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ABSTRACT:
Sterculia foetida Linn., (Sterculiaceae) known as Wild Almond or Java olive is an attractive umbrella shaped spreading tree. Traditionally, leaves as well as the seeds have important medicinal values as they contain Sterculic acid(53%) as a constituent which has proven to have interesting pharmacological applications such as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity potentials. The tree yield edible seeds rich in fat (30-36%) and protein 11.4%. Traditionally leaves and bark are used as aperient, diaphoretic, diuretic and also used in the treatment of rheumatism, obesity, gonorrhoea, dropsy, skin diseases etc,. The plant is rich in fatty acids and flavonoids. This review summarizes the overall research of phytochemical and pharmacological activities of Sterculia foetida in the recent years.
KEYWORDS: Sterculia foetida, Sterculiaceae, Review, Phytochemical, Pharmacological.
Received on 27.09.2015 Modified on 10.10.2015
Accepted on 16.10.2015 ©A&V Publications All right reserved
Res. J. Pharmacognosy & Phytochem. 7(4): Oct-Dec. 2015; Page 239-244
INTRODUCTION:
Sterculia foetida is a large, straight umbrella shaped spreading decidious tree belonging to the family Sterculiaceae. It is also called as Java olive, Poon tree, Wild almond, Hazel Sterculia and Sterculia nut. In India it is known as Jangli badam (Hindhi), Gorapu badam (Tamil). It was first described in the year 1753 by Carolus Linnaeus. The origin of the name Sterculia genus comes from the Roman God, Sterquilinus, who was the God of fertilizer or manure. Sterculia foetida seeds can be eaten raw or roasted, so their usage is not harmful to human and other animals.
TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION2
Kingdom :Plantae
Sub Kingdom :Tracheophyta
Division :Mangoliophyta
Class :Magnoliopsida
Sub class :Dilleniidae
Order :Malvales
Family :Sterculiaceae
Genus :Sterculia
Species :foetida
Common names:
Java Olive, Peon, Poon tree, Wild Indian Almond, Sterculia nut.
Vernacular names:3
Bengali-Jungli Badam, Hindhi-Jangli Badam, Kannada- Bhatala Penari, Konkani-Kuvem ruk, Malayalam-Pinar, Marathi-Punava, Tamil-Kutiraippitukkan, Telugu- Adavibadamu, Sanskrit-Putidaru.
Habit and Habitat:
It is a large, straight, decidious tree, growing to 40m height, it is abundant in low lands, dry wood lands, throughout East Asia-India, Sri-Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand. It is found at elevations up to 1500m.
Morphology:3,4
Leaves:
Leaves are crowded at the ends of branchlets, digitate, with 7-9 leaflets, leaflets are elliptical lanceolate, acuminate, 10-17cm long, petioluled, with unpleasant smell, petiole 12.5-23cm long. Leaves consists of glucuronyl derivatvies of procyanidin, scutellarein and luteolin and also...