Pistacia integerrima, Crab’s claw, zebrawood

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 6 min read

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Article Summary

Key Takeaways

This article explains Pistacia integerrima Scientific Classification in simple medical language.
This article explains Medicinal uses in simple medical language.

Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.

Reviewed content workflowUse writer and reviewer profiles for stronger trust.

Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.

Seek urgent medical care if you notice

These warning signs are general safety guidance. Local emergency numbers and clinical judgment should always come first.

Severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening illness.
New weakness, severe pain, high fever, or symptoms after a serious injury.
Any symptom that feels urgent, unusual, or unsafe for the patient.

Emergency now

Use emergency care for severe, sudden, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening symptoms.

See a doctor

Book a professional medical evaluation if symptoms persist, worsen, recur often, affect daily activities, or occur in a high-risk patient.

Learn safely

Use this article to understand possible causes, tests, treatment options, prevention, and questions to ask your clinician.

Pistacia integerrima, belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, is a dioecious tree inherent to Asia and widely distributed in Pakistan, East Afghanistan, North West, and West Himalaya to Kumaon growing at an altitude of 800 to 1900 meters. Some common names for the herb are zebrawood and crab’s claw. The plant has a single stem with many branches and large pinnately compound leaves. Leaves are 25 cm long and consist of 2-6 pairs of lanceolate leaflets. Flowers are reddishly arranged in panicles. Fruits are globular, purple to blue, and about 4 to 6 mm in diameter. Galls are rugose, horn-shaped, and hollow formed due to insect attacks of Pemphigus species. Galls are storehouses of secondary metabolites.

Name	Pistacia integerrima
Native	Asia
Common/English	Crab’s claw, zebrawood
Names in Other Languages	English: Zebrawood, Pistanchio tree; Pakistan: shnai, khanjar, thoak; India: kakroi, kakra, kakring, kakar singhi, kakkar, kakarsinghi; Ayurvedic: Karkarashringi, Shringi; Unani: Kaakarasingi; Latin: Pistacia integerrima; English: Crab claw and zebra wood; Urdu: Kakarasingi; Hindi: Kakadasrngi; Pushto: Shanai; Panjabi: Kakar, Kakarsingi; Bengali: Kankihasringi; Kashmiri: Kamaladina
Plant Growth Habit	Multi-branched, single stemmed, deciduous tree
Plant Size	25 m tall
Bark	Dark grey or blackish
Leaf	Alternate, pinnate, 25 cm long
Flowering Season	March-May
Flower	Reddish or yellow or brownish, unisexual, dioecious, 0.2 cm diameter
Fruit shape & size	Globular, 4-6 mm diameter
Fruit color	Purple to blue
Taste	Slightly bitter
Fruit Season	June-October

Pistacia integerrima Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Pistacia integerrima

Rank	Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Sapindales
Family	Anacardiaceae
Genus	Pistacia L.
Species	Pistacia chinensis Bunge
Synonyms	Pistacia integerrima J.L.Stewart Pistacia chinensis var. integerrima (Stewart) Zohary

The plant parts such as bark, leaf, root, and galls are reported to possess secondary metabolites. Galls are used in folk medicines. It is used in various Ayurvedic formulations such as Dasamularista, Shringyad current, and Chayavanaprasa and is used for treating diseases such as tuberculosis, asthma, heart disease, indigestion, liver disorder, and fever. Secondary metabolites are tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids. The minor constituents are gum mastic, crystalline hydrocarbon, crystalline acids, and resinous substance. The bark contains flavonoids and terpenoids. Leaves and roots contain terpenoids and tannins.

Habit and geographical distribution

It is found in England, Nepal, Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. In Pakistan, it is grown in the Temperate Himalayas Mountains. It is found at an altitude of 600-2500 meters from sea levels. It grows in a tropical climate.

Roots, stem and leaves

It is a deciduous multi-branched tree with dark gray and blackish bark and usually grows to 18 meters. Leaves are 20 to 25 cm long with or without leaflets. Leaflets are 4 to 5 pairs, coriaceous, lanceolate, part or imparipinnate, and base oblique. Leaves are dark green that turns bright red in autumn.

Flower and fruit

Flowers are in lateral panicles. Male is a compact pubescent and female lax and elongated. The plant bears flowers and fruits in spring with large clusters of yellowish-brown colored fruit in winter.

Medicinal uses

Galls are used for treating cough, dysentery, asthma, liver disorders and snake bites.
The plant is used for treating various diseases such as coughs, dyspeptic vomiting, appetite, phthisis, dysentery and asthma.
Take roasted galls with honey for diarrhea and cough asthma in northern areas of Pakistan.
In Pakistan, galls are also used for hepatitis and other liver problems.
Use the galls with other drugs for scorpion sting and snake bites.
Boil bark in water and extract is used for hepatitis and jaundice.
Stem resin is used to heal wounds.
In India, galls are used for treating respiratory ailments.
In India, it is used as a remedy for chronic bronchitis, vomiting, psoriasis, fever and promotes appetite.

Culinary uses

Cook young shoots and leaves as vegetables.
Roast the seeds and consume as confectionery.

References

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

Write when the problem started and how it changed.
Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
Basic physical examination by a clinician
CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

Drink safe fluids and monitor temperature.
In dengue-prone areas, discuss CBC and platelet count when fever persists or warning signs appear.
Use tepid sponging for high fever discomfort; avoid ice-cold bathing.

OTC medicine safety

For fever, common fever medicine may be discussed with a clinician or pharmacist.
Avoid aspirin/ibuprofen-like medicines in suspected dengue unless a doctor says it is safe.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

Fever with breathing difficulty, confusion, repeated vomiting, bleeding, severe weakness, stiff neck, or dehydration needs urgent care.

Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Medicine doctor / pediatrician for children / qualified clinician

Tests to discuss with doctor

Temperature chart and hydration assessment
CBC with platelet count if fever persists or dengue/other infection is possible
Urine test, malaria/dengue tests, chest evaluation, or blood culture only when clinically indicated

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
Which tests are really needed now?
Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?
Do I need antibiotics, or is this more likely viral?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Go to emergency care if you notice:

Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration

Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.

Step 1
Check danger signs first
If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.
Step 2
Record the symptom story
Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.
Step 3
Visit a qualified clinician
A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.
Step 4
Do only useful tests
Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.
Step 5
Follow up and return early if worse
If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips

Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

RX Patient Help

Ask a health question safely

Write your symptom story. A health professional or site editor can review it before any answer is prepared. This box is not for emergency care.

Emergency first: Severe chest pain, breathing trouble, unconsciousness, stroke signs, severe injury, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent local medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.