Artocarpus lacucha

Artocarpus lacucha
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Artocarpus
Species:
A. lacucha
Binomial name
Artocarpus lacucha
Synonyms
  • Artocarpus ficifolius W.T.Wang
  • Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb.
  • Artocarpus yunnanensis H.H.Hu
  • Saccus lakoocha (Roxb.) Kuntze
Monkey jack (Artocarpus lacucha) fruits, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
An Artocarpus lacucha twig in Panchkhal VDC, Nepal

Artocarpus lacucha, also known as monkey jack[1] or monkey fruit,[1] is a tropical evergreen tree species of the family Moraceae. It is distributed throughout the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.[2] The tree is valued for its wood; its fruit is edible and is believed to have medicinal value.[3] In Northeastern Thailand, the wood is used to make pong lang, a local traditional instrument.[4]

The stilbenoid oxyresveratrol can be isolated from the heartwood of Artocarpus lacucha[5] as well as in Puag Haad, the light brown powder obtained from the aqueous extract of the wood chips of A. lakoocha by boiling, then slow evaporation, followed by cooling. This traditional drug is effective against the intestinal fluke Haplorchis taichui[6] or against taeniasis.[7]

This tree is mentioned in the Arthashastra.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Artocarpus lacucha". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  2. ^ Pankaj Oudhia, Robert E. Paull. Monkey Jack Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb., Moraceae p485-487.Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts - 2008, J. Janick and R. E. Paull - editors, CABI, Wallingford, United Kingdom
  3. ^ Lakoocha: A Multipurpose Tree of Warm Climate
  4. ^ Cruz-Garcia, Gisella S.; Price, Lisa L. (2011). "Ethnobotanical investigation of 'wild' food plants used by rice farmers in Kalasin, Northeast Thailand". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 7: 33. doi:10.1186/1746-4269-7-33. PMC 3233498. PMID 22067578.
  5. ^ Maneechai, S; Likhitwitayawuid, K; Sritularak, B; Palanuvej, C; Ruangrungsi, N; Sirisa-Ard, P (2009). "Quantitative analysis of oxyresveratrol content in Artocarpus lakoocha and 'Puag-Haad'". Medical Principles and Practice. 18 (3): 223–7. doi:10.1159/000204354. PMID 19349726. S2CID 29232919.
  6. ^ Wongsawad, C; Wongsawad, P; Luangphai, P; Kumchoo, K (2005). "In vitro effects of aqueous extract from Artocarpus takoocha Roxb on tegumental surface of Haplorchis taichui" (PDF). The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 36 (Suppl 4): 112–6. PMID 16438193. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2013.
  7. ^ Charoenlarp, P; Radomyos, P; Bunnag, D (1989). "The optimum dose of Puag-Haad in the treatment of taeniasis". Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet Thangphaet. 72 (2): 71–3. PMID 2738489. INIST 7273462.
  8. ^ Arthashastra/Book XIII

Experiments have shown that the heme-peroxidase enzyme from the medicinal plant Artocarpus lakoocha has the ability to protect against oxidative damage in vitro and possesses wound healing properties. This stable enzyme also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a potential candidate for use in biotechnological and industrial applications.[1]

  1. ^ Sonkar, K. S., Manendra Pachauri, Amit Kumar, Ankita Shukla, Monika Patel, & Jagannadham., M. V. (2015). Heme-peroxidase from medicinal plant Artocarpus lakoocha: Purification, characterization and wound healing studies. Biocatal Agricu Biotechnol, 4, 180-190.