Vallaris glabra
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Common name: Bread flower
Malay name: Kesidang
Botany
Vallaris glabra Kuntz or bread flower is a woody climber with broadly elliptic leaves of 7–9 x 4–6 cm in size (Wongpornchai et al., 2003). Inflorescences are long-stalked with clusters of fragrant cup-like white flowers of 1–1.5 cm in diameter. The plant is well known in Thailand because its flowers have a scent of leaves of pandan or newly cooked fragrant rice. Originated from Java in Indonesia, the species grows in full sun and can be propagated by marcotting (Ng, 2006).
Uses
Vallaris glabra produces attractive clusters of white flowers that emit a strong pandan fragrance. The species is becoming a popular ornamental plant in botanic and home gardens of Southeast Asia. Potted plants can be purchased from nurseries.
Chemistry
The aromatic compound with a strong pandan fragrance is 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (Wongpornchai et al., 2003), first reported in cooked rice and in pandan leaves.
References
Ng, F.S.P. (2006). “Tropical Horticulture and Gardening”. Clearwater Publications, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 361 p., ISBN: 983-42954-0-5.
Wongpornchai, S., Sriseadka, T., Choonvisase, S. (2003). “Identification and quantitation of the rice aroma compound, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, in bread flowers (Vallaris glabra Ktze)”. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 51: 457–462. DOI: 10.1021/jf025856x.
Dyera costulata
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Botany
Trees of Dyera costulata Hook f. grow up to 80 m tall (Middleton, 2004). Bark is dark grey, brown or black in colour. Leaves occur in whorls of 4–8 and flowers are usually white. Fruits are paired resembling horns. They dehisce when mature, releasing seeds with membranous wings. Occurring in southern Thailand, Malaysia and Sumatra, the species are tall forest trees growing up to 1,200 m altitude.
Uses
Latex of D. costulata was formerly an important source of chewing gum (Middleton, 2004). The light and soft timber is excellent for manufacturing a variety wood products e.g. carvings, toys, pencils, etc.
Chemistry
Mirand et al. (1983) reported the presence of bisindole alkaloids in leaf extracts of D. costulata. From the leaves of D. costulata, reported the isolation of β-amyrin and rhamnazin from chloroform extract, and quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside from n-butanol extract. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, isolated from leaves of D. costulata was 8.6 times stronger than butylated hydroxytoluene (Subhadhirasakul et al., 2003). Reanmongkol et al. (2002) found that the chloroform extract from the leaves showed marked analgesic effect in mice.
References
Middleton, D.J. (2004). “Apocynaceae”. In: Soepadmo, E., Saw, L.G., Chung, R.C.K. (Eds.) Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vol. 5. Publication of Sabah Forestry Department, Forest Research Institute Malaysia and Sarawak Forestry Department.
Mirand, C., Le Men-Olivier, L., Le Men, J., Delaude, C. (1983). “Alkaloids of Dyera costulata”. Phytochemistry 22: 577–579.
Reanmongkol, W., Subhadhirasakul, S., Pairat, C., Poungsawai, C., Choochare, W. (2002). “Antinociceptive activity of Dyera costulata extract in experimental animals”. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology 24: 227–234. http://www.rdoapp.psu.ac.th/html/sjst/journal/24-2/06.pdf
Subhadhirasakul, S., Jankeaw, B., Malinee, A. (2003). “Chemical constituents and antioxidative activity of the extract from Dyera costulata leaves”. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology 25: 351–357. http://www.rdoapp.psu.ac.th/html/sjst/journal/25-3/08antioxidativeleaves.pdf
Hibiscus tiliaceus
editCommon Name: Sea Hibiscus
Botany
Hibiscus tiliaceus (Malvaceae) is a coastal plant of the tropics and sub-tropics. It is a fast-growing tree that can grow up to 20 m tall (Chan & Baba, 2009). Leaves are heart-shaped and flowers are bell-shaped with maroon-coloured heart and stigma. Flowers are yellow in the morning, turning orange-red in the evening.
Uses
Flowers of H. tiliaceus are widely used in birth control in Asian and African countries (Rosa et al., 2006). Flowers are used to treat ear infections (Bandaranayake, 1998). In the Philippines, the bark has been used for treating dysentery (Dasuki, 2001). In Indo-China, the leaves are used as a laxative. In Papua New Guinea, decoction of leaves is taken for sore throat, pneumonia, cough, tuberculosis and diarrhoea.
Timber of H. tiliaceus is used for making canoes and tool handles (Tan, 2001). Leaves are eaten or used as fodder. Barks contain tough fibres used for making rope. Medicinal uses of leaves include cooling fever, soothing cough and removing phlegm. Flowers are used to treat ear infection and abscess. In Asia and Africa, flowers are used in birth control (Rosa et al., 2006).
Chemistry
Cyanidin-3-glucoside is the major anthocyanin found in flowers of H. tiliaceus (Lowry, 1976). Leaves of H. tiliaceus displayed strong radical scavenging activity and the highest tyrosinase inhibition activity among 39 tropical plant species in Okinawa (Masuda et al., 1999; 2005). With greater UV radiation in coastal areas, there is no evidence that leaves and flowers of natural coastal populations of H. tiliaceus have stronger antioxidant properties than planted inland populations (Wong et al., 2009; Wong & Chan, 2010).
References
Bandaranayake, W.M. (1998). "Traditional and medicinal uses of mangroves". Mangroves and Salt Marshes 2: 133-148.
Chan, H.T., Baba, S., 2009. "Manual on Guidelines for Rehabilitation of Coastal Forests damaged by Natural Hazards in the Asia-Pacific Region". International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME) and International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), 66 pp. http://www.glomis.com/Manual on Guidelines for.pdf
Dasuki, U.A. (2001). "Hibiscus". In: van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H., Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Eds). Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2. Backhuys Publisher, Leiden, Netherlands, p. 297–303.
Lowry, J.B. (1976). “Floral anthocyanins of some Malesian Hibiscus species”. Phytochemistry 15: 1395–1396.
Masuda, T., Yonemori, S., Oyama, Y., Takeda, Y., Tanaka, T., Andoh, T., Shinohara, A., Nakata, M. (1999). ”Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of environmental plants: activity of the leaf extracts from seashore plants”. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 47: 1749–1754.
Masuda, T., Yamashita, D., Takeda, Y., Yonemori, S. (2005). “Screening for tyrosinase inhibitors among extracts of seashore plants and identification of potent inhibitors from Garcinia subelliptica”. Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry 69: 197–201.
Rosa, R.M., Melecchi, M.I., da Costa Halmenschlager, R., Abad, F.C., Simoni, C.R., Caramao, E.B., Henriques, J.A., Saffi, J., de Paula Ramos, A.L. (2006). Antioxidant and antimutagenic properties of Hibiscus tiliaceus L. methanolic extract. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54(19): 7324-7330.
Tan, R. (2001). Sea Hibiscus. Mangrove and wetland wildlife at Sungei Buloh Nature Park. http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/sea_hibiscus.htm.
Wong, S.K., Lim, Y.Y., Chan, E.W.C. (2009). “Antioxidant properties of Hibiscus: Species variation, altitudinal change, coastal influence and floral colour change”. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 21(4): 307–315. http://info.frim.gov.my/cfdocs/infocenter_application/jtfsonline/jtfs/V21n4/307-315.pdf.
Wong, S.K., Chan, E.W.C. (2010). “Antioxidant properties coastal and inland populations of Hibiscus tiliaceus”. ISME/GLOMIS Electronic Journal 8(1): 1–2. http://www.glomis.com/ej/pdf/EJ_8-1.pdf.