Devadaru

Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) G.Don

Devadaru (Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) G.Don) is a plant drug, also called Amarataru and Devadara, from the Pinaceae family. Described in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India and classical texts (Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya).

Key facts
Botanical name	Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) G.Don
Family	Pinaceae · other entries in this family
Order	Pinales
Pharmacopoeia status	Described in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India and classical texts (Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya). No WHO monograph available. Wood oil is commercially traded internationally.
Taxon identifiers	GBIF 5284698 · Wikidata Q146935 · NCBI Taxonomy 3322

Names in other languages
Sanskrit	Amarataru, देवदारु (devadāru)
Hindi	देवदार (devadāra)
Tamil	தேவதாரம்
Urdu	Amaradaru, Bhadradaru, Daru, Devakastha, Surabhuruha, Suradaru

Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; India Flora Online (IISc) herbsheet for Cedrus deodara, Sanskrit 'Devdar'; davpharmacy/SDM Dravyaguna monograph 'Devadaru — देवदारु' for Cedrus deodara.; India Flora Online (IISc) herbsheet for Cedrus deodara: Tamil 'Devadaram' (alongside Kannada 'Devadaru', Sanskrit 'Devdar').; India Flora Online (IISc, indiaflora-ces.iisc.ac.in herbsheet for Cedrus deodara): Hindi 'Devdar'. Corroborated by the Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara / davpharmacy Dravyaguna monograph 'Devadaru — देवदारु' for Cedrus deodara.. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2002 to 2024, every one with a DOI.

4Other clinical studies and reviews
8Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

Language	Name
English	Devadaru
Latin/Botanical	Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) G.Don

Key Phytochemical Constituents

Himachalol (sesquiterpenoid)
Alpha-himachalene
Beta-himachalene
Gamma-himachalene
Taxifolin (dihydroquercetin)
Cedrusone A
Deodarin
Cedeodarin
Cedrin
Alpha-terpineol
Limonene
Isopimaric acid
Wikstromol (lignan)

How does it work?

Spasmolytic activity of himachalol via non-specific smooth muscle relaxation similar to papaverine (calcium channel antagonism)
Anti-inflammatory action through flavonoid-mediated (taxifolin) inhibition of COX-2, LOX, and NF-kB signaling pathways
Neuroprotective effects via antioxidant-mediated reduction of oxidative stress in neuronal cells and modulation of neurotransmitter levels
Antimicrobial activity through essential oil terpenoids disrupting microbial cell membrane integrity

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.

Traditionally used for inflammatory and arthritic conditions. Animal studies have reported anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity in carrageenan-induced paw edema and Freund’s adjuvant models.
Diuretic and antiurolithiatic use: animal studies in rats have reported diuretic and antiurolithiatic effects in ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis models.
Antifungal use: in vitro studies of the essential oil have reported activity against Aspergillus fumigatus and dermatophyte species.
Traditionally used for respiratory ailments. Preclinical studies have reported bronchodilatory and antiasthmatic activity.

What do recent studies show?

Bisht A, Jain S, Misra A and others 2021. Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) G.Don: A review of traditional use, phytochemical composition and pharmacology. Journal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 34166738 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.114361
Confirmed taxifolin and deodarin as major bark flavonoids with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; wood essential oil showed significant analgesic effects.

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

Non-toxic and non-irritating to rabbit and sheep skin in dermal studies; no adverse effects on blood urea nitrogen or blood glucose levels at tested doses
Mode of action, efficacy, optimal dose range and long-term safety in humans require further investigation; essential oil should be used in diluted form to avoid skin sensitization

What is it made of?

