User:Wong siu kuin

Vallaris glabra

Common name: Bread Flower

Malay name: Kesidang

Botany

Vallaris glabra Kuntz or bread flower is a woody climber with broadly elliptic leaves of 7-9 x 4-6 cm in size (Wongpornchai et al., 2003). Inflorescences are long-stalked with clusters of fragrant cup-like white flowers of 1-1.5 cm in diameter. The plant is well known in Thailand because its flowers have a scent of leaves of pandan or newly cooked fragrant rice. Originated from Java in Indonesia, the species grows in full sun and can be propagated by marcotting (Ng, 2006). Uses

Vallaris glabra produces attractive clusters of white flowers that emit a strong pandan fragrance. The species is becoming a popular ornamental plant in botanic and home gardens of Southeast Asia. Potted plants can be purchased from nurseries.

Chemistry

The aromatic compound with a strong pandan fragrance is 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (Wongpornchai et al., 2003), first reported in cooked rice and in pandan leaves.

References

Ng, F.S.P. (2006). "Tropical Horticulture and Gardening". Clearwater Publications, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 361 p., ISBN: 983-42954-0-5.

Wongpornchai, S., Sriseadka, T., Choonvisase, S. (2003). "Identification and quantitation of the rice aroma compound, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, in bread flowers (Vallaris glabra Ktze)". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 51: 457–462. DOI: 10.1021/jf025856x.

Dyera costulata

Botany

Trees of Dyera costulata Hook f. grow up to 80 m tall (Middleton, 2004). Bark is dark grey, brown or black in colour. Leaves occur in whorls of 4–8 and flowers are usually white. Fruits are paired resembling horns. They dehisce when mature, releasing seeds with membranous wings. Occurring in southern Thailand, Malaysia and Sumatra, the species are tall forest trees growing up to 1,200 m altitude.

Uses

Latex of D. costulata was formerly an important source of chewing gum (Middleton, 2004). Its light and soft timber is excellent for manufacturing a variety wood products e.g. carvings, toys, pencils, etc.

Chemistry

Mirand et al. (1983) reported the presence of bisindole alkaloids in leaf extracts of D. costulata. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, isolated from leaves of D. costulata was 8.6 times stronger than butylated hydroxytoluene (Subhadhirasakul et al., 2004). Reanmongkol et al. (2002) found that the chloroform extract from the leaves showed marked analgesic effect in mice.

References

Middleton, D.J. (2004). “Apocynaceae”. In: Soepadmo, E., Saw, L.G., Chung, R.C.K. (Eds.) Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vol. 5. Publication of Sabah Forestry Department, Forest Research Institute Malaysia and Sarawak Forestry Department.

Mirand, C., Le Men-Olivier, L., Le Men, J., Delaude, C. (1983). “Alkaloids of Dyera costulata”. Phytochemistry 22: 577–579.

Reanmongkol, W., Subhadhirasakul, S., Pairat, C., Poungsawai, C., Choochare, W. (2002). “Antinociceptive activity of Dyera costulata extract in experimental animals”. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology 24: 227–234.

Subhadhirasakul, S., Jankeaw, B., Malinee, A. (2003). “Chemical constituents and antioxidative activity of the extract from Dyera costulata leaves”. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology 25: 351–357.