Gen info
- In Thailand, it is the provincial tree of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. (2)

Botany
Callerya atropurpurea is an evergreen tree with a dense dome-like crown, growing up to 30 meters Trunk is cylindrical and slender, up to 45 centimeters in diameter, free of branches for about 13 meters, with steep buttresses 150 to 300 centimeters high, 20 centimeters thick and 4o to 60 centimeters out from the tree. Bark is grayish, smooth and thin. Leaves are alternate, imparipinnate, with 7 to 11 oblong-ovate leaflets, with entire margins and obtuse apex, 6 to 15 centimeters long and 2.5 to 5 centimeters wild, coriaceous, glossy and intense green in color. Inflorescences are compact terminal panicles, 12 to 20 centimeters long, bearing numerous papilionaceous flowers about 2 centimeters long, dark purple. Fruits are ovate to elliptic legumes, dehiscent, 8 to 15 centimeters long and 4 to 6 centimeters wide, initially purple red and brown on ripening, containing 3 to 4 lenticular seeds, about 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter and 2 to 2.5 centimeters thick; occasionally containing only one seed, up to 7 centimeters in diameter. (4)

Distribution
- Introduced.
- Throughout Southeast Asia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malay Peninsula..
- Widely planted as an ornamental tree.

Constituents
- Contains anti-tumor compound Millepurone. (see study below) (6)

Poison concerns
- Roots and seeds are poisonous due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides
- Branches and roots contain rotenone, a broad-spectrum insecticide.

Properties
- Flowers emit an unpleasant odor.
- Toxicity of Millettia species. (see study below) (3)

Parts used
Leaves, twigs, roots.

Uses
Edibility
- Tender young leaves are edible.
- In Thailand, called "Saw", fresh leaves are eaten with chili paste.
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
Others
- Fish poison: Plant is piscicidal; twigs and roots used to stupefy fish.
- Insecticide: Used as insecticide. Twigs and roots contain rotenone
- Wood: Suitable for medium construction, interior finishing, paneling, furniture, flooring, boxes and crates and ornamental items. (3)
- Fuel: Seeds have potential use as biodiesel fuel.

Studies
• Millepurone / Anti-Tumor: A screening study for anti-tumor promoters isolated fifteen isoflavonoids from the plants of the genus Millettia. M. atropurpurea yielded millepurone, an oxidized isoflavone analogue, showed marked inhibitory effect on mouse skin tumor promotion in a in-vivo two-stage carcinogenesis test. (6)
• Muscarinic Receptor Binding Activity / Leaves: Study screened 234 extracts of Malaysian plant species for muscarinic receptor binding activity. Millettia atropurpurea leaves showed ± inhibitory activity (1-20%). (7).
• Toxicity / Rotenone: Millettia species contain a range of toxic substances, especially isoflavones. The best known is rotenone., found especially in seeds and roots. Rotenone is classified by the WHO as moderately hazardous, mildly toxic to humans and mammals, while extremely toxic to insects. The lowest lethal dose for a child is 143 mg/kg, but human deaths are uncommon because it causes vomiting early after-ingestion. (3)

Availability
Wildcrafted.
Cultivated.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Callerya atropurpurea / Synonyms / The Plant List
(2)
Callerya atropurpurea / Wikipedia
(3)
Callerya atropurpurea / Ken Fern: Tropical Plant Database / Useful Tropical Plants
(4)
Callerya atropurpurea / Pietro Puccio, Mario Beltramini / Monaco Nature encyclopedia
(5)
PISCICIDAL PLANTS OF INDIA / Jawale C.S. / Trends in Fisheries Research, 2018; 17(2) / ISSN: 2319-474X
(6)
Anti-tumor-promoting effects of isoflavonoids on Epstein–Barr virus activation and two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis / Chihiro Ito, Hiroshi Furukawa et al / Cancer Letters, May 2000, 152(2): pp 187-192 / https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3835(00)00331-1
(7)
Muscarinic Receptor Activity of Some Malaysian Plant Species / LY Chung, KF Yap, MR Mustafa, SH Goh, and Z Imiyabir / Pharmaceutical Biology, 2005; Vol 43, No 8: pp. 672–682

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