Key Active Markers

Taxifolin
Limonene
Himachalol
Alpha-himachalene
Beta-himachalene
Gamma-himachalene
Cedrusone A
Deodarin
Cedeodarin
Cedrin
Alpha-terpineol
Isopimaric acid
Wikstromol

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Taila (medicated oil), Tablet, Capsule, Kwath Ghana (solid extract), Dhupa (fumigation - traditional)

Standard Dosage: 3-6g powder twice daily; 50-100ml decoction twice daily; 500mg extract capsule twice daily; Taila for external application

Optimal Timing: Traditionally taken after meals with warm water; Taila traditionally applied with gentle massage, preferably in the evening

Storage: Store in airtight, amber containers below 25 deg C. Essential oil: cool, dark place, nitrogen-blanketed to prevent oxidation. Powder: protect from moisture; heartwood powder is relatively stable but volatile components diminish over time.

Marker Compounds: Alpha-himachalene, Beta-himachalene, Himachalol, Allohimachalol, Centdarol, Deodarone, Cedrin

Synergistic Combinations

Traditionally combined as follows:

With Guggulu for anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic synergy
With Rasna for Vata-Kapha joint disorders
With Eranda Taila for external application in musculoskeletal pain
With Nirgundi for analgesic enhancement
With Haridra for anti-inflammatory potentiation

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 reviews4

Bisht A, Jain S, Misra A and others. 2021. Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) G.Don: A review of traditional use, phytochemical composition and pharmacologyJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 34166738 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.114361
Heinrich M, Jiang H, Scotti F and others. 2021. Medicinal plants from the Himalayan region for potential novel antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory skin treatmentsThe Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology. PMID 33886964 · doi:10.1093/jpp/rgab039
Saab AM, Gambari R, Sacchetti G and others. 2018. Phytochemical and pharmacological properties of essential oils from Cedrus speciesNatural product research. PMID 28670915 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2017.1346648
Singh AB, Kumar P. 2002. Common environmental allergens causing respiratory allergy in IndiaIndian journal of pediatrics. PMID 12003301 · doi:10.1007/BF02734234

Laboratory and animal studies8

Ma J, Lu C, Bai L and others. 2024. Phytotoxic phenols from the needles of Cedrus deodaraPhytochemistry. PMID 38215813 · doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2024.113977
Kumar A, Tapwal A, Kumar D and others. 2024. Ectomycorrhizas of Rhizopogon himalayensis on Cedrus deodaraJournal of basic microbiology. PMID 38161239 · doi:10.1002/jobm.202300616
Jamil HMA, Gatasheh MK, Ahmad R and others. 2024. Ectomycorrhiza and ethylenediurea reduced the impact of high nitrogen and ozone stresses and increased the growth of Cedrus deodaraHeliyon. PMID 38586366 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28635
Rastegari A, Manayi A, Akbarzadeh T and others. 2023. Cedrus deodara: In Vivo Investigation of Burn Wound Healing PropertiesEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 37064944 · doi:10.1155/2023/5596964
Bisht A, Gururani R, Jain S and others. 2023. Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) G.Don bark fraction ameliorates metabolic, endocrine and ovarian dynamics in rats experiencing polycystic ovarian syndromeJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 36690306 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116206
Shi X, Liu D, Zhang J and others. 2016. Extraction and purification of total flavonoids from pine needles of Cedrus deodara contribute to anti-tumor in vitroBMC complementary and alternative medicine. PMID 27461104 · doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1249-z
Itoo ZA, Reshi ZA. 2014. Ectomycorrhizal diversity associated with Cedrus deodara and Pinus wallichiana in the Kashmir Himalaya, IndiaPakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS. PMID 24783775 · doi:10.3923/pjbs.2014.32.40
Zeng WC, Zhang Z, Jia LR. 2014. Antioxidant activity and characterization of antioxidant polysaccharides from pine needle (Cedrus deodara)Carbohydrate polymers. PMID 24751247 · doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.03.022

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

Cite this page. Age Ayurveda. “Devadaru.” Age Ayurveda Nighantu. Last reviewed 30 October 2026. https://nighantu.ageayurveda.com/herb/devadaru/
Machine-readable source: Markdown. Reviewed 2026-10-30.

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.