Tabasum Ali Bhat

Sandal safaid (Santalum album Linn.) is one of the most important medicinal Plants in the world.It is very well known since antiquity for its perfumery and medicinal properties worldwide. Greek physicians were aware of medicinal properties of sandal from the time of Alexander. They used it widely as qabiz (astringent), muffareh, muhallilawram (anti-inflammatory) and musaffikhoon (blood purifier). It is cultivated in many countries like Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, India etc. but Indian variety is considered to be the best among all varieties. Seeds and wood is used to extract oil.The essential oil extracted from the wood is known as “East Indian sandal wood oil”. Chief constituent of oil is santalol (alpha and beta-santalol). It has been introduced into red list of threatened species as vulnerable.