Pongamia pinnata

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Moluccas, Java, Philippines, Malaya, Australia, India, India(Gujarat), "

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Antidote(Fish sting), Arthritis, Beri-Beri, Beriberi

Science studied: BETULINIC-ACID

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Fabaceae

Scientific name: Pongamia pinnata

Common names: Bani, Indian beech tree, Indian beech, Pongam oiltree, Indische Buche, Karanj, Arbre de pongolote, Kayu Besi Laut, Kisakes, Malapari, Maota, Mempari, Pongambaum

POWO: 515679-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Moluccas, Elsewhere, Java, Philippines, Malaya, Australia, India, India(Gujarat) and 4 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Antidote(Fish sting)
• Arthritis
• Beri-Beri
• Beriberi
• Bronchitis
• Cholagogue
• Dermatosis
• Diarrhea

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Moluccas
• Elsewhere
• Java
• Philippines
• Malaya
• Australia
• India
• India(Gujarat)
• "
• Vietnam
• Sri Lanka
• India(Santal)

Documented cultural uses

• Antidote(Fish sting)
• Arthritis
• Beri-Beri
• Beriberi
• Bronchitis
• Cholagogue
• Dermatosis
• Diarrhea
• Dyspepsia
• Emetic
• Fever
• Fistula

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Antidote(Fish sting) · Moluccas · "
• Arthritis · Elsewhere · "
• Beri-Beri · Elsewhere · "
• Beriberi · Java · "
• Bronchitis · Elsewhere · "
• Cholagogue · Elsewhere · "
• Dermatosis · Java · "
• Diarrhea · Elsewhere · "
• Dyspepsia · Elsewhere · "
• Emetic · Java · "
• Fever · Elsewhere · "
• Fistula · Elsewhere · "
• Fungicide · Elsewhere · "
• Gonorrhea · Elsewhere · "
• Herpes · Elsewhere · "
• Internal · Philippines · "
• Itch · Java · "
• Lactogogue · Elsewhere · "
• Leprosy · Elsewhere · "
• Leucoderma · Elsewhere · "
• Pertussis · Elsewhere · "
• Piscicide · Malaya · "
• Piscicide · Australia · "
• Piscicide · Elsewhere · "

26 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Integrated assessment of CI engine combustion and catalyst durability with graphene- infused Pongamia pinnata biodiesel. · 2026 source ↗
• Balancing multiple sustainability objectives in feedstock cultivation: a case of Pongamia pinnata in Australia. · 2026 source ↗
• Multivariate Assessment of Soil-Plant Relationships and Principal Component Structure in a Pongamia pinnata + Costus igneus Silvi-Medicinal System under Semi-Arid Alfisols · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• BETULINIC-ACID

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

checking published revisions…