Tamalpatra
Cinnamomum tamala
Tamalpatra (Cinnamomum tamala) is a plant drug, from the Lauraceae family. Polyphenolic fraction (catechins, procyanidins) has lower bioavailability (10-20%) due to poor aqueous solubility and extensive Phase II conjugation.
| Botanical name | Cinnamomum tamala |
|---|---|
| Family | Lauraceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Laurales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 9128079 · Wikidata Q1661611 · NCBI Taxonomy 397098 |
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2014 to 2024, every one with a DOI.
- 1Randomised controlled trials
- 3Other clinical studies and reviews
- 8Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
This entry and tejapatra describe the same drug, Cinnamomum tamala, under different names. Both pages are kept because both names are in use, and each is cited as itself.
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
Optimal Timing: After meals for digestive support; can be taken morning and evening
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
Synergistic Combinations
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.
Randomised controlled trials1
- 2018. Combined extracts of Garcinia mangostana fruit rind and Cinnamomum tamala leaf supplementation enhances muscle strength and endurance in resistance trained malesJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. PMID 30348185 · doi:10.1186/s12970-018-0257-4
Other clinical studies and reviews3
- 2021. Advances in Alternative and Integrative Medicine in the Treatment of Depression: A Review of the EvidenceArchives of Iranian medicine. PMID 34196207 · doi:10.34172/aim.2021.59
- 2020. Assessment of changes in biophysical parameters by dermocosmetic emulgel loaded with Cinnamomum tamala extract: A split-faced and placebo-controlled studyJournal of cosmetic dermatology. PMID 31680410 · doi:10.1111/jocd.13198
- 2014. An overview on chemical composition, bioactivity and processing of leaves of Cinnamomum tamalaCritical reviews in food science and nutrition. PMID 24236996 · doi:10.1080/10408398.2011.587615
Laboratory and animal studies8
- 2024. Chemical fingerprinting and multicomponent quantitative analysis for quality control of Cinnamomum tamala collected from Western Himalaya by HPLC-DADHeliyon. PMID 38737243 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30361
- 2024. Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Activities of Indian Bay Leaf (Cinnamomum tamala (Buch.-Ham.) T. Nees & Eberm.) Essential Oils Collected from MeghalayaChemistry & biodiversity. PMID 39075867 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.202400879
- 2024. Exploration of Pharmacological Mechanism of Cinnamomum tamala Essential Oil in Treating Inflammation based on Network Pharmacology, Molecular Modelling, and Experimental ValidationCurrent pharmaceutical design. PMID 39171467 · doi:10.2174/0113816128342075240816104654
- 2024. Elucidating the anti-cancer potential of Cinnamomum tamala essential oil against non-small cell lung cancer: A multifaceted approach involving GC-MS profiling, network pharmacology, and molecular dynamics simulationsHeliyon. PMID 38533033 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28026
- 2024. Seasonal and diurnal variations in leaf aroma volatiles of Cinnamomum tamala (Buch.-Ham.) T. Nees & Eberm as evidenced from metabolite profiling, histochemical and ultrastructural analysesTree physiology. PMID 39485921 · doi:10.1093/treephys/tpae138
- 2023. Comparative Chemical Composition and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) Inhibitory Potential of Cinnamomum camphora and Cinnamomum tamalaChemistry & biodiversity. PMID 37533252 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.202300666
- 2023. Colletotrichum siamense leaf blight/spot: Characterization of a newly identified disease on Cinnamomum tamalaJournal of basic microbiology. PMID 37026422 · doi:10.1002/jobm.202300053
- 2022. Cinnamtannin D1 ameliorates DSS-induced colitis by preventing Th17/Treg imbalance through activation of the AMPK/mTOR pathwayAllergologia et immunopathologia. PMID 36086976 · doi:10.15586/aei.v50i5.654
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.
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