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 Botany
Kamuning is a small, smooth tree,
growing from 3 to 8 meters in height, and having a very hard wood. Leaves are 8 to 15 centimeters long, with usually 7 to 9 leaflets on each
side, oblong to ovate, elliptic or subrhomboid, and 2 to 7 centimeters. Stems are hairy. Flowers are few, white, very fragrant, 1.5 to 2 centimeters long, and borne on short, terminal or axillary cymes. Fruit is fleshy, red when ripe, pointed or oval-shaped, 1 to 1.5 centimeters long.
Distribution
- Common in thickets and secondary
forests at low and medium altitudes throughout the Philippines.
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Often cultivated.
- Also occurs in India to Malaya.
- Now pantropic.
Constituents
- Leaves yield a volatile oil, 0.01%, with
cadinene and sesquiterpene.
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Flowers yield murrayin (glucoside), murrayetin,
and indol.
- Study yielded alkaloids, tannins, cardiac glycosides and saponins.
- Study yielded eight highly oxygenated flavones, identified as gardenin
A, gardenin C, gardenin E, 5-O-desmethylnobiletin, umhengerin, 5,3--dihydroxy-6,7,4'5'--tetramethoxyflavone
and new compound, 5,3',5'-trihydroxy-6,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone.
- Study reported nine coumarins from the aerial parts of the plant. Of these three – murrmeranzin, 1'2'-O-isopropylidene murrangatin and murralonginal are new; one, pranferin was reported for the first time from the plant.
- Study yielded flavonoids, indole alkaloids, coumarins.
- Yielded 60 compounds from the volatile and essential oil extracted from the leaves.
- Leaf essential oil yielded a total of 76 volatile components. The major components were methyl palmitate (11.1%), isospathulenol (9.4%), (E,E)-geranyl linalool (5.3%), benzyl benzoate (4.2%), selin-6-en-4-ol (4.0%), ß-caryophyllene (4.0%), germacrene B (3.6%), germacrene D (3.4%), and y-elemene (3.2%). (see study below). (24)
- Leaves yielded four coumarins viz., auraptene (1), trans-gleinadiene (2), 5,7-dimethoxy-8-(3-methyl-2-oxo-butyl)coumarin (3) and toddalenone (4).
(see study below) (25)
Properties
- Mildly bitter-minty tasting and warming.
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Considered anti-herpetic, anti-diarrheal, aromatic, refrigerant, tonic and stomachic.
- 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.
Parts
utilized
- Leaves, roots, root bark.
Uses
Culinary
- In Malaysia, widely used as food flavor additive for cuisine, in preparing meat, fish and soup.
- Flowers are used for scenting tea.
Leaves used to flavor curries. (23)
Folkloric
· Decoction of dried material
(3 - 9 gms) or 0.3 - 0.9 gm of pulverized material by mouth with water:
Used for gas pains. swelling pain due to sprain and contusions, rheumatic
bone pain and poisonous snake bites.
· Poultice of fresh leaves used for swelling due to sprain and
contusions; poisonous snake bites.
· Infusion of leaves used as tonic; also used for diarrhea and
dysentery.
· Decoction of leaves also used as mouthwash for toothaches.
· Infusion of leaves and flowers is tonic and stomachic.
· Leaves and root bark used for rheumatism, cough, and hysteria.
· Used for abscesses, cellulitis, tapeworm disease, rheumatic fever, coughs, giddiness, hysteria, thirst, and burning of the skin.
· Infusion used for herpes of the stomach, and the sediment applied externally.
· In Malaysia, used to treat dysentery and morning sickness.
· In Yi medicine
in China, used for common
colds, fever, cough, sore throat, influenza.
· In the Gujarat region of India, used to regulate fertility.
· In Singapore, leaves are ingredient of a tonic given for irregularities in the regenerative organs of young women. Also similarly used in Java.
· In China, plant is widely used for stomachaches, toothaches, rheumatism, paralysis, and diabetes.
· In Nepal, used for the the treatment of abdominal pain, diarrhea, stomach aches, headache, swelling, thrombosis and blood stasis.
Others
· Wood: Most useful part of the tree is the yellow wood, in demand for making canes. Also used for making kris handles.
· Crafts: Top branches, with the leaves, used for making wreaths and in giving body to bouquets.
· Cosmetic: In Thailand and Burma, powdered bark and root used as cosmetic. Flowers are sometimes put in the hair for their pleasant smell. In Java, flowers are used in making cosmetics.
· Perfumery: Essential oil used in perfumery. Sweet scented "Thanaka powder," made from wood and roots used as cosmetic on women's cheeks. (23)
Studies
• Antiplatelet Aggregation / Coumarins / Leaves:
Study isolated two coumarins-minumicroline
acetonide and epimurpaniculol senecioate from the leaves of Murraya omphalocarpa Hayata. Both compounds showed activity in the antiplatelet aggregation assay. Also, a possible acetonide artifact exhibited significant antiplatelet aggregation induced not only by AA and collagen, but also by platelet activating factor (PAF). (1)
• Antiamoebic Activity: The
anti-amoebic activity of some medicinal plants used by AIDS patients
in southern Thailand: 12 Thai medicinal plants were screened against
a Entamoeba histolytica strain. Murraya paniculata extracts were classified
as "moderately active."
