Melia dubia
Melia dubia, commonly known as Malabar Neem, Maha Neem, Gora Neem, or Barma Dhek, is one of the most important industrial tree species that has rapidly expanded in the Indian subcontinent in recent decades. It belongs to the family Meliaceae and is widely cultivated for its industrial and medicinal qualities.[1][2]
| Melia dubia | |
|---|---|
| Rajasthani women putting fertiliser to a Melia dubia plant | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Meliaceae |
| Genus: | Melia |
| Species: | M. dubia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Melia dubia | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Melia composita Willd. | |
Taxonomy
Melia dubia belongs to the family Meliaceae, within the genus Melia.[3]
Distribution
Melia dubia is considered one of the most important industrial tree species in India because of its rapid growth and versatile applications. Its wood is extensively used in the plywood industry, in the manufacture of furniture, for pulp and paper production, and increasingly as a source of bioenergy.[4]
Description
Melia dubia is a fast-growing tree that can attain a height of 6 to 30 metres. It has a spreading crown and a straight bole that may reach up to 10 metres in length. The species is supported by a tap root system. The tree is highly adaptable and drought tolerant, capable of growing in a variety of soil types ranging from deep fertile sandy loam to shallow gravelly soils.[3]
Uses
Industrial
Melia dubia is considered one of the most important industrial tree species in India because of its rapid growth and versatile applications. Its wood is extensively used in the plywood industry, in the manufacture of furniture, for pulp and paper production, and increasingly as a source of bioenergy.[5]
Medicinal
Apart from its industrial value, Melia dubia has been traditionally recognised for its medicinal properties. It is said to possess anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and fungicidal activities. These properties have made it significant in the treatment of various ailments in traditional medicine.[6]
Sources
Citations
- Sumit; Arya, Sandeep; Nanda, Krishma; Jangra, Monika; Shivam (2024-03-12). "Enhancing Soil Health and Sustainability: The Impact of Melia Dubia-based Agroforestry in a Semi-Arid Region of Haryana, India". International Journal of Plant & Soil Science. 36 (4): 369–377.
- Goswami, Manika; Bhagta, Shikha; Sharma, Dushyant (2020-02-18). "Melia dubia and its Importance: A Review". International Journal of Economic Plants. 7 (Feb, 1): 029–033.
- Karuppannan, Sathish Kumar; Bushion, Jayandra; Ramalingam, Raghavendra; Swaminathan, Subhashini; Arunachalam, Kantha Deivi; Kadam, Avinash Ashok; Rajagopal, Rajakrishnan; Sathya, Rengasamy; Chinnappan, Sasikala (--). "Fabrication, characterization and in vitro evaluation of Melia dubia extract infused nanofibers for wound dressing". Journal of King Saud University – Science. 34
- Samji, A., Eashwarlal, K., Warrier, K. C. S., Kumar, S., Ramasamy, T., Shanthi, K., & Warrier, R. R. (2025). Divergence and genetic parameters between Melia dubia genotypes based on morpho-anatomical stomatal descriptors. Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with All Aspects of Plant Biology, 159(2), 332–340.
References
- ^ "Melia dubia". India Biodiversity. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- ^ Ganesan, Dr. R; Kavitha, A; Gladwin, J; Deepthi, N (2012). Common dryland trees of Karnataka: Bilingual field guide. Karnataka, India.: Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment.
- ^ a b "Good Agroforestry Practices of Malabar Neem" (PDF). Just Agriculture. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ "This tree could bring down 'Made in Gujarat' home furniture cost by 30%". The Times of India. 2018-05-17. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ^ "Melia dubia: A Promising Agroforestry Tree in India" (PDF). Agrosphere.
- ^ "A REVIEW ON MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF MELIA DUBIA" (PDF). EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH. Retrieved 23 August 2025.