Sugarpalm

Overview

From South Asia to Southeast Asia, India, Bangladesh to Malaysia, Indonesia to the East, and the Philippines to the East. Widely grown in the Pacific and the tropics, including Africa. All parts of the palm are used and almost all of the sugar palm items are locally traded. Sugar palm is still a small-scale crop, but commercial plantations are being developed in Indonesia.

Vernacular Names

Bakeh (Malay), Guang Lang (Chinese), Bung Bang (Vietnamese), Thangtung (India), Satou Yashi (Japanese), Kaong (Philippines), Chok (Thai), Palmier À Sucre (French).

Agroecology

In some forested areas, it is found growing, but never far from settled areas. It is present in virgin forests as well. It does best from sea level to 1,400 m altitude in a hot wet, humid climate. Sugar palm grows best with a maximum amount of light and ample water supply on very fertile soils in warm conditions. However it can grow under a wide range of conditions.

Morphology

• Roots - black roots are very strong, extending up to 10 m from the stem and going as deep as 3 m.
• Stems - stout trunk. Marked with distinc of broken leaves and long black fibres top by a dense crown of leaves.
• Leaves - 6-10 m long, ascending, pinnate, the petiole covered with a sheath of stout, black fibres. The leaflets are linear, the lower surface white or pale.
• Flowers - trimerous with a 3-lobed tubular corolla, axillary, greenish to bronzy when still closed and yellowish when open, pendulous with a stout, usually unisexual.
• Fruits - a rounded or ellipsoid drupe, about 5-7 cm in diameter, green when immature turning yellow and gradually black.
• Seeds - fruit contains 2 or 3 black seeds.

Cultivation

• Seeds from the mature fruits of healthy leafy sugar palm trees are taken.
• Seeds are cultivated in media nurseries (2 cm deep). After 12-18 months, ready to be transplanted to the ground (height ≥ 40 cm, leaves ≥ 4 strands, completely opened).

Chemical Constituents

Saponins, flavonoids, polyphenol, alkaloids, terpenoids (diterpenes), tannins, quinones, askorbic acid, carotenoid.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• It has been recorded that the young roots of Arenga pinnata are used in a medicinal product to treat kidney stones and old roots for toothache.
• The styptic petiole fuzz (fibers) are used as a haemostatic and cicatrizant for wound application.
• Consumption of arenga sugar is used as a conventional and homeopathic treatment in southeast Asia, believed to revitalize the body.
• The stems and petioles are stated to be diuretic and antithermic in the Philippines.
• The root was known to be pectoral and stomachic. Root decoction is known to be helpful for the lungs; it aids digestion and stimulates appetite.
• A decoction of tea from the roots used for the treatment of bladder problems.
• Because of its analgesia and anti-inflammatory activities, the fruits of this plant are used in traditional folk medicine.