Давана

Davana is mostly grown in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The leaves and flowers yield an essential oil known as oil of Davana. Artemisia pallens belongs to a genus of small herbs or shrubs that are xerophytic in nature, and its common name dhavanam comes from the Sanskrit name damanaka.

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Cultivation

The plant is commercially cultivated for its fragrant leaves and flowers. It grows from seeds and cuttings and reaches maturity in four months. It has two distinct morphological types: short plants that flower early and tall plants that flower later. The plant bears numerous small yellow flower heads, but a silvery white silky covering of down gives the foliage a grey or white appearance. The lower part of the stem is woody, with yearly branches. In the wild it usually grows near sandalwood trees, and its blue-green leaves are covered with a greyish-white downy coating. It is a preferred food for the larvae of a number of butterfly species.

Chemistry

Davanone, davana furan and linalool are major constituents of davana oil. Davan ether is also among the major constituents of the oil. Methyl cinnamate, ethyl cinnamate, bicyclogermacrene, 2-hydroxyisodavanone, farnesol and geranyl acetate are also found. Sesquiterpene lactones and germacranolides are also found. From the flower-head emergence stage to the initiation of seed set, the amounts of davanone and linalool decrease, while those of (Z)- and (E)-methyl cinnamate, (E)-ethyl cinnamate, bicyclogermacrene, davana ether, 2-hydroxyisodavanone and farnesol increase. Davanone has the molecular formula C₁₅H₂₄O₂ and a molecular weight of 236.35. Its systematic name is 2-(5-ethenyl-5-methyloxolan-2-yl)-6-methylhept-5-en-3-one.

Uses

Davana leaves and stalks are used in making bouquets, garlands, fresh or dry flower arrangements. Oral doses of aqueous or methanolic extract from the aerial parts, given in high amounts, lowered blood glucose levels in glucose-fed hyperglycemic rabbits and rats and in rats and rabbits treated with alloxan.