1219

12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2

Parameria laevigata (A.L. Juss.) Moldenke

Rev. Sudamer. Bot. 6: 176 (1940).

APOCYNACEAE

2n = unknown

Parameria barbata (Blume) K. Schum. (1895), Parameria glandulifera (Wallich ex G. Don) Benth. ex Kurz (1877).

Indonesia: gembor, ragen (Javanese), akar gerip putih (Malay); pegat sih (Javanese, the bark only), kayu rapet (Sundanese, the bark only). Malaysia: akar serapat puteh, akar gerip puteh, akar serau; kayu rapat (the bark only). Philippines: tagulauai, prugtong-ahas (Tagalog). Cambodia: var ang kot. Thailand: khruea khao muak (northern), khruea suut, som lom (central, eastern). Vietnam: d[oox] tr[oj]ng nam.

Parameria laevigata is found in India (Andaman Islands) and southern China, throughout Burma (Myanmar), Indo-China, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, Borneo and the Philippines.

In Malaysia and Java, a decoction or a wash made of the bark of Parameria laevigata is given after childbirth to make the uterus shrink. In Java and Bali the latex is used to heal wounds. Some of these uses stem from the observation that strands of latex exuded when a piece of bark is broken off will contract so as to make the wound invisible afterwards. This 'holding' is likewise the reason to include a piece of bark in a mixture given to newly wedded brides so as to consolidate marriage. In the Philippines, the bark macerated in coconut oil is well-known as a cicatrizant. An infusion of the leaves is taken internally as an emmenagogue. The bark macerated in oil is further applied to heal wounds and taken internally to treat tuberculosis. In Indo-China the latex is used as a stomachic, febrifuge and general tonic. In Thailand, the stem is used as an antidiarrhoeal and for wound healing. In traditional Chinese medicine all parts of the plant are used in the treatment of rheumatism, nephritis and injuries. Parameria polyneura Hook f. is found from Burma (Myanmar) southward to peninsular Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. It is used in Malaysia in the same way as Parameria laevigata. Both Parameria laevigata and Parameria polyneura yield a good quality rubber. However, the small quantities that can be obtained are not commercially exploitable.

Fragments of the bark or small branches of Parameria laevigata, smoked and dried, are on sale in local markets in China and Indo-China.

Very little is known about the phytochemistry and pharmacology of Parameria laevigata, nor have its traditional uses been confirmed by investigations.
An aqueous extract of the leaves showed partial inhibition of the bacteria Micrococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in the modified filter paper disk / agar plate assay. Inhibition of HIV-1 protease was detected in a biological screening experiment.

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (Eucommiaceae) and Parameria laevigata are traded under the same name in Cambodia and Vietnam and used for renal affections and rheumatism.

A perennial climber up to 10 m long, branches often lenticellate, glabrous to densely puberulent. Leaves opposite (rarely in whorls of 3), simple, elliptical to obovate, 1.5—15 cm x 0.7—6.3 cm, 1.5—4 times longer than wide, base obtuse to cuneate, apex acute to caudate, with 3—6 pairs of secondary veins, blade papery; petiole 1—5 mm long, with glands in axils; stipules absent. Inflorescence a terminal panicle or shorter cymes scattered along the stem, 2—16 cm long, puberulent, many-flowered. Flowers 5-merous, actinomorphic, fragrant; sepals ovate, 0.5—1.3 mm x 0.4—0.9 mm, pubescent to glabrous; corolla lobes in bud overlapping to the left, open corolla salverform, tube narrow, 1.2—2.5 mm long, lobes falcate to the left, 1.7—4 mm long, white; stamens completely included; disk of 5 separate lobes; ovary consisting of 2 separate carpels united into a common style, superior, ovules numerous. Fruit a paired follicle, distantly tortulose, 12—32 cm x 0.4—0.7 cm, glabrous. Seed elliptical, 5.7—12 mm x 1.1—4 mm, brown, hirsute.

In Indo-China Parameria laevigata flowers from August—April, fruiting from January—April. In Java flowering takes place from March—September, and fruiting from January—November.

Parameria comprises 3 species and is distributed from India (Assam, Andaman Islands), southern China, southward to Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Indo-China, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Kalimantan, Sulawesi) and the Philippines. Parameria, Urceola and Aganoneiron constitute a closely related group within the subfamily Apocynoideae. Parameria can be easily distinguished by the aestivation of the corolla lobes which is to the left, whereas it is to the right or valvate in Urceola, and to the right in Aganoneiron. Parameria laevigata is an extremely variable species; there is, however, no clear line to distinguish the extremes. Parameria polyneura can be distinguished by its densely pubescent corolla lobes and its weakly tortulose fruits.

Parameria laevigata is found in primary and secondary forests and thickets from sea-level up to 1500 m altitude.

Parameria laevigata is easily propagated by cuttings or seed.

Parameria laevigata stems are cut, the bark and small branches removed and the plant is allowed to resprout.

Pieces of bark and small branches of Parameria laevigata are simply dried for future use.

Parameria laevigata is common in thickets and open forest in Indo-China and the Philippines. Apparently it adapts well to disturbed habitats, therefore it does not seem to be seriously threatened by genetic erosion. However, Parameria laevigata is reported rare in Indonesia.

Parameria laevigata has hardly been investigated, and only few data are available. Therefore more research is needed to fully evaluate its possible prospects for medicine.

Hendrian & Julisasi Tri Hadiah (Editors), 1999. Koleksi tumbuhan obat Kebun Raya Bogor. [Medicinal plants collection at Bogor Botanical Gardens]. Seri Koleksi Kebun Raya-LIPI Vol. 1, No 3. UPT Balai Pengembangan Kebun Raya - Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, Bogor, Indonesia. pp. 42—43.
Masilungan, V.A., Maranon, J., Valencia, V.V., Diokno, N.C. & de Leon Paciencia, 1955. Screening of Philippine higher plants for antibacterial substances. The Philippine Journal of Science 84(3): 275—299.
Middleton, D.J., 1996. Revision of Agonerion Pierre ex Spire, Parameria Benth. & Hook.f. and Urceola Roxb. (Apocynaceae). Blumea 41(1): 69—122.
Perry, L.M., 1980. Medicinal plants of East and Southeast Asia. Attributed properties and uses. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States & London, United Kingdom. p. 28.
Pételot, A., 1953. Les plantes médicinales du Cambodge, du Laos et du Vietnam [The medicinal plants of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam]. Vol. II. Centre National de Recherches Scientifiques et Techniques, Saigon, Vietnam. pp. 137—138.
Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the Philippines. Katha Publishing Co., Quezon City, the Philippines. pp. 735—736.

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[407] Heyne, K., 1950. De nuttige planten van Indonesië [The useful plants of Indonesia]. 3rd Edition. 2 volumes. W. van Hoeve, 's-Gravenhage, the Netherlands/Bandung, Indonesia. 1660 + CCXLI pp.
[672] Middleton, D.J., 1999. Apocynaceae. In: Santisuk, T. & Larsen, K. (Editors). Flora of Thailand. Vol. 7(1). The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok, Thailand. pp. 1—153.
[766] Otake, T., Mori, H., Morimoto, M., Ueba, N., Sutardio, S., Kusumoto, I., Hattori, M. & Namba, T., 1995. Screening of Indonesian plant extracts for anti-human immunodefficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) activity. Phytotherapy Research 9(1): 6—10.

J.L.C.H. van Valkenburg

van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H., 2001. Parameria laevigata (A.L. Juss.) Moldenke. In: van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H. and Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. Database record: prota4u.org/prosea