5 Health Benefits of Pathimugam Water

Pathimugam water is very famous in Kerala. Whenever we visit our friends house in Kerala, we will be usually served with pathimugam water which is nothing but infusion made with the heartwood of pathimugam tree. It is a beautiful pink coloured water with many wonderful health benefits and medicinal uses. From treating ulcer and protecting our skin to reducing blood sugar levels, it has wide uses!

It is a species of flowering tree in the legume family fabaceae. It is native to southeast Asia and it’s botanical name is Caesalpinia Sappan. It is found all over southeast Asia and its dried hardwood has been used as a traditional ingredient to color food and beverages and as a home remedy to treat certain ailments.

Brazilin is the major active compound found in pathimugam heartwood and is responsible for the natural red pigment. It is called sappan wood in English, Chappangam in Malayalam, Patunga in Hindi, Sappanga in Kannada, Pathang in Marathi and Pathimugam in Tamil.

# Anti-inflammatory Properties

Several compounds present in pathimugam has anti-inflammatory properties including brazilin and sapponone. It is excellent for treating wounds and helps reduce the inflammation and pain very soon if used as a wound wash. People who are suffering from arthritis and inflammation will greatly benefit consuming pathimugam water on a regular basis.

It also helps with allergic airway inflammation which is asthma. It not only helps with external wounds and inflammation, it also helps treat neuroinflammation which is the leading cause of various brain diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

# Anticancer Properties

It is effective against many cancer cell lines including colorectal cancer. 3-DSC, a component present in pathimugam suppresses colon cancer cell growth. 3-DSC is also effective against human esophageal cancer cells. Brazilin causes cancer cell death and is effective against Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), cancer of the nervous system. Brazilin is also effective against cervical, lung, breast and hepato cancer cell lines.

# For Metabolic Diseases

Diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol are considered metabolic diseases and pathimugam helps with all the three. Pathimugam extract helps reduce high blood sugar levels. In a study, 30 menopausal women had their blood sugar levels tested and were given pathimugam water. After giving pathimugam water, their blood glucose levels were checked again. The test results showed that there was significant difference between blood glucose levels before and after drinking the water. Since it also has vasorelaxant properties, it helps with blood pressure too.

# Antiulcer Properties

Pathimugam water has gastroprotective properties and has been traditionally used for treating ulcer. In a study, rats were fasted overnight and were given pathimugam water extract at the doses of 250 mg per kg and 500 mg per kg. The results showed that it has powerful antiulcer properties. If you are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome or ulcer, try including pathimugam water in your diet regularly.

# Antiplatelet Properties

Brazilin the major component of pathimugam has been proven to have antiplatelet activity. It does this through the inhibition of phospholipase A2 and increasing intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. Among the Brazilin derivatives, BRX-018 is the most effective antiplatelet agent.