Family : Lauraceae

English: Indian cinnamon

Hindi : Tejpatra

Gujarati : Tamalapatra

Sanskrit : Tamalapatra

Part used : Leaves

Botanical Description: A moderate sized evergreen tree 7.5m in heightwith dark brown or blackish rough bark with pinkish or reddish brown blaze; leaves simple, opposite, sub opposite or alternate, ovate-lanceolate or ovate oblong, acuminate, coriaceous, glabrous, 3 nerved from base to apex; flowers pale yellowish, in axillary and terminal lax puberculous panicles, fruits ovoid, fleshy black drupe supported by enlarged perianth tube. Flowering and fruiting from August to Febuary. .

It is widely found.

Modern Pharmacological Action: It is mainly used for flavouring food and widely used in pharmaceutical preparation because of itshypoglycemic, stimulant and carminative properties. The leaves of trees used as spice having clove like taste and pepper like odour. Essential oil of Cinnamomum leaves has excellent inhibitory effects on bacteria. There are numerous studies on composition of tejpat essential oil. The methanol extract showed high potent of anti diabetic activity than successive water extract. The essential oil from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum showed in vitro antimicrobial activity against several microorganisms. They also possess antioxidant and anti ulcer activity