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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
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 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.
Modern Uses For Lemongrass
Cosmetics and Home/Cleaning Products: Lemongrass oil contains myrcene, (7Methyl-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
Active Ingredients in Lemongrass
Citral (3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienal)
Myrcene (7-Methyl-3-methylene-1,6-octadiene
MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA
Melaleuca alternifolia
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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

TEA TREE OIL

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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, antiinflammatory, decongestant, antiviral,
expectorant, fungicidal


Sold OTC: Australia, Europe, N. America
Found in:

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
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:

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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
• Plant Description:
• Species: Aleurites
Malucnna
• 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
• Active Compound:
Linoleic acid
(also contains Vitamins A
and E)
Origin and History
Other Names
• Originated from Polynesia
• Indian Walnut • Serves as a symbol of
enlightenment, protection
• Candleberry
and peace in Hawaiian
• Kuikui nut tree
mythology
• Kemiri
• Considered to be the
• Varnish Tree
physical manifestation of
• Tuitui
Kamapua’a, the hog man
fertility demigod
Candlenut Uses
Medicinal
Non 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
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 ^_^
India
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Indonesia
Vietnam
Burma
Cambodia
Storytime!
piperaceae
pepper
kava
Cultivation
Vine creeper
Fertile soil/manure/heavy moisture
Leaves mature in 1 year
Leaves cut May/June
(before monsoon season)
CHEMISTRY!!
Estragole
tarragon
Turpinene
cardamom
Chavicol
Eugenol
clove
Eucalyptol
eucalyptus
Caryophyllene
Hemp/rosemary
Cardinene
juniper
Cymene
Cumin/thyme
Carvacrol
oregano
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
CHEW, CHEW, CHEW……
Medicinal Properties
powder
Cure worms
Halitosis
Aphrodisiac qualities
Relieves/strengthen gums (toothache)
Indigestion
Antibiotic
Decongestion
Constipation
Aids in lactation
Shrinks the vaginal canal
hygiene
products
mouthwash
oil
pills
tea
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
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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 caspase3 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.