Indian Ash Tree [Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr.]

Lannea coromandelica, commonly known as the Indian Ash Tree, belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, is a large deciduous tree widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of India and Southeast Asia. It has been traditionally used in indigenous systems of medicine for the treatment of inflammation, wounds, diarrhoea, dysentery, and liver disorders. Phytochemical investigations have revealed the presence of diverse bioactive constituents such as flavonoids, tannins, saponins, polyphenols, steroids, and phenolic acids, including quercetin, gallic acid, catechin, and β-sitosterol. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that extracts of different parts of L. coromandelica exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, gastroprotective, wound-healing, and anticancer activities. The scientific evidence supports the traditional uses of L. coromandelica and highlights its potential as a source of natural therapeutic agents for oxidative stress and inflammation-related disorders. This chapter highlights the traditional ethnomedicinal uses of L. coromandelica, along with its pharmacology, phytochemistry.