SE Asia / Oceana

Cymbopogon citratus – Victor CastilloMelaleuca alternifolia – Christina Castro

Aleurites moluccana – Apollonia MendozaPiper betle – Jacklyn Vicente

Biology 454L – Medical EthnobotanyCSULA Fall Quarter 2010

Cymbopogon citratus

Taxonomy and Ecology

Scientific Name: Cymbopogon citratus

Order: Poales

Family: Poaceae

Common name(s): Lemongrass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, oil grass.

Lemongrass is a tall, perennial, aromatic grass that is native to the tropical regions of South East Asia, especially India. Has a branched cluster of stalked flowers and leaf blades. Can grow up to 6’ tall. It is one of about 55 species of grasses

Traditional Uses For LemongrassThailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia:, India: It is one of the most important flavorings used for cooking due to its Citral oil, which gives a sour lemon flavor and aroma. Used fresh, dried, or powdered leaves

Philippines: Root, stem, and leaf are boiled in water in order to separate the lemongrass oil. Such oil is mixed with coconut oil. This oil mixture is widely used in aromatherapy.

India: Boiled leaf oil used to treat bacterial and fungal infections as well as fever. Brew of water and leaves is used as an antiseptic, antitussive, and anti rheumatic.

South America: Widely used in folk medicine as an antispasmodic, analgesic, anti fever, and antiemetic. Also treats flatulence, nervous and gastrointestinal disorders by drinking a brew of leaves and water(abafado).

China: Brew of leaves and water is used to treat abdominal, head, stomach, and rheumatic pain.

The very few experiments done on Lemongrass only credit the antifungal properties of Lemongrass.

Modern Uses For LemongrassCosmetics and Home/Cleaning Products: Lemongrass oil contains myrcene, (7-Methyl-3-methylene-1,6-octadiene). Due to its fragrant lemon aroma and volatile properties, lemongrass oil is used in soaps, candles, hair care products, home cleaning products, and perfumery.

Pesticide aerosols, insect repellents, flavorant: Lemongrass oil contains citral, (3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienal). This compound has pheromonal effects on insects and is therefore used as a natural pesticide. When burned, the oil serves as insect repellent. Citral’s strong lemon taste and very low toxicity make it a suitable flavorant for human consumption.

Homeopathic Medicine: Although the exact mechanism of action is not known, Lemon grass oil and dried leaf powder is used to treat asthma, bladder disorders, coughs, headaches, excessive sweating, acne, and athlete’s foot.

Allopathic Medicine: No pharmaceutical derivatives exist that have been approved by the FDA. Citral, found in lemongrass oil, is currently being researched in Israel as a potential cancer cure as is causes apoptosis in cancer cells.

Lemongrass oil is extracted from the leaves and stems using distillation

Citral (3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienal)

Myrcene (7-Methyl-3-methylene-1,6-octadiene

Active Ingredients in Lemongrass

MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA

Plant Family: Myrtaceae

Large bushy evergreen shrub, grows 18 ft tall

Tea Tree, Snow in Summer White fluffy spring and

summer flowers

Melaleuca alternifolia

Native to Australia (Queensland, New South Wales)

Common name: Tea Tree Produces tea tree oil: antifungal,

antiseptic, antibacterial Ethnobotanical uses: Aborigines

soaked the leaves in hot water and inhaled the oil vapors for colds and coughs, also used for bruises, insect bites, skin infections

WWII soldiers supplied oil; bush cutters exempt from service

Melaleuca alternifolia

TEA TREE OIL Extracted from leaves and stems by

steam distillation which allows the oil to separate

Active compounds: terpinene, cineole, and limonene Terpinen-4-ol (major component of oil)

Properties: analgesic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, antiviral, expectorant, fungicidal

Sold OTC: Australia, Europe, N. America

Found in: Soaps, lotions Deodorants Disinfectants Gargles, Mouthwash Germicides

TEA TREE OIL Can be toxic or produce

adverse effects if taken orally Skin rash, abdominal pain,

diarrhea, inflammation of the mouth, confusion, coma

Dermal application may produce: skin irritation, allergic rash, redness, blistering, itching

