Introduction to Ixora

Scientific Name– Ixora Coccinea

Widely known as: Jungle Germanium or Flame of the Jungle/Woods/Forest

In India it is known as:

Sanskrit – Paranti / Patali

Bengali – Rangan

Kerala – Cheti poo

Hindi – Rugmini / Rangan

Indonesia – Santan

It is widely cultivated in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and South Florida.

Ixora Chemical Properties:

Cyanidin

Cyanidin is a water-soluble pigment majorly found in the skin of the fruits.

Cyanidin is also responsible for the colors of the fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Cyanidin has many health benefits such as; antioxidant, anti-diabetes, anti-toxic (it reduces the DNA fragmentation and oxidative damage), vasoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti-cancer. Cyanidin possesses stronger antioxidant properties than vitamin C and vitamin E; therefore it provides akin protection against harmful ultra-violate radiations.

2. Fatty Acids

Natural Fatty Acids found in plant substances has many health care properties such as; anti-inflammation, improves brain heath, healthy cell signaling, enhances mental and physical performance, improves body composition, and help treating many diseases like asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, heart diseases and excessive bleeding.

Fatty Acids are mainly used in the preparations of soaps, detergents, and personal care products.

Flavonoids

Flavonoids are a water-soluble plant pigments, which contains 15 Carbon Atoms.

Flavonoids are responsible for the natural colors all fruits, vegetables and fruits possess. The more colorful the food item is the more flavonoids it possess.

They possess antioxidants, which are anti-bacterial, anti-allergic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antiviral. These antioxidants protect our body from the oxidative damages.

They help in protecting small blood vessels from damage, to inhibit cell damage and to repair DNA process.

Flavonoids help with curing eczema, fever, asthma, sinusitis and heart diseases.

4. Ferulic Acid

Ferulic Acid is an antioxidant, which boosts the effects of other essential antioxidants.

It can help reducing the development of fine lines, spots and wrinkles by protecting the overall skin integrity. Because of this it is primarily used in many skin care products.

Ferulic Acid helps cure diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular diseases, High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, Osteoporosis, Menopausal symptoms and hypertension. Ferulic Acid helps in enhancing exercise performance and slow up the aging process.

Ferulic Acid is also used for Food Preservation.

Kaempferol

Kaempferol is a natural flavonol, a class of flavonoid, found in many fruits, vegetables and herbs.

It exhibits many pharmacological activities as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cardio protective, neuroprotective, ant osteoporotic, anxiolytic, analgesic, anti-allergic, anti-diabetic and anti-cancer activities.

Kaempferol is a Polyphenol Antioxidant, which improves our body’s defense against free harmful radicals.

It helps in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, especially cancer (breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, blood cancer).

Kaempferol interferes with many signaling pathways required for the survival of cancer cells.

Kaempferol protects against many oxidative stresses and inflammatory age-related chronic disorders such as inflammatory diseases and kidney diseases.

Phenolic Acid

Phenolic Acids can easily absorb through the walls of our intestinal tract.

It acts as antioxidant that prevents the cellular damage caused by free- radical reactions.

It also has anti-inflammatory properties.

It is an important compound to change cell-signaling pathways. Natural Phenolic Acid compounds play a very important role in cancer prevention and treatment.

It helps in keeping a check on Carcinogen Metabolism, Proliferation and Migration.

Phenolic compounds help in reducing effects of Chemotherapy.

7. Proanthocyanidins

It is a chemical compound present in many fruits and flowers; which gives their Red, Blue or Purple colors.

Proanthocyanidis are in a group of compounds called polyphenols. These belong to subclass called Flavonoids. These compounds may help in preventing Cancer. It also helps in reducing the risk of age-related problems. (*Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult their doctors first before using it) There are no any side effects linked with Proanthocyanidins reported till now.

It is effective in improving the function of leg veins in people with widespread varicose veins, reducing the abdominal pain or irregularities, slowing the progression of diabetics, treating hypertension.

8. Quercetin

Quercetin is a Pigment found in many plants, fruits, and vegetables.

Quercetin is bitter in flavor.

It has Anti-oxidant properties, which protects our body from free radicals (such as pollution, cigarette smoke, radiation, chemical toxins, greenhouse gases).

It is used as an ingredient in dietary supplements. Quercetin supplements have been used for the treatment of cancer and various other diseases. (*There is no evidence that Quercetin is useful to treat cancer).

The safety using Quercetin in dietary supplements during pregnancy and lactation has not been established.

Quercetin is useful in Reducing Inflammation, Reducing the risk of cancer, Preventing Neurological Diseases, Relieving allergy symptoms, Preventing Infections, Reducing the risk of Heart Disease, Lowering High Blood Pressure (medicalnewstoday.com)

Tannin

Tannins bitter taste natural substances.

Antimicrobial activities of Tannin fight against Bacterial Infections.

It also acts as an Antioxidant against free radicals, which cause Skin Damage.

Tannins are also a Natural Astringent. They remove excess oil from your pores and tighten them.

Tannins are Phenolic compounds, which easily bind to the Keratin Proteins of the Hair. Tannins are found in most hair friendly Herbs.

Tannins are molecules useful for the human health because of their antioxidant properties. They have anti-cancer properties.

Because of all these chemical compounds Ixora has many medicinal benefits such as:

Anti-microbial
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-diarrhea
Anti-dysenteric
Anti-tumor

Ixora has many health benefits such as:

It helps in

Healing Wounds,
Chronic Ulcer,
Bodyache,
Cramps,
Sprains,
Hypertension,
Tuberculosis,
Menstruation Problems,
Hemorrhoids,
Bronchitis,
Prevents internal bleeding,

The regular consumption of Ixora Infusion purifies the blood and helps to maintain the health of the uterus.

Ixora is a natural Astringent. It can be used in form of

Tincture,
Poultice,
Decoction,
Infusion or
Dried powder.

The entire plant has many medicinal properties. Its flowers, roots, stem are used to treat many ailments and its fruits when fully ripen can be used as dietary source.

Roots- The roots of Ixora plant are more potent and can be used as a sedative.

Uses:-

To treat diarrhoea or Leucorrhoea – Make a paste of Ixora root powder (100 gm) and Black pepper seeds powder (50 gm). Drink this with buttermilk or water twice a day for 3-4 days. Dosage – 20 to 50 ml
To treat fever- Mix together ixora root bark powder and clove powder. Take around 1 to 5 gms of dosage twice a day with water.
To treat Tuberculosis- Boil 30 to 60 gms of ixora root with water and make a decoction. Drink this twice a day to treat Tuberculosis.
To treat nausea, hiccups and loss of appetite- Drink ixora root decoction.
Tincture of Ixora roots can be used as a natural effective mouthwash.
To heal the sore throat – gargle with ixora root tincture.
The regular consumption of Ixora root decoction clarifies Urine.
To treat sores and ulcer- Add few drops of water in ixora root powder and make a paste. Tropically apply this paste over the sores and ulcers.

Flowers– Ixora flowers contain Cyanidin and Flavonoids. Ixora is considered a plant of flowering species. It comes in beautiful red, pink, yellow, orange, and white colors. These flowers can be used for your skin, hair, and decoration purposes as well as to treat so many ailments.