 Gen info
- Guettarda is a genus of plants in the family Rubiaceae. Most of the plants are known by the common name velvet seed. POWO lists about 145 species. (26)
- Guettarda speciosa is a species of shrub in the family Rubiaceae. It was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum in 1753. It is the type species of the genus. (27)
- Etymology: The genus name Guettarda commemorates the 18th century botanist J.E. Guettard. The species epithet speciosa derives from Latin speciosus meaning "showy". (24)
Botany
• Banaro is a tree, 5 to 15 meters high, with a rounded sprawling crown. Leaves are hairy beneath, obovate, 10 to 25 centimeters long, 7.5 to 20 centimeters wide, small at the tip, rounded or heart-shaped at the base. Flowers are white, fragrant, about 3 centimeters across, with a yellow corolla-tube 2.5 to 5 cm long, borne in axillary inflorescences in terminal clusters, 3 to 11 centimeters long. Fruit is without a stalk, green but later whitish, rounded but rather flattened, 2.5 to 3 centimeters wide, faintly and closely ribbed, with 4 to 6 cells, each cavity having one seed.
• Growth form: A tree up to 22 m tall. Crown: Crown rounded and sprawling. Foliage: Opposite, stalked leaves have leaf blades that are somewhat drop-shaped, with a small tip, yellowish-green, hairless to covered with hair below, and 10–25 by 7.6–18 cm. Flowers: Flowers are white, 1.1–3.2 cm wide, with yellowish tubes that are 3.8–5 cm long, fragrant, and found in 3.8–11 cm long flowering clusters. Its flowers open about an hour after sunset and the whorl of petals drop off the next morning. Fruit: Fruits are faintly and closely ribbed, green then whitish or pinkish, and 2.2–3.2 cm across. (24)
Distribution
- Scattered along the seashore throughout the Philippines.
- Pantropic, always occurring along the seashore, sea cliffs, beach thickets, and low land forests.
- Also native to Aldabra, Andaman Is., Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Cambodia, Caroline Is., Chagos Archipelago, China Southeast, Christmas I., Cocos (Keeling) Is., Comoros, Cook Is., Fiji, Gilbert Is., Hainan, India, Jawa, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Laccadive Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Line Is., Madagascar, Malaya, Maldives, Maluku, Marianas, Marquesas, Marshall Is., Mozambique, Mozambique Channel Is., Nansei-shoto, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Niue, Northern Territory, Philippines, Phoenix Is., Pitcairn Is., Queensland, Samoa, Seychelles, Society Is., Solomon Is., South China Sea, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tokelau-Manihiki, Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis-Futuna Is., Western Australia. (8)
 Constituents
- Phytochemical analysis identified alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, carbohydrates, tannins, phenols, gums and mucilage.
- Bark reported to yield loganic acid and secologanin.
- Study on various extracts of leaves yielded proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, alkaloids, flavonoids, phytosterols, saponin, phenols, tannins, fixed oil, glycerine, cardiac glycosides, glycosides, terpenoids, and coumarin. The water extract yielded the maximum number of secondary metabolites. (10)
- Chemical profiling of leaves by GC-MS yielded 53 components: Cladosporide A (27.34%) provided the largest peak; with duvatriendiol (0.01%) and docosanoic acid, 1,2,30porpanetriyl ester (CAS) (0.01%) yielded the least peaks. (11)
- Study of 1-BuOH-soluble fraction of a MeOH extract of leaves isolated two new compounds (1,2) together with six known compounds.
Compounds 1 and 2 were shown to be derivatives of a glycerol α-glucuronide and a megastigmane glycoside, respectively. (14)
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Study of root-bark isolated a tryptophan-derived alkaloid 5α-carboxystrictosidinic acid along with 5α-carboxystrictosidine, the iridoid glucoside loganic acid and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid. A leaf extract yielded 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid. (18)
Properties
- Flowers are very fragrant, open in the evening, fall before dawn. The timing of flowers opening at night suggests they are pollinated by moths. (
- Considered febrifugal, antidiarrheic, anticholinergic, vulnerary.
- Studies have suggested anti-diarrheal, anti-seizure, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, membrane stabilizing, anti-Alzheimer's, wound healing properties.
Parts used
Bark, leaves, flowers.
 Uses
Edibility
- No report found on edibility.
Folkloric
- In the Dutch Indies, bark is use to cure chronic dysentery.
- In Indo-China, applied to wounds and abscesses.
- In India, the inner bark traditionally used to treat epilepsy; also used in diarrhea. Decoction of leaves are used to treat cough, colds and sore throats. The inner bark traditionally used in epilepsy.
- Inner bark used in the treatment of conjunctivitis.
- Leaves used as poultices.
- In the Marshall Islands, flowers are pounded and mixed with mother's milk for weakness and lethargy in newborn babies.
Juice of flowers squeezed into the vagina as a douche. Infusion of flower juice drank for postpartum internal bleeding. Also used for treating hemorrhoids and headaches. Fruit mixed with coconut is considered a fast-acting antidote for fish poisoning. (6)
- In Kiribati, skin of fruit mixed with a part of root of Scaevola, used for treating venereal diseases.
- In Tonga, tea made from the inner bark used to treat epilepsy.
- In Tahiti, used as antidiarrheic, febrifugal, and anticholinergic.
 - In New Guinea, bark preparation used for dysentery.
- In the French Mayotte Island, flowers and leaves used for acne and allergies. (22)
Others
• Flowers: Because of their fragrance, girls in the Pacific wear them in their hair. The Fijians and Samoans string them into necklaces.
• Herbal Baths / Ritual Use: In the Marshall Islands, flowers buds are used in the preparation of deodorizing herbal baths. Ritual Use: Flowers are pounded and rubbed over the body while bathing. As part of a ritual use, flower buds, crushed and pounded, made into an "O," and mixed with a teaspoon of mother's milk, and given to newborn baby.
