Determination of some characteristics and fatty acid composition of the seed oil of Lawsonia alba

Abstract

Lawsonia alba (Fam. Lythraceae), commonly known as Mendi, is a moderate size tree, growing mainly in the central and northern regions of Bangladesh. The leaves and seeds of the plant are used by the practioners in the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine for the treatment of jaundice, liver and urinary troubles (!). The essential oil from the flowers of the plant contains c:x-inone and ~-inone as chief constituents <2>. The seeds of the plant contains a nondrying viscous oil. The studies on the seed oil of Lawsonia alba is reported in this communication.