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Rakta Chandana

Pterocarpus santalinus L.f.

Rakta Chandana (Pterocarpus santalinus L.f.) is a plant drug, also called Ksudracandana, Ksudracandanam and Raktanga. Pterocarpus santalinus is listed in the Indian Pharmacopoeia and Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.

Key facts
Botanical namePterocarpus santalinus L.f.
FamilyFabaceae · other entries in this family
OrderFabales
Also known asPterocarpus santalinus L.f., Rakta Chandana, RaktaChandana
Pharmacopoeia statusPterocarpus santalinus is listed in the Indian Pharmacopoeia and Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. WHO acknowledges traditional use but no specific WHO monograph has been published. The species is listed under CITES Appendix II due to overharvesting concerns.
Taxon identifiersGBIF 5708628 · Wikidata Q2392887 · NCBI Taxonomy 1071199
Names in other languages
SanskritKsudracandana, क्षुद्रचन्दनम् (kṣudracandanam), Raktanga, Raktasara
Hindiरक्त चंदन (rakta caṃdana), लाल चंदन (lāla caṃdana), Lalchandana, Raktachandanam
EnglishRed Sandal Wood, Red Sanders
Tamilசெஞ்சந்தனம், Sanchandanam
MalayalamRakta Chandanam
TeluguErra Chandanamu
KannadaRaktha Chandanam
MarathiRakta Chandana
BengaliRaktachandana
GujaratiLalchandan, Ratanjali
UrduSandal Surkh
PunjabiLai Chandan
AssameseSandal Ahmar, Sandale

Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part I, RAKTACANDANA (Heart Wood) = Pterocarpus santalinus Linn. f., Hindi: 'Raktachandanam, Lalchandana'.; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part I, RAKTACANDANA (Heart Wood) = Pterocarpus santalinus Linn. f., Hindi: 'Raktachandanam, Lalchandana'; Punjabi 'Lal Chandan', Gujarati 'Ratanjali, Lalchandan'; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part I, RAKTACANDANA = Pterocarpus santalinus, Sanskrit synonyms: 'Raktanga, Ksudracandana, Raktasara'; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part I, RAKTACANDANA = Pterocarpus santalinus, Tamil: 'Sanchandanam' (printed with OCR loss for Senchandanam, i.e. செஞ்சந்தனம், 'red sandal').. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2016 to 2024, 11 with a DOI.

  • 2Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 10Laboratory 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

LanguageName
EnglishRakta Chandana
Latin/BotanicalPterocarpus santalinus L.f.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Pterostilbene-mediated Nrf2 activation: Pterostilbene activates the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant defense pathway, upregulating endogenous antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase, glutathione peroxidase)
  • Selective NF-kB inflammatory gene suppression: Red sandalwood extract selectively inhibits pro-inflammatory gene expression (VCAM-1, E-selectin, IL-8) without broadly suppressing all NF-kB targets
  • Collagen synthesis and wound healing: Betulin and triterpenoid constituents promote fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition
  • UV-B photoprotection via savinin: Lignan compound savinin absorbs UV-B radiation

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

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

  • Wound repair (Vranaropana): traditionally used for wounds. Animal studies have reported faster closure of punch and burn wounds, with increased collagen synthesis.
  • Anti-inflammatory skin care (Daha-shamana): traditionally used in skin care. In vitro studies have reported selective inhibition of pro-inflammatory genes in IL-1 stimulated cells.
  • Complexion enhancement (Varnya): traditionally used as a face pack. Antioxidant activity has been reported for pterostilbene. Large-scale clinical trials are lacking.

What do recent studies show?

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

  • Red sandalwood can cause contact dermatitis or allergic skin reactions in susceptible individuals; patch testing is recommended before full application
  • Limited controlled clinical trial data in humans - most evidence from animal models and in vitro studies. Not enough high-quality clinical evidence to confirm scar removal or pigmentation reduction claims

What is it made of?

