Simsapa
Dalbergia sissoo
Simsapa (Dalbergia sissoo) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Tectoridin (isoflavone glycoside) is hydrolyzed by intestinal beta-glucosidases to tectorigenin, which has improved absorption. Tannins may reduce bioavailability of co-administered minerals. Lipid co-administration enhances terpenoid absorption.
| Botanical name | Dalbergia sissoo |
|---|---|
| Identity source | Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. III: SIMSAPA (Heart Wood) |
| Family | Fabaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Fabales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2968532 · Wikidata Q1157813 · NCBI Taxonomy 107308 |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Simsapa |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Kashaya, Tikta | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Kwatha (decoction), Churna (powder), Capsule, Ghana vati, Asava/Arishta, Lepa (external paste)
Standard Dosage: 3-6 g bark/leaf powder per day; 50-100 mL kwatha twice daily; 500-1000 mg extract capsule twice daily
Bioavailability: Isoflavonoids and pterocarpans show moderate bioavailability (25-40%). Tectoridin (isoflavone glycoside) is hydrolyzed by intestinal beta-glucosidases to tectorigenin, which has improved absorption. Tannins may reduce bioavailability of co-administered minerals. Lipid co-administration enhances terpenoid absorption.
Optimal Timing: Before meals for anti-diabetic applications; after meals for anti-inflammatory indications
Standardized Extract: Heartwood extract (10:1 in 70% ethanol), standardized to NLT 3% total isoflavonoids (as tectoridin equivalents by HPLC); total phenolics NLT 5%
Shelf Life: 24 months for churna; 36 months for extract capsules
Storage: Store below 25 deg C in airtight containers, protected from light. Heartwood powder is relatively stable. RH <60%.
Marker Compounds: Tectoridin, Tectorigenin, Dalbergin, Biochanin A, Caviunin, Beta-sitosterol, Melanoxin
Extraction Methods
- Aqueous decoction
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (60% ethanol)
- Methanol maceration for isoflavonoid enrichment
- Sequential extraction for fractionation
Synergistic Combinations
- Asana (Vijaysar — anti-diabetic synergy)
- Haridra (anti-inflammatory combinations)
- Guduchi (immunomodulatory and anti-diabetic formulations)
- Meshashringi (blood sugar management combinations)
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.