Orange Jessamine

Overview

The tree is native to southern China, Taiwan, the Indian sub-continent, southeastern Asia, and northern Australia. It has a wide range of uses. It is valued especially for its essential oil; for the yellow heartwood of larger specimens; and its range of medicinal uses. Often grown as a hedge and is widely planted in the tropics and subtropics as an ornamental, where it is valued especially for the intense orange-blossom fragrance of its flowers and its small red fruits.

Vernacular Names

Shi gui shu (Chinese), Orange-jessamine (French), Orangenraute (German), Naranjo jazmín (Spanish), Kamini marchula (India), Gekkitsu (Japanese), Kamuning (Tagalog-Philippines).

Agroecology

A plant of tropical and subtropical areas, where it can be found at elevations from near sea level to about 1,300 m. Prefers a rich, moist, well-drained loam and a position in full sun to part shade. Grows best in locations that are sheltered from strong winds.

Morphology

• Barks - smooth, pale to whitish.
• Stem - hairy.
• Leaves - 8 to 15 cm long, usually 7 - 9 leaflets on each side, oblong to ovate, elliptic or subrhomboid, 2-7 cm. When grated, the leaves develop a citrus-like smell.
• Flowers - few, white, very fragrant, 1.5 to 2 cm long, and borne on short, terminal or axillary cymes.
• Fruits - fleshy, red when ripe, pointed or ovalshaped, 1 to 1.5 cm long.
• Seeds - one or two dull, yellowish-grey or greenish, teardrop-shaped.

Cultivation

Propagated through seeds and softwood cuttings.

Chemical Constituents

• Various compounds of M. panicullata were identified ranging from indole alkaloids, coumarins, phenols, terpenoids to flavonoids.
• Murrmeranzin, isopropyliden, murrangatin, muralonginal, pranferin, kumarin, alkaloid, skopolamin, hepta methoxy, flavonoid, saponins, tannin.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• It is considered anti-herpetic, anti-diarrheal, aromatic, and refrigerant.
• Leaves are stimulant and astringent.
• Leaves and flowers considered tonic and stomachic.
• Studies have shown antioxidant, anti-amoebic, anti-giardial, antiplatelet aggregation, insecticidal, anti-diabetic, antinociceptive, antifungal, antibacterial, antifertiity, cytotoxic, nematicidal properties.
• Leaves, fruits and twigs/bark/stem are used medicinally against fever, diabetes, venereal diseases, intestinal worms, inflammations, urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, vaginal discharge, irregular menstruation, body fat overload, help to slim the body, overcome pain ulcer (ulcer), dental pain, soften the skin, and dysentery.
• Roots are useful for treating bruises caused by collision or hit, rheumatic pain, sprains, insect bites and poisonous snakes, boils, eczema, scabies, coughs, hysteria and rheumatism.
• Leaves and root bark are used for cough and hysteria, abscesses, cellulitis, tapeworm diseases, rheumatic, coughs, giddiness, hysteria, for herpes of the stomach and the sediments applied externally.
• Poultice of fresh leaves used for swelling due to sprain and contusions; poisonous snake bites.
• Decoction of leaves also used as mouthwash for toothaches.·
• Infusion of leaves and flowers is tonic and stomachic.