SE Asia / Oceana

1. SE Asia / Oceana Cymbopogon citratus – Victor Castillo Melaleuca alternifolia – Christina Castro Aleurites moluccana – Apollonia Mendoza Piper betle – Jacklyn Vicente Biology 454L – Medical Ethnobotany CSULA Fall Quarter 2010

2. Cymbopogoncitratus

3. 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

4. Traditional Uses For Lemongrass Thailand, 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.

6. Modern Uses For Lemongrass Cosmetics 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

7. Active Ingredients in Lemongrass Citral (3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienal) Myrcene (7-Methyl-3-methylene-1,6-octadiene

8. Melaleucaalternifolia

9. Melaleucaalternifolia • Plant Family: Myrtaceae • Large bushy evergreen shrub, grows 18 ft tall • Tea Tree, Snow in Summer • White fluffy spring and summer flowers

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Aleurites moluccana “Candlenut”

14. 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

15. Other Names Origin andHistory • 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

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

18. Piper Betle

19. Where? ~*S.E. Asia ^_^ India Malaysia Philippines Thailand Indonesia Vietnam Burma Cambodia

20. Storytime!

21. piperaceae pepper kava

22. Cultivation Vine creeper Fertile soil/manure/heavy moisture Leaves mature in 1 year Leaves cut May/June (before monsoon season)

23. CHEMISTRY!! Estragole tarragon Turpinene cardamom Chavicol Eugenol clove Eucalyptol eucalyptus Caryophyllene Hemp/rosemary Cymene Cumin/thyme Cardinene juniper Carvacrol oregano

24. Mostly CHEWED! Antiseptic Stimulant/Heightens senses euphoria Freshens breath Suppresses hunger Reduces stress Promotes salivation Betel leaves + Areca nut + limestone Connection to marriage Served to honored guests

25. CHEW, CHEW, CHEW……

27. Medicinal Properties Cure worms Halitosis Aphrodisiac qualities Relieves/strengthen gums (toothache) Indigestion Antibiotic Decongestion Constipation Aids in lactation Shrinks the vaginal canal powder hygiene products mouthwash oil pills tea

28. 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

29. 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.