Archimède H., Bastianelli D., Lebas F., 2017. Mahua (Madhuca longifolia). Feedipedia, a programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/131

The seed oil of 'Madhuca indica' can be utilize to synthesize polymer resin. In one of the attempts, it has been used to prepare alkyd type of polyurethane resins, which are used as a good source of anticorrosion organic coatings.V. J. Patil, 2024. Madhuca indica (Mahua) seed oil towards synthesis of alkyd-type polyurethane anticorrosive coatings. Industrial Crops and Products, Vol. 219, page 119059

The Tamils have several uses for M. longifolia (iluppai in Tamil). The saying "aalai illaa oorukku iluppaip poo charkkarai" indicates when there is no cane sugar available, the flower of M. longifolia can be used, as it is very sweet. However, Tamil tradition cautions that excessive use of this flower will result in imbalance of thinking and may even lead to lunacy.Dr. J.Raamachandran, HERBS OF SIDDHA MEDICINES-The First 3D Book on Herbs, pp38

The alkaloids in the press cake of mahura seeds is reportedly used in killing fishes in aquaculture ponds in some parts of India. The cake serves to fertilise the pond, which can be drained, sun dried, refilled with water and restocked with fish fingerlings.Keenan, G.I., 1920. The microscopical identification of mohraw meal in insecticides. J. American Pharmaceutical Assoc., Vol. IX, No. 2, pp.144-147T.V.R.Pillay and M.N.Kutty, 2005. Aquaculture: Principles and Practices. 2nd Edition. Blackwell Publishing Ltd., p.623

File:Mahua_Flowers_1.jpg

The mahura flower is edible and is a food item for tribals. They use it to make syrup for medicinal purposes.

Mahura flowers are rich in total sugars, out of which reducing sugar are present in high amount. The flowers are also fermented to produce the alcoholic beverage also known as mahura wine.,{{cite journal |last1=Suryawanshi |first1=Yogesh |last2=Mokat |first2=Digambar |title=Variability studies in Madhuca longifolia var. latifolia flowers from Northern Western Ghats of India |journal=Indian Journal of Hill Farming |date=2020 |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=261–266}} Tribals in the central belt of Indian such as of Dahanu, Maharashtra, Surguja and Bastar in Chhattisgarh and peoples of Western Orissa, Santhals of Santhal Paraganas (Jharkhand), Koya tribals of North-East Andhra Pradesh and Bhil tribals in western Madhya Pradesh consider the tree and the mahura drink as part of their cultural heritage. Mahura is an essential drink for tribal men and women during celebrations.{{cite web|url=http://www.india9.com/i9show/Mahuwa-59485.htm |title=Mahuwah |publisher=India9.com |date=2005-06-07 |access-date=2013-11-21}}

Mahura fruit are an essential food of Maharashtra, Western Odisha and the people of the central belt of India. The tree has a great cultural significance. There are many varieties of food prepared with its fruits and flowers. Also in Maharashtra, Western Odisha people used to pray to this tree during festivals. The spirit produced from the flowers is largely colourless, opaque and not very strong. It is inexpensive and the production is largely done in home stills.{{Citation needed|date=November 2016}}

Mahura flowers are also used to manufacture jam, which is made by tribal co-operatives in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Forest-department-LIT-develop-new-products-from-mahua/articleshow/17472663.cms | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140213124910/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-04/nagpur/35593507_1_mahua-country-liquor-tribals | url-status=live | archive-date=2014-02-13 | work=The Times of India | title=Forest department, LIT develop new products from mahua | date=2012-12-04}}

In many parts of Bihar, such as villages in the district of Siwan, the flowers of mahura tree are sun-dried; these sun-dried flowers are ground to flour and used to make various kinds of breads.

File:Mahua for sale.jpg

File:Mahua Drying by Pankaj Oudhia.jpg

Wine prepared from Madhūka flowers (Madhuca longifolia) finds mention in several Hindu, Jain and Buddhist literature works.Thomas, P. (1966). Incredible India. |page 97| D. B. Taraporevala Sons It also finds mention in Ayurveda Samhitas which lists it among several different kinds of wine.An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, p461, Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (Kairaj), 1907.

{{Blockquote

|text=Kali who is seated on a red lotus in full bloom, her beautiful face radiant, watching Mahākāla, who, drunk with the delicious wine of the madhūka flower, is dancing before her..

|author=Mahānirvaņa TantraAvalon, A. (2017). Mahanirvana Tantra.

}}

Madhūka or Mahura tree is the sacred tree of various temples in South India, including Irumbai Mahaleswarar Temple, Iluppaipattu Neelakandeswarar Temple, Tirukkodimaada Senkundrur at Tiruchengode, and Thiruvanathapuram.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shaivam.org/sv/sv_illuppai.htm|title=Shaivam.org - Devoted to God Shiva - An abode for Hindu God Shiva on the Internet|website=www.shaivam.org}} The Tamil saint-philosopher Thiruvalluvar is believed to have been born under an iluppai tree within the Ekambareshwarar Temple at Mylapore, and hence madhūka remains the sanctum tree of the Valluvar shrine built within the Ekambareshwarar temple complex.{{cite news | last = Ramakrishnan | first = Deepa H. | title = As a war of words rages outside, peace reigns inside this temple | newspaper =The Hindu| location = Chennai | publisher = Kasturi & Sons | date = 15 November 2019 | url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/as-a-war-of-words-rages-outside-peace-reigns-inside-this-temple/article29976407.ece | page=3| access-date = 5 January 2020}}

