AVANTGUARD OF ROMANIAN RESEARCH: MURRAYA KOENIGII L. - AN AMAZING FLOWER AND MEDICINAL PLANT.

Murraya koenigii L. (Rutaceae), known as the curry leaf tree is native to the Indian subcontinent and cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. The fresh and roasted leaves of the curry tree are widely used in the Asiatic cuisine for seasoning different dishes. The essential oil can be extracted from its flowers and leaves and used in the cosmetic industry. The Ayurvedic medicine uses the leaves of Murraya koenigii, due to their high therapeutic properties. The curry leaf tree can grow very well in our climate but must be protected from freezing. The research pointed out that the bioactive principles of analyzed curry tree plants are highly valuable for medicinal purposes. The morphological analyses showed that the leaves are pinnate, with 11-25 leaflets, each leaflet 2-4 cm long and 1-2 cm broad. The anatomical analyses of the leaf showed a cuticularized upper & lower epidermis and a biseriate palisade & spongy parenchyma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]