HERBAL GARDEN

पनस

Classification

Synoyms

Panasa (Sanskrit)
Kathal (Hindi)
Kanthal (Bengali)
Jak (regional)
Jack Tree

Habit

Large, evergreen, fruit-bearing tree.

Habitat

Native to Western Ghats of India, widely cultivated throughout tropical Asia. Found in warm, humid climates up to 1500 m elevation.

Morphology

  • Tree up to 15–20 meters in height
  • Leaves: Simple, glossy, dark green, ovate
  • Flowers: Small, unisexual, borne on trunk or branches
  • Fruits: Large, greenish-yellow, spiky surface; multiple fruit with fleshy bulbs
  • Seeds: Smooth, oval, starchy

Chemical Composition

Carbohydrates (especially in ripe fruit)
Proteins (in seeds)
Vitamins: A, B-complex, C
Tannins
Flavonoids
Phytosterols
Saponins
Lecithin (in seeds)

Guna-Karma

Rasa- Unripe fruit: Kashaya (astringent), Madhura (sweet), Ripe fruit: Madhura (sweet)
Guna–Guru (heavy), Snigdha (unctuous)
Virya- Unripe: Ushna (hot), Ripe: Sheeta (cold)
Vipaka- Madhura (sweet)
Karma- Brimhana, Balya, Grahi, Vrishya, Vranaropaka, Raktaprasadaka
Doshakarma-

Medicinal uses

Unripe fruit: Used in diarrhea, dysentery, digestive weakness.
Ripe fruit: Nutritive, used in debility, loss of weight, general weakness.
Seeds: Starch-rich, improve digestion, increase semen, and reduce Vata.
Bark and latex: Used externally for wound healing.
Leaves used in skin diseases and boils.
Useful in cardiac weakness, constipation, and sexual debility.

Useful Part

Fruit (ripe/unripe), Seed, Leaf, Bark, Latex

Doses

Unripe fruit decoction: 50–100 ml
Seed powder: 3–6 g
Fruit pulp: As diet supplement
Bark paste: External use
Latex: External use (in small amount)

Important Formulation

Panasa Ksheera Paak
Panasa Beeja Churna

Shloka

पनसस्तु गुरु स्वादुः स्थूलः पित्तविवर्धनः।
वातश्लेष्महरः पाके रूक्षः कषायको गुणः॥ (भावप्रकाश निघण्टु – फलवर्ग)

Hindi Name​

कटहल / पनस

English Name

Jackfruit

Botanical Name

Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.

Family

Moraceae