Lovely capture, Pravin ji,
Some interesting extracts from Wikipedia link (for pictures & more details, click on the link): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_concinna *Acacia concinna* is a tree native to Asia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia> .[2] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_concinna#cite_note-ildis-1> The tree is food for the larvae <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larva> of the butterfly <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly> *Pantoporia hordonia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantoporia_hordonia> *.[3] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_concinna#cite_note-2> Alkaloids<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaloids>are found in the tree's fruit. [4] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_concinna#cite_note-3> Extracts from the tree are sometimes used in natural shampoos or hair powders, underlying its popular name of shikakai <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikakai> (fruit for the hair). Its saponins <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saponin> appear to have a hormonal effect, leading to its use for contraceptive purposes.[5]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_concinna#cite_note-4> Some interesting extracts from Wikipedia link (for pictures & more details, click on the link): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikakai *Acacia concinna* has been used for hair care in India for centuries, it is now grown commercially in India and Far East Asia. The plant parts used for the dry powdered or the extract are the bark, leaves or pods. It is a common shrub found in jungles throughout India. The bark contains high levels of saponins <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saponin>, which are foaming agents that are found in several other plant species. Saponin<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saponin>-containing plants have a long history of use as mild cleaning agents. Saponins<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saponin>from the plant's pods have been traditionally used as a detergent and in Bengal for poisoning fish and are documented to be potent marine toxins. In commercial extracts, when the plant is hydrolyzed it yields lupeol and spinasterol and acacic acid lactone, and the sugars glucose, arabinose and rhamnose. It also contains hexacosanol and spinasterone. The saponin<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saponin>of the bark has spermicidal activity against human semen. The leaves have an acidic taste and are used in chutneys. The leaves contain oxalic, tartaric, citric, succinic and ascorbic acids, as well as two alkaloids, calyctomine and nicotine. An infusion of the leaves has been used in anti-dandruff preparations. Extracts of the ground pods have been used for various skin diseases. The fruit pods, leaves and bark of Acacia Concinna are dried, powdered and made into a paste at home. While this paste does not produce the normal amount of lather <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foam> that a regular shampoo would, it is a good cleanser. It has a natural low pH, is extremely mild, and doesn't strip hair of natural oils <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil>. Usually no rinse or conditioner <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conditioner>is used since shikakai also acts as a detangler. It is also used to combat dandruff. 2009/4/13 Pravin Kawale <[email protected]> > Hi, > Flowers of Acacia concinna > Marathi name Shikakai > Kanakeshwar,Alibag > 11/04/2009 > Thanks > > > DSC02724.JPG > DSC02728.JPG > DSC02726.JPG > > These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google. > Try it out here: http://picasa.google.com/ > > > > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