Modern uses: Acne, Asthma, Athlete’s Foot Blisters, Bronchitis Candida, Colds, Coughs Ear and nose infections Fungal infections, Herpes Insect bites, Skin rashes Strep throat, Warts

Aleurites moluccana

“Candlenut”

Candlenut

• Family: Euphoribiaceae• Genus: Aleurites• Species: Aleurites

Malucnna

• Active Compound: Linoleic acid (also contains Vitamins A

and E)

• Plant Description:

• Tree that grows 15-25 meters high

• Pale green leaves (10-20 cm long)

• Fruit nut (4-6cm diameter) with a very hard seed coat

Other NamesOrigin and History

• Originated from Polynesia• Serves as a symbol of

enlightenment, protection and peace in Hawaiian mythology

• Considered to be the physical manifestation of Kamapua’a, the hog man fertility demigod

• Indian Walnut• Candleberry• Kuikui nut tree• Kemiri• Varnish Tree• Tuitui

Candlenut Uses

Medicinal • Skin care• Oil used as laxative• Oil used for Joint

pain• Flowers used for Oral

Candidiasis• Bark used for

Tumors• Leaves boiled to

c cure headache

Non Medicinal Oil (for light) Shampoo Toys Traditional beads Wood preservation Dye (tattoo) Cooking (like Castor oil, and to make Inamona) Paint

Piper Betle

Where?~*S.E. Asia ^_^IndiaMalaysiaPhilippinesThailandIndonesiaVietnamBurmaCambodia

Storytime!

pepper kava

piperaceae

CultivationVine creeperFertile soil/manure/heavy moistureLeaves mature in 1 yearLeaves cut May/June

(before monsoon season)

Chavicol

Estragoletarragon

Eugenolclove

CymeneCumin/thyme

Turpinenecardamom

Eucalyptoleucalyptus

Carvacroloregano

Cardinenejuniper

CaryophylleneHemp/rosemary

CHEMISTRY!!

Mostly CHEWED!Antiseptic Stimulant/Heightens senseseuphoriaFreshens breath Suppresses hungerReduces stressPromotes salivation

Betel leaves + Areca nut + limestoneConnection to marriageServed to honored guests

CHEW, CHEW, CHEW……

mouthwash

oil

tea

Medicinal PropertiesCure wormsHalitosisAphrodisiac qualitiesRelieves/strengthen gums (toothache)IndigestionAntibioticDecongestionConstipationAids in lactationShrinks the vaginal canal

pills

powder hygiene products

Mechanism-Mainly affects the central and autonomic nervous systems

-Contains aromatic phenolic compounds that stimulate the release of catecholamines

-Betel chewing may affect parasympathetic, GABAnergic and sympathetic functions

-EEG shows widespread cortical desynchronization indicating a state of arousal

-Increases plasma concentrations of norepinephrine and epinephrine

References• Botanical.com: http://www.botanical.com/products/learn/eo/tea_tree.html• Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tea-tree-oil/NS_patient-teatreeoil• Carsen, C.F., Hammer, K.A., and Riley, T.V..” Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of

Antimicrobial and other Medicinal Properties.” Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 2006: 50-62• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleurites_moluccana• http://www.spicesmedicinalherbs.com/candlenut-aleurites-moluccana.html• http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=337• Leite JR, Seabra Mde L, Maluf E, et al. (July 1986). "Pharmacology of lemongrass (Cymbopogon

citratus Stapf). III. Assessment of eventual toxic, hypnotic and anxiolytic effects on humans". J Ethnopharmacol 17 (1): 75–83.

• Dudai N, Weinstein Y, Krup M, Rabinski T, Ofir R (May 2005). "Citral is a new inducer of caspase-3 in tumor cell lines". Planta Med. 71 (5): 484–8

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymbopogon• Akhila, Anand. Essential Oil-Bearing Grasses: The genus Cymbopogon (Medicinal and Aromatic

Plants - Industrial Profiles). CRC Press. Aug 2009.