• Average oil Content: 32.92 to 57.53% {{cite journal |last1=Suryawanshi |first1=Yogesh |last2=Mokat |first2=Digambar |title=Morphophysiological Seed Variability in Mahua Trees from Western Ghats and Its Impact on Tribal Life. |journal=Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. |year=2021 |volume=91 |pages=227–239 |doi=10.1007/s40011-020-01223-w|s2cid=231876956 }}
• Refractive index: 1.452
• Fatty acid composition (acid, %) : palmitic (c16:0) : 24.5, stearic (c18:0) : 22.7, oleic (c18:1) : 37.0, linoleic (c18:2) : 14.3
• Elements : Carbon (C), Calcium (Ca), Nitrogen (N), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphorus (P), Sodium (Na) {{cite journal |last1=Suryawanshi |first1=Yogesh |last2=Mokat |first2=Digambar |title=GCMS and Elemental Analysis Of Madhuca Longifolia Var. Latifolia Seeds |journal=International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research |date=2019 |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=786–789 |doi=10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.10(2).786-89|doi-access=free }}

Trifed, a website of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India reports:

"mahura oil has emollient properties and is used in skin disease, rheumatism and headache. It is also a laxative and considered useful in habitual constipation, piles and haemorrhoids and as an emetic. Native tribes also used it as an illuminant and hair fixer."

It has also been used as biodiesel.{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/farm-query-mahua-oil/article5606580.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=Farm Query - Mahua oil | date=2014-01-22}}

• Other botanical names: Bassia longifolia L., B. latifolia Roxb., Madhuca indica J. F. Gmel., M. latifolia (Roxb.) J.F.Macbr., Illipe latifolia (Roxb.) F.Muell., Illipe malabrorum (Engl.) Note: the authentic genus Bassia is in the Chenopodiaceae. The names B. longifolia and B. latifolia are illegitimate.
• Varieties:
• M. longifolia var. latifolia (Roxb.) A.Chev. (=B. latifolia (Roxb))
• M. longifolia var. longifolia
• Vernacular names:
• Santali:matkom
• Bengali:mohua(মহুয়া)
• Oriya:"Mahula"(ମହୂଲ)
• English: honey tree, butter tree
• French: illipe, arbre à beurre, bassie, madhuca
• India: moha, mohua, madhuca, kuligam, madurgam, mavagam, nattiluppai, tittinam, mahwa, mahura, mowa, moa, mowrah, mahuda (Gujarati-મહુડા)
• Marathi: "Mahu" and "muvda" in Pawari local tribal lang (Nandurbar, Maharashtra) / "Moha"
• Rajasthan: "dolma" in mevadi and marwari
• Sri Lanka: මී mee in Sinhala
• Tamil: iluppai (இலுப்பை),
• Telugu: vippa (విప్ప),
• Myanmar: မယ်ဇယ်
• Nepal : Chiuri (चिउरी)
• Synonymous names for this tree in some of the Indian states are mahura and mohwa in Hindi-speaking belt, mahwa, mahula, Mahula in Oriya and maul in Bengal, mahwa and mohwro in Maharashtra, mahuda in Gujarat, ippa puvvu ({{langx|te|ఇప్ప}}) in Andhra Pradesh, ippe or hippe in Karnataka (Kannada), illupei or இலுப்பை in Tamil, poonam and ilupa in Kerala (Malayalam) and mahula, moha and {{lang|or|modgi}} in Orissa (Oriya).

File:Madhuca longifolia var latifolia (Mahua) fruit W IMG 0245.jpg|Fruit in Narsapur, Medak district, India

File:Madhuca longifolia var latifolia (Mahua) leaves W IMG 0247.jpg|Fruit with leaves in Narsapur, Medak district, India

File:Madhuca longifolia var latifolia (Mahua) trunk W IMG 0246.jpg|Trunk in Narsapur, Medak district, India

File:Madhuca longifolia var latifolia (Mahua) W IMG 0242.jpg|Tree in Narsapur, Medak district, India

File:Terminalia belerica Bhopal.JPG

File:Leaves of Madhuca longifolia, Umaria district, MP, India.jpg|Leaves in Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh

File:Bassia latifolia 11.JPG|mahura Tree in Thrissur, Kerala, India

File:Madhuca longifolia var latifolia (Mahua) fruits Melghat Tiger Reserve Maharashtra 56 249.jpg|Flowers from Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

{{Reflist}}

• {{ITIS |id=505956 |taxon=Madhuca longifolia (J. Konig) J. F. Macbr.}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071001015525/http://www.hindu.com/seta/2005/09/01/stories/2005090100201600.htm Alternative edible oil from mahura seeds], The Hindu
• [http://www.oilsbynature.com/products/mowrah-butter-refined.htm Mowrah Butter], OilsByNature.com
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071109190812/http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/FamineFoods/ff_families/SAPOTACEAE.html Famine Foods]
• [http://www.ieindia.org/publish/ag/0604/june04ag3.pdf Use of mahura Oil (Madhuca indica) as a Diesel Fuel Extender]
• [https://www.wwfindia.org/who_we_are/index.cfm?uGlobalSearch=Mahua&uGlobalLang=en WWF India mahura]
• [https://www.ted.com/talks/aparna_pallavi_what_foods_did_your_ancestors_love? "What foods did your ancestors love?"] Video of presentation by Aparna Pallavi at TEDxCapeTownWomen, with mahura being the central example of a common indigenous food source overlooked by the dominant society.

{{Commons category}}

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• Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2001. World checklist and bibliography of Sapotaceae.
• Hara, H. et al. 1978–1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
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longifolia

Category:Flora of the Indian subcontinent

Category:Non-timber forest products