• Anti-Giardial
Activity: The in vitro anti-giardial activity of extracts
from plants that are used for self-medication by AIDS patients in southern
Thailand: Of 39 medicinal plant extracts studied, the chloroform
extract from Murraya paniculata was "moderately active." (2)
• Insecticidal Activity:
Leaf-derived petroleum ether fraction was found more toxic
than ethyl acetate fractions were evaluated against adult male and female
Callosobruchus maculatus. Males were more susceptible than females.
It suggests further study for its potential as an insect-control agent. (4)
• Essential Oil Composition: Oil of M. paniculata contained 58 compounds – caryophyllene oxide, ß-caryophyllene, spathulenol, ß-elemene, germacrene D, cyclooctene, 4-methylene-6-(propenylidene) among others. (7)
• Antinociceptive / Bioactivity: Study of the ethanol extract of leaves showed a profound nociceptive dose-dependent effect. The extract also showed considerable brine shrimp toxicity. (8)
• Antidiabetic / Antioxidant / Leaves: Study of the ethanol extract of leaves on STZ-induced diabetic rats showed significant reduction of blood glucose, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides. Study also showed significant reduction of TBARS, lipid peroxidation and increase in GSH. Results showed significant antidiabetic activity along with potent antioxidant potential in diabetic conditions. Supplementation of MP extracts may be beneficial in correcting hyperglycemia and preventing diabetic complications. (9) Study evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antioxidative potential of hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of M. paniculata on STZ-induced diabetic rats. MPE produced significant dose-dependent decrease in blood glucose and lipid levels in diabetic rats. There was significant decreased free radical level, with significant increase of SOD, GSH, and CAT towards normal values. (26)
• Antifungal: Study showed activity against C. albicans, C tropicalis and C luteolus. (10)
• Antibacterial / Antioxidant: M. paniculata showed antibacterial activity against E. coli, P. mirabilis, S. typhi, E. aerogenes, and S. flexneri. Ethanol extract demonstrated antioxidant activity. (11)
• Analgesic: Extract of bark showed significant dose-dependent reduction in acetic acid induced writhing. The reduced writing may be through the same mechanism of action as aminopyrine. The analgesic activity in radiant heat method was attributed to a central anti-nociceptive activity like that of morphine. (12)
• 2ʹ-O-ethylmurrangatin / Lipoxygenase and Respiratory Burst Inhibition: Study yielded a secondary metabolite, 2ʹ-O-ethylmurrangatin, from the leaves of M. paniculata. It exhibited significant activity against lipoxygenase enzyme and moderate respiratory burst activity. (13)
• Antifertility: Murraya paniculata showed a prominent effect in preventing implantation, terminating early pregnancy and mid-pregnancy of mice, but could not prevent ova transport. Of the plant parts, the cortex of the root and stem was the most effective. (14)
• Hypoglycemic: Study of a hydroalcoholic extract of leaves showed hypoglycemic effects in oxidative stress condition. The mechanism may be through potentiation of insulin effect either by increased pancreatic secretion of insulin from beta cells of its release from the bound form. (18)
• Toxicological Study on Leaves: Study in mice evaluated a 50% ethanolic extracts for acute and subacute toxicities . Results sowed M. paniculata to be safe in its oral effective dose. (19)
• In Vitro Antioxidant Activity / Leaves: Study evaluated a 50% ethanolic extract of leaves in various in vitro antioxidant assays. Results showed strong antioxidant potential and an easily accessible source of natural antioxidants or food supplement. (20)
• Leaf Essential Oil / Antifungal / Cytotoxicity / Nematicidal: Study investigated the chemical composition and bioactivities of leaf essential oil from M. paniculata from Nepal. EO showed no antibacterial activity, marginal antifungal activity against A. niger (MIC=313 µg/mL), moderate activity against A. salina (LC50= 41 µg/mL), and good nematicidal activity against C. elegans (LC50 = 37 µg/mL). (see constituents above) (24)
• Coumarins / Antibacterial Activity / Leaves: Study of leaves yielded four coumarins. Study of crude extracts and pure compounds showed the chloroform extracts, together with compound 2 (gleinadiene) to exhibit moderate activity against Bacillus cereus. (see constituents above) (25)
• Warfarin and Coumarin-Like Components / Inhibition of EpCAM-Mediated Cell Adhesion: Study identified an extract from M. paniculata which inhibited both embryonic implantation to human-endometrium as traditionaly used for abortion and CTC adhesion to human endotheium. Results showed warfarin and coumarin like components Z3, Z5, and Cm from Murraya paniculata could directly inhibit Ep-CAM-mediated-cell adhesion and cause inhibition on adhesion of cancer cells to human endothelial cells. (27)
Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Cultivated for fragrant flowers.
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