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Jennifer L Malson, Kristi Sims, Ram Murty, Wallace B Pickworth
Comparison of the nicotine content of tobacco used in bidis and conventional cigarettes
Tob Control 2001; 10: 181-183 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetter] Tendu leaves
C Viswanathan   (24 October 2001)

Tendu leaves 24 October 2001
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C Viswanathan,
Orthopaedic surgeon
Medical college, Thrissur; Kerala, India

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Re: Tendu leaves

viswan{at}sancharnet.in C Viswanathan

The authors say:"The leaf is from a broad leafed plant (Diospyrus melanoxylon or Diospyrus ebemum) native to India" I feel there is an error here.Diospyrus ebenum (Ebony,black) is not a source for Tendu leaves, as far as I know.(The authors write 'ebemum'-probably a typing error.For a list of plants from which bidi leaves are obtained, see the following paragraph, from J.K. MAHESHWARI National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow - 226 001, India http://www.fao.org/docrep/T0115E/T0115E0g.htm

"1.11 Tendu leaves

The leaves of tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) are most widely used as bidi (country cigarettes) wrapper. The collection of bidi leaves and making bidis is a labour-intensive cottage-scale industry. The leaves of the following species are also used locally: D. exsculpta, Bauhinia racemosa, Holarrhena pubescens, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Careya arborea and Cordia dichotoma.

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