Description :

Lawsonia inermis, also known as hina, the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet, is a flowering plant and the sole species of the genus Lawsonia. Henna is native to North Africa and South East Asia, and often cultivated as an ornamental plant throughout India, Persia, and along the African coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Henna is a tall shrub or small tree, standing 1.8 to 7.6 m tall (6 to 25 ft). It is glabrous and multi-branched, with spine-tipped branchlets. It is the source of the dye henna used to dye skin, hair and fingernails, as well as fabrics including silk, wool and leather. It produces the most dye when grown in temperatures between 35 and 45 °C. As per ayurveda the Henna is coolant and has medicinal properties for the cure of renal lithiases, jaundice, wound healing, prevent skin inflammation. The henna bark is traditionally used in treatment of jaundice and enlargement of the spleen, renal calculus, leprosy and obstinate skin diseases. Scientific study of henna has shown presence of Glycosides, colouring matter (Lawsone), Hennotannic acid, Essential Oil containing β-Ionone. These helps Lawsonia to attain its medicinal health properties.