Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Bakula

Mimusops elengi L.

Bakula (Mimusops elengi L.) is a plant used in Ayurveda, from the Sapotaceae family. Dental and gum health use validated through antimicrobial activity against S. Listed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India and Unani Pharmacopoeia.

Key facts
Botanical nameMimusops elengi L.
FamilySapotaceae · other entries in this family
OrderEricales
Pharmacopoeia statusListed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India and Unani Pharmacopoeia. Used traditionally across South and Southeast Asian medicine systems. No WHO monograph available.
Taxon identifiersGBIF 2883768 · Wikidata Q2088434 · NCBI Taxonomy 233715

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishBakula
Latin/BotanicalMimusops elengi L.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Anti-inflammatory action via triterpenoid-mediated (betulinic acid) inhibition of 5-LOX and COX-2 pathways
  • Anticancer activity through betulinic acid-induced mitochondrial apoptosis and caspase cascade activation in cancer cells
  • Anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects via GABAergic receptor modulation by bark alkaloid fractions
  • Oral health protection through antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans and astringent tannin effects on gingival tissue

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

  • Dental and gum health use validated through antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and periodontal pathogens
  • Anti-ulcer activity confirmed in aspirin and ethanol-induced gastric ulcer models in rats
  • Heart tonic (Hridya) use supported by cardioprotective effects in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction models
  • Snakebite first-aid use partially validated through anti-venom and anti-inflammatory preliminary studies

What do recent clinical trials show?

2 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • Bark and flower decoctions are traditionally used for dental care and are generally well-tolerated at recommended Ayurvedic doses
  • Formal human clinical safety trials are limited; acute toxicity studies in rodents indicate LD50 > 2000 mg/kg for most extracts

What is it made of?

Key Active Markers

  • Taraxerol
  • Quercetin
  • Spinasterol
  • Lupeol
  • Mannitol
  • Quercitrin
  • Betulinic acid
  • Taraxerone
  • Ursolic acid

Analytical Methods: HPLC fingerprinting, TLC (identity), LC-MS/MS (marker quantification)

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Kwath (decoction concentrate), Manjan (tooth powder), Taila (oil), Arishta (fermented preparation)

Standard Dosage: 3-6g powder twice daily; 50-100ml decoction; bark powder 1-3g for dental use

Bioavailability: Moderate oral bioavailability due to tannin content. Enhancement via co-administration with lipids or Pippali (bioenhancer). Saponin glycosides show improved absorption with warm water vehicle. Tannin-rich fractions may benefit from enteric coating to prevent gastric binding.

Optimal Timing: After meals for general use; as gargle/mouthwash after meals for dental applications; decoction on empty stomach for uterine tonification

Standardized Extract: Bark extract standardized to not less than 10% total tannins; flower extract standardized to quercetin content (NLT 0.5%)

Shelf Life: 2 years (powder); 3 years (tablet); 1 year (decoction/arishta)

Storage: Cool, dry place away from light and moisture. Flower preparations require airtight amber containers.

Marker Compounds: Mimusopside, Quercetin, Ursolic acid, Beta-sitosterol, Gallic acid, Lupeol, Mi-saponin A

Extraction Methods

  • Aqueous decoction (1:8, reduced to 1:4)
  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (50:50 ethanol:water)
  • Cold maceration for flower extracts
  • Sequential extraction (hexane then ethanol) for bark

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Khadira (Acacia catechu) for oral health formulations
  • With Lodhra for astringent gynecological preparations
  • With Yashtimadhu for throat and gum care
  • With Jatiphala for dental pain relief

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Other clinical studies and reviews1

  1. Gami B, Pathak S, Parabia M. 2012. Ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological review of Mimusops elengi LinnAsian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine. PMID 23570006 · doi:10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60221-4

Laboratory and animal studies11

  1. Mohammed HS, Elhawary SS, Abd Elkader EM and others. 2025. Comprehensive metabolomic profiling and anti-aging potential of mimusops elengi L. Fruits and leaves: integrating LC-triple TOF-MS, molecular networking, and in silico approachesNatural product research. PMID 40966541 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2025.2562596
  2. Gowda NGS, Raju NR, Silina E and others. 2022. Mimusops elengi (Bakula) Gelatinolytic Protease and its Plasmin-like Action on the Blood ClotCurrent protein & peptide science. PMID 36043759 · doi:10.2174/1389203723666220829114301
  3. J CN, S R, S H. 2022. Mimusops elengi Flower-Mediated Green Silver Nanoparticles Control Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumanniiApplied biochemistry and biotechnology. PMID 35347673 · doi:10.1007/s12010-022-03882-z
  4. Huang Q, He L. 2022. The complete chloroplast genome of Mimusops elengi (Sapotaceae: Sapoteae)Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources. PMID 35783046 · doi:10.1080/23802359.2022.2087550
  5. Bhavikatti SK, Karobari MI, Zainuddin SLA and others. 2021. Investigating the Antioxidant and Cytocompatibility of Mimusops elengi Linn Extract over Human Gingival Fibroblast CellsInternational journal of environmental research and public health. PMID 34281099 · doi:10.3390/ijerph18137162
  6. Mistry KS, Sanghvi Z, Parmar G and others. 2015. Antibacterial efficacy of Azadirachta indica, Mimusops elengi and 2% CHX on multispecies dentinal biofilmJournal of conservative dentistry : JCD. PMID 26752840 · doi:10.4103/0972-0707.168810
  7. Ishnava KB, Shah PP. 2014. Anticariogenic and Hemolytic Activity of Selected Seed Protein Extracts In vitro conditionsJournal of dentistry (Tehran, Iran). PMID 25628685
  8. Kiran Kumar HA, Mandal BK, Mohan Kumar K and others. 2014. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Mimusops elengi seed extract mediated isotropic silver nanoparticlesSpectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy. PMID 24759779 · doi:10.1016/j.saa.2014.03.024
  9. Shahwar D, Raza MA. 2012. Antioxidant potential of phenolic extracts of Mimusops elengiAsian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine. PMID 23569968 · doi:10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60094-X
  10. Ashok P, Koti BC, Vishwanathswamy AH. 2010. Antiurolithiatic and antioxidant activity of Mimusops elengi on ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in ratsIndian journal of pharmacology. PMID 21189910 · doi:10.4103/0253-7613.71925
  11. Purnima A, Koti BC, Thippeswamy AH and others. 2010. Antiinflammatory, Analgesic and Antipyretic Activities of Mimusops elengi LinnIndian journal of pharmaceutical sciences. PMID 21218059 · doi:10.4103/0250-474X.73908

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