Cebu balsam

Overview

The plant is valued mainly for its medicinal virtues and it is often harvested from the wild for local use. It also supplies useful fiber and latex. The bark and branches are sometimes sold for medicinal use in local markets. It is native to Andaman Island, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Island, Malaya, Myanmar, Nicobar Island, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Vernacular Names

Var ang kot (Cambodian), Tagulauai (Philippines), Khurea khao muak (Thailand), Akar serapat puteh (Malaysia), Chang jie zhu (Chinese).

Agroecology

The tree is commonly found in montane forests, at the elevations of 800- 1,500 m in China. It grows in thickets and open forests at low to medium elevations. Primary and secondary forests and thickets from sea-level up to 1,500 metres. This species adapts well to disturbed habitats, therefore it does not seem to be seriously threatened by genetic erosion

Morphology

• Branch - often lenticellate, glabrous to densely puberulent
• Leaves - opposite, simple, elliptical to reverse egg-shaped. The leaf base is obtuse to wedge shaped while the apex is acute to caudate.
• Flowers - inflorescence, 5-merous and radiadly symetrical with egg-shaped sepals, fragrant. 
• Fruit - hairless, a parredfpllicle, distantly tortulose.
• Seed - elliptical with a size ranging from between 5.7-12 mm x 1-1.4 mm, brown and hirsute
   

Cultivation

Propagated by seed and stem cuttings
 

Chemical Constituents

Dimers (proanthocyanidin A-2 dan proanthocyanidin A-6), trimers (cinnamtannin B-1 daaesculitannin B), proanthocyanidin A-2 4-benzylthioether, epicatechin, aesculitannin B, parameritannin A-1, saponin, polyphenol, quinones.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• All parts of plant are used to treat rheumatism, nephritis, and injury.
• Studies have suggested antithrombotic, antiatherosclerotic, anticancer, analgesic properties, embryoprotective, antiteratogenic
• The bark is an efficient vulnerary, it is used internally in the treatment of dysentery, tuberculosis, and is drunk after childbirth to help shrink the uterus.
• The latex is febrifuge, stomachic, and a general tonic. It is used externally to heal wounds.
• The leaves are emmenagogue, an infusion is taken internally to facilitate the flow of menses.
• The leaves and twigs are pounded then applied as a poultice on cuts and lacerations.
• In Indonesia, it is an ingredient of a folk medicine called 'Jamu' or' Kayu rapet,' traditionally used as an anti-ulcer or anti-diarrheal medicine and for treating wounds