Habitat: Throughout India, especially in the South.
English: Malabar Blackwood.Ayurvedic: Kushimshapaa. (Shimshapaa related species).Siddha/Tamil: Vel-itti.Folk: Sisam.Action: Anti-inflammatory.
The root contains isoflavones. The alcoholic extract of the root exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in carrage- enan-induced hind paw oedema of male albino rats.A quinone, sissoidenone and dalbergion, latifolin and dalbergin have been isolated from the heartwood; also oleanolic acid, liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin. The sapwood and young leaves gave sissotrin. Biochanin A, isolated from young leaves, inhibited both serum and epidermal growth factor (EGF)—stimulated growth of human prostate cancer cell lines.