Tamalpatra
Cinnamomum tamala
Tamalpatra (Cinnamomum tamala) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Polyphenolic fraction (catechins, procyanidins) has lower bioavailability (10-20%) due to poor aqueous solubility and extensive Phase II conjugation. Essential oil in amber glass under nitrogen.
| Botanical name | Cinnamomum tamala |
|---|---|
| Family | Lauraceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Laurales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 9128079 · Wikidata Q1661611 · NCBI Taxonomy 397098 |
This entry and tejapatra describe the same drug, Cinnamomum tamala, under different names. Both pages are kept because both names are in use; the other is treated as the primary record for citation.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Tamalpatra |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Tikta, Katu | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Essential oil, Capsule, Tablet, Tincture
Standard Dosage: 1-3 g powder twice daily; 30-60 mL decoction twice daily; 2-5 drops essential oil in steam inhalation
Bioavailability: Cinnamaldehyde and eugenol, major volatile constituents, are rapidly absorbed orally with good bioavailability (>50%) but undergo fast hepatic metabolism to hippuric acid and other conjugates. Polyphenolic fraction (catechins, procyanidins) has lower bioavailability (10-20%) due to poor aqueous solubility and extensive Phase II conjugation.
Optimal Timing: After meals for digestive support; can be taken morning and evening
Standardized Extract: Essential oil standardized to >60% eugenol by GC-FID; hydroethanolic extract standardized to >5% total polyphenols (as gallic acid equivalent)
Shelf Life: Dried leaves: 12 months; Essential oil: 24-36 months; Capsules/Tablets: 24 months; Tincture: 36 months
Storage: Store in airtight, light-resistant containers at 15-25 deg C. Essential oil in amber glass under nitrogen. Dried leaves should be stored away from moisture to prevent mold.
Marker Compounds: Eugenol, Cinnamaldehyde, Linalool, beta-Caryophyllene, Cinnamyl acetate, Catechin, Epicatechin
Extraction Methods
- Steam distillation for essential oil
- Hydrodistillation
- Hydroethanolic extraction (60-80% ethanol)
- Cold pressing (bark)
- Supercritical CO2 extraction
Synergistic Combinations
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