Aleppo oak in herbal medicine

Quercus infectoria Oliv (Family – Fagaceae) or aleppo oak or manjakani is a small tree or shrub about 2 m high , with many spreading branches is a small oak tree indigenous to Asia Minor and Persia.. The bark is slightly grey in colour.

The galls of Quercus infectoria are globular in shape and from 10 to 25 mm in diameter. They have a short, basal stalk and numerous rounded projections on the surface. Pharmacologically the galls are claimed to have various biological activities such as astringent effect, antidiabetic, antitremorine, local anaesthetic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and many more.

The oak galls, used in commerce and medicine, are excrescences of the Quercus infectoria tree. It is formed as a result of the puncture of the bark of young twigs by the female gall-wasp, Cynips Gallae-tinctoriae, which lays its eggs inside.

The bark and galls are astringent. They are used in the treatment of intertrigo, impetigo and eczema. Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the treatment of haemorrhages, chronic diarrhea. It is also useful in the infection of teeth and oral cavity, and piles.

In Malaysia, the galls have been used in Malay traditional medicine to restore postpartum uterine elasticity and also stimulate the contraction of vaginal muscles.
Aleppo oak in herbal medicine