The curry tree (Murraya koenigii or Bergera koenigii) is a
tropical to sub-tropical tree in the family Rutaceae (the rue family, which
includes rue, citrus, and satinwood), which is native to India and Sri Lanka.
Its leaves are used in many dishes in India and neighbouring
countries. Often used in curries, the leaves are generally called by the name
'curry leaves,' although they are also literally 'sweet neem leaves' in most
Indian languages (as opposed to ordinary neem leaves which are very bitter and
in the family Meliaceae, not Rutaceae).
Description
The small flowers are white and fragrant.
It is a small tree, growing 4–6 m (13–20 feet) tall, with a
trunk up to 40 cm (16 in) diameter. The aromatic leaves are pinnate, with 11-21
leaflets, each leaflet 2–4 cm (0.79–1.57 in) long and 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in)
broad. The plant produces small white flowers which can self-pollinate to
produce small shiny-black berries containing a single, large viable seed.
Though the berry pulp is edible -- with a sweet but medicinal flavor -- in
general, neither the pulp nor seed are used for culinary purposes.
The species name commemorates the botanist Johann König.
Uses
The leaves are highly valued as seasoning in southern and
west-coast Indian cooking, and Sri Lankan cooking ( කරපිංචා), especially in curries, usually
fried along with the chopped onion in the first stage of the preparation. They
are also used to make thoran, vada, rasam and kadhi. In their fresh form, they
have a short shelf life and do not keep well in the refrigerator. They are also
available dried, though the aroma is largely inferior.
The leaves of Murraya koenigii are also used as an herb in
Ayurvedic medicine. They are believed to possess anti-diabetic properties.
[unreliable medical source?]
Although most commonly used in curries, leaves from the
curry tree can be used in many other dishes to add flavor. In Cambodia, Khmer
toast the leaves in an open flame or roast it until crispy and then crush it
into a soured soup dish called Maju Krueng.
In the absence of tulsi leaves, curry leaves are used for
rituals and pujas.
Propagation
Seeds must be ripe and fresh to plant; dried or shriveled
fruits are not viable. One can plant the whole fruit, but it is best to remove
the pulp before planting in potting mix that is kept moist but not wet.
Stem cuttings can be also used for propagation.
Chemical constituents
Girinimbine structure. Some of the primary alkaloids found
in the Curry Tree leaves, stems, and seeds are as follows: Mahanimbine,
girinimbine, koenimbine, isomahanine, mahanine, Indicolactone, 2-methoxy-3-methyl-carbazole.
A 2011 study of girinimbine, a carbazole alkaloid isolated
from this plant, found that it inhibited the growth and induced apoptosis in
human hepatocellular carcinoma, HepG2 cells in vitro.
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Text source: Wikipedia
Photo by Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
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