Key Active Markers

  • Pterostilbene
  • Betulin
  • Isoflavonoids
  • Sitosterol
  • Lupeol
  • Santalin A and Santalin B
  • Savinin

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (heartwood powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Lepa (paste), Taila (oil), Cream/lotion, Face pack formulation

Standard Dosage: 1-3 g heartwood powder twice daily; 15-20 mL decoction twice daily; 500 mg standardized extract twice daily; topical paste as needed

Optimal Timing: Oral: after meals with warm water. Topical paste: apply for 20-30 minutes, wash off. Best applied in evening for facial preparations. Oil: massage at night.

Storage: Heartwood: cool, dry, pest-free storage, can last years. Powder and extracts: airtight containers, below 25 deg C, protected from light (santalin photosensitivity). Taila: amber glass, room temperature. Store CITES documentation with inventory.

Marker Compounds: Pterostilbene, Santalin A, Santalin B, Savinin, Calocedrin, Isoflavonoids, Beta-sitosterol, Lupeol

Synergistic Combinations

  • Chandana/White sandalwood (combined sandalwood cooling formulation)
  • Manjistha (blood purification and complexion)
  • Padmaka (skin-brightening combination)
  • Haridra (anti-inflammatory paste for skin)
  • Kumari/Aloe (moisturizing and skin-healing combination)

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 reviews2

  1. Dahat Y, Saha P, Mathew JT and others. 2021. Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological attributes of Pterocarpus santalinus and future directions: A reviewJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 33915135 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.114127
  2. Bulle S, Reddyvari H, Nallanchakravarthula V and others. 2016. Therapeutic Potential of Pterocarpus santalinus L.: An UpdatePharmacognosy reviews. PMID 27041873 · doi:10.4103/0973-7847.176575

Laboratory and animal studies10

  1. Zhang XF, Nizamani MM, Jiang C and others. 2024. Potential planting regions of Pterocarpus santalinus (Fabaceae) under current and future climate in China based on MaxEnt modelingEcology and evolution. PMID 38826162 · doi:10.1002/ece3.11409
  2. Nguyen LTH, Nguyen NPK, Tran KN and others. 2024. Essential oil of Pterocarpus santalinus L. alleviates behavioral impairments in social defeat stress-exposed mice by regulating neurotransmission and neuroinflammationBiomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. PMID 38242042 · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116164
  3. Sneha MV, Madhushree AH, Tapas Ranjan S and others. 2023. Genome sequencing and characterization of microsatellite markers of Pterocarpus santalinus L.f.: an economically important endangered tree of Eastern Ghats, IndiaJournal of genetics. PMID 37464731
  4. Han JS, Hong HR, Kim JG and others. 2022. Chemical constituents from Pterocarpus santalinus and their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide productionFitoterapia. PMID 35489581 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2022.105202
  5. Jin Z, Cui W, Zhang F and others. 2022. Rapid Identification for the Pterocarpus Bracelet by Three-Step Infrared Spectrum MethodMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35897969 · doi:10.3390/molecules27154793
  6. Natalia P, Zwirchmayr J, Rudžionytė I and others. 2021. Pterocarpus santalinus Selectively Inhibits a Subset of Pro-Inflammatory Genes in Interleukin-1 Stimulated Endothelial CellsFrontiers in pharmacology. PMID 35115943 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.802153
  7. Akhouri V, Kumar A, Kumari M. 2020. Antitumour Property of Pterocarpus santalinus Seeds Against DMBA-Induced Breast Cancer in RatsBreast cancer : basic and clinical research. PMID 32913391 · doi:10.1177/1178223420951193
  8. Ham B, Kim M, Son YJ and others. 2019. Inhibitory Effects of Pterocarpus santalinus Extract against IgE/Antigen-Sensitized Mast Cells and Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin LesionsPlanta medica. PMID 30609435 · doi:10.1055/a-0824-1282
  9. El-Badawy RE, Ibrahim KA, Hassan NS and others. 2019. Pterocarpus santalinus ameliorates streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus via anti-inflammatory pathways and enhancement of insulin functionIranian journal of basic medical sciences. PMID 31579450 · doi:10.22038/ijbms.2019.34998.8325
  10. Li L, Tao RH, Wu JM and others. 2018. Three new sesquiterpenes from Pterocarpus santalinusJournal of Asian natural products research. PMID 28581822 · doi:10.1080/10286020.2017.1335714

Reference lists that include it

Lupeol

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

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.