Curry tree

The curry tree (Scientific - Murraya koenigii or Bergera koenigii | Hindi - करी पेड़ (pronounced as karee pade), मीठी नीम (sweet neem)| Sinhala - කරපිංචා (spelled as karapincha) 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.

Ripe and unripe fruits

Jayanti in Buxa Tiger Reserve in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India.

Curry leaves in a tree in Assam

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.^[2]

The species name commemorates the botanist Johann König. The genus Murray commemorates Swedish physician and botanist Johann Andreas Murray who died in 1791. ^[2]

Uses

The leaves are highly valued as seasoning in southern and west-coast Indian cooking, and Sri Lankan cooking especially in curries, usually fried along with the chopped onion in the first stage of the preparation. In Sri Lanka curry tree is called Karapincha (කරපිංචා). 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. They do however, keep quite well frozen if well wrapped. Leaves can also be harvested from home-raised plants as it is also fairly easily grown in warmer areas of the world, or in containers where the climate is not supportive outdoors.

The leaves of Murraya koenigii are also used as an herb in Ayurvedic medicine. They are believed to possess anti-diabetic properties.^[3][4][5]

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.

Murraya Koenigii, due to its aromatic characteristic properties, finds use and application in soap making ingredient, body lotions, diffusers, potpourri, scent, air fresheners, body fragrance, perfume, bath and massage oils, aromatherapy, towel scenting, spas and health clinics, incense, facial steams, hair treatments etc..

In the absence of tulsi leaves, curry leaves are used for rituals, such as 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 , Undecalactone, 2-methoxy-3-methyl-carbazole.^[6]

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.^[7]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Murraya koenigii.

• Gernot Katzer's Herb Pages on curry leaves
• Plant Cultures: botany, history and uses of curry leaf plant