Java Almond

Overview

Java almond is native to the humid, lowland zones of Eastern Indonesia (Maluku, West Papua), Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It is among the oldest and most important tree crops in Melanesia, and is an integral part of one of the world’s first known permanent agroforestry systems.

Vernacular Names

As ngoli (French), Agarbati (India), Canari (Malaysia, Indonesia), Galip (Papua New Guinea, Fiji), Indisches kanaribaum (German), Nangrau (Vanuatu), and Ngali or Nangae (Solomon Islands).

Agroecology

It is widely planted at altitudes of 0–1,000 m. Galip is well-adapted to the hot tropical conditions with mean annual temperatures of 25–32 °C, with optimum rainfall between 2,500 and 3,500 mm. Galip is intolerant of shallow, infertile, or saline soils. It performs best in full sun but can tolerate partial shade of 20–70%, juvenile trees need to be partially shaded.

Morphology

• Roots - taproot.
• Leaves - imparipinnate, 3-7 jugate, bright green. Leaflet is oblong-obovate to oblonglanceolate, large, 7–28 cm.
• Flowers - arise in terminal panicles, with deciduous stipule and bract at the base of flower, small, 1 cm across, yellowish-white.
• Fruits - an ovoid to elliptic-oblong drupe, generally green when unripe, turning deep dark green to black or blue-black when ripe.
• Seeds - usually trigonous, 1 cm across, with brown testa.

Cultivation

• Generative propagation is by seed.
• Seed should be sown 1 cm deep on their sides directly into large pots or polybags, or 3-4 can be sown together direct into the position where the tree is to grow.

Chemical Constituents

• Tannin, flavonoid, sterol, phenolic, amino acid, triterpenoid, oligosaccharide compounds, fatty acids (laurat acid, palmitat acid, stearat acid, oleat acid, linoleat acid, omega 3-6.), tocopherol (vitamin E), lipid, saponin, terpenoid, prostagland.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• As a medicinal product particularly in cosmetic and skin care product.
• The bark is used for the treatment of chest pains.
• The kernels also possessed antiinflammatory activity in vitro as demonstrated by the inhibition of prostaglandin (PGE 2) production.
• The kernels of C. indicum, which are eaten raw, dried or roasted, are very nutritious and are highly regarded for their role in traditional food and nutritional security.
• The kernel oil for the prevention and treatment of arthritis have been registered in a number of countries.
• Oily extracts are already known as anti-inflammatory agents for combating wrinkles and loss of skin firmness.
• In Melanesia, used as food in the local diet.
• In the Solomon Islands, traditionally the bark is used for chest pain.
• It is mixed with sorbolene and applied to the skin for all forms of arthritis.
• The oil is drunk and the remainder eaten in order to induce sterility.
• The oleoresin applied as poultice for ulcerated wounds.