• Essential Oil: In India, it is reported that some kind of attar is prepared from the flowers.
• Fibers: Bark is a source of cellulose fibers. (see study below) (19)
• Dye: Leaves yield a black hair dye. (25)
• Wood: Used for making fishing poles, spear, handles, steering paddle, trap, bowl and needle. Used in construction. Bark used as firewood. (25)
Studies
• Antidiarrheal / Inner Bark: Study of the ethanol extract of the inner bark of Guettarda speciosa for anti-diarrheal effects against castor oil-induced diarrhea model in rats showed marked reduction in the number of diarrhea stools and reduction in the weight and volume of the intestinal contents, as well as reduction of in intestinal transit. (1)
• Anti-Seizure / Effect on Biogenic Amines on Rat Brain: Study of ethanol extract of GS to examine biogenic amines concentrations in rat brain after induction of seizures suggests G speciosa increased the monoamines on rat brain which may decrease the susceptibility to maximum electroshock of pentylenetetrazole induced seizure in rats. (2)
• Anti-Seizure / Bark: Study of 95% ethanolic extract of inner bark showed significant antiseizure activity on MES (Maximal Electroshock)- and PTZ (Penthylenetetrazole-induced seizure models in albino Wistar rats. On acute toxicity testing by OECD guidelines, no toxicity was observed up to recommended dose of 2000 mg/kbw. Possible mechanism of action was attributed to mediation via chloride channel of GABA or benzodiazepine receptor complex. (4)
• Antibacterial / Antifungal: Study showed both the chloroform and ethanolic extract exhibited potent antifungal and antibacterial activity. (3)
• Antiepileptic / Antioxidant: Study evaluated the effect of an ethanolic extract of GS on antioxidant enzymes in rat brain after induction of seizures by MES and PTZ. Anticonvulsant activity was dose-dependent and may be attributed to the antioxidant properties and the delay in the generation of free radical in MES and PTZ induced epilepsy. (5)
• Nitric Oxide Scavenging / Antioxidant: Study evaluated the in-vitro antioxidant activity of various extracts of G. speciosa leaves using Nitric Oxide scavenging activity assay. The water extract showed highest antioxidant activity (IC50 77.22±0.60 µg/ml), and also showed the maximum amount of phenols (115.81±0.67 TAE/g extract) compared to the other extracts. (12)
• Anti-Amyloidogenic / Cyclooxygenase Inhibitory: Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, and inhibition of amyloid-beta (Aß) aggregation effects Chloroform and methanol extracts showed more selective COX-1 inhibition with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 3.56 µg/ml and 4.98 µg/ml, respectively. Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y inhibition and thioflavin assay Aß aggregate inhibition showed potential therapeutic effects against Alzheimer's disease.. Results suggest promising lead for source of pharmacologically active compounds. (13)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Inhibition of Inflammatory Mediators Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of a methanol extract of G. speciosa in murine macrophages. The MGS reduced nitric oxide (NO) production through regulation of expression of iNOS in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 cells. MGS suppressed the transcription of IL-6. The effect on pro-inflammatory mediators resulted from inhibition of activation of spleen tyrosine kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Results suggest a potential candidate for a therapeutic agent for alleviating inflammation. (15)
• Anti-Inflammatory / RBC Membrane Stabilization / Bark: Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of bark ethanolic extracts using suppression of hypotonicity-induced human red blood cell membrane lysis as measure of activity. Results showed anti-inflammatory activity possibly through suppression of prostaglandin synthesis. (16)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Amelioration of Acute Lung Injury: Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of methanol extract of G. speciosa using an acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model induced by intratracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide in C57BL/6 mice. The extract suppressed the high level of neutrophils, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and tissue damage induced by LPS. MGS suppressed lung inflammation probably through multiple mechanisms, including activation of Nrf2 and the suppression of NF-kB and neutrophil elastase enzymatic activity by the extract. (17)
• Physicochemical, Mechanical and Thermal Properties / Bark Fibers: Natural cellulose fibers have been identified from G. speciosa. Study evaluated the characteristics of the fiber extracted from the bark of G. speciosa and its physicochemical properties. Cellulose content (872.59 wt%), density (905kg/m3) and crystalline index (52.99%) properties were identified in the fibers. Results suggest that the fiber properties could be an alternative reinforcement material as green composites in the automobile and manufacturing industries. (19)
• Potential Therapeutic Agents Against Alzheimer's Disease: Study evaluated 25 Philippine plant extracts for bioactive constituents as possible source of pharmacologically relevant compounds against Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cytotoxicity was determined by ATP cytotoxicity assay using SH-SY5Y and HEK-293 cell lines. Several plants viz. Guettarda speciosa, Pandamus amaryllifolius, P. simplex, P. tectorius, Lasianthus trichphlebus and Psydrax puberula prevented the oligomer aggregation of amyloid-beta in the mutant cells. Results suggest the plants have potential as nutraceuticals to minimize the effects of AD. (20)
• Wound Healing / Leaves: Study evaluated the wound healing activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Guettarda speciosa using excision wound model on Wistar albino female rats. 5% and 10% (w/w) leaf extract ointment extracts were used with Lyramycin as standard reference drug. The 10% leaf extract ointment showed significant wound healing in a dose-dependent manner. (21)
• Silver Nanoparticles / Antioxidant / Antimicrobial / Leaves: Study reports on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using G. speciosa leaf extract as effective reducing agent. The AgNPs were shown as hostile to contagious microorganisms and also as aggressive antioxidant. Results suggest potential as antimicrobial source and for medical applications. (23)
Availability
Wild-crafted. |
