The stamens which yield the drug Nagakesara contain mesuferrone-A and B, mesuaferrol, mesuanic acid,a- and ß-amyrin, and ß-sitosterol. The seeds and heartwood contain a number of xanthones and coumarins; xanthones isolated from the plant are given orally or intraperitonelly. They have been shown to exhibit significant anti-inflammatory activity. The drug is used to treat fever, dyspepsia and renal diseases.

The fruit has been held in high esteem in indigenous medicine. It is acrid, cooling, refrigerant, diuretic and laxative. The raw fruit is eaten as an aperient. The dried fruit is useful in haemorrhage, diarrhoea and dysentery. In combination with iron, it is used as a remedy for anaemia, jaundice and dyspepsia.

The stamens of the flowers are used for bleeding piles and debility and weakness in children as well as for skin diseases. The rhizome is frequently used as a vegetable and the seeds divested of their testa are roasted or ground into flour and eaten.

The leaves are considered to possess stomachic properties. A paste prepared from them is given for the treatment of stones in the bladder. The root is credited with aperient and tonic properties.

A decoction of the leaves is taken internally for flatulence. The leaves are applied externally to reduce inflammatory and rheumatic swellings in joints, and swellings in the testes due to gonorrhoea.

An extract of the plant is used in epilepsy and nervous disorders. The plant is also used in bronchitis and as an ointment for sores, old ulcers and haemorrhoids.