Gen info
- Toona sureni is a species of tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It was first described by the German-Dutch botanist Carl Ludwig Blume in 1823 as Swietenia sureni. It was transferred to the genus Toona in 1917 by American botanist Elmer Drew Merrill.
- Names: Although "mahogany" is used in its various common names, it is not a "genuine" mahogany of the genus Swietenia. (2)
 Botany
• Toona sureni is a medium-sized to large tree, reaching a maximum height of around 40 to 60 m (130 to 200 ft) and a diameter of 100 to 300 cm (39 to 118 in). Bole possesses buttress roots up to a height of 2 m (6.6 ft) and remains unbranched and straight up to a height of 20 to 30 m (66 to 98 ft). Bark is fibrous and flaky in texture with numerous vertical fissures. It is pale brown to whitish or grayish brown in color. When cut, the bark and sapwood produce a pleasant odor reminiscent of cinnamon. Sap is colorless and does not change in color after being exposed to air. Sapwood of Toona sureni is white to pinkish or light red in color, while the heartwood is light red or brown. Leaves are pinnate and large, with a length of about 29 to 84 cm (11 to 33 in). They are arranged spirally, usually clustered at the ends of twigs. Leaflets are lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate in shape, arranged somewhat opposite each other, usually in pairs of 6 to 9, with a maximum of 12 pairs. Upper and lower surfaces of the leaflet midribs are characteristically hairy (pilose). Inflorescences are terminal, occurring at the tips of branchlets, paniculate and pendant, reaching a length of around 40 cm (16 in). Individual flowers are small (around 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in) in length), and are sweetly fragrant. Flowers are individually unisexual, though both male and female flowers occur in the same plant. Fruits are leathery capsules, around 25 mm (0.98 in) long and brown in color, each containing more than 100 seeds. Seeds are narrow and usually 11 to 20 mm (0.43 to 0.79 in) in length, with a maximum length of 22 mm (0.87 in); and 1 to 10 mm (0.039 to 0.394 in) in diameter, and winged at both ends (subequal). (2)
 Distribution
- Native to the
Philippines.
- Also native to Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China South-Central, East Himalaya, Hainan, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Solomon Is., Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam. (1)
- Common in primary forests, often found on riparian hillsides and slopes; also in secondary semi-evergreen forests. (3)
Constituents
- Study of ethyl acetate fraction (FrE) of leaves extract isolated ethyl gallate (1), methyl gallate (2), catechin (3), gallic acid (4), and quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside (5).
(see study below) (5)
- Study isolated a new ergostane-type steroid (22E)-3α,6α,9α-ergosta-7,22-diene-3,6,9-triol (1), along with six known steroids 5α,8α-epidioxy-24-ethyl-cholest-6-en-3β-ol (2), ergosterol-5,8-peroxide (3), cerevisterol (4), isocyathisterol (5), 6β-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one (6), 6β-hydroxy-4-campesten-3-one (7). (see study below) (6)
Properties
- Studies have suggested antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatitis C virus, heme polymerization inhibition, insecticidal, antiatherosclerosis properties.
Parts used
Flowers, leaves, seeds, heartwood.
Uses
Edibility
- Young shoots are cooked.
- Leaves used as condiment, imparting a slight sour taste to dishes.
 Folkloric
- In traditional medicine, bark used as astringent, purgative, antirheumatic, and for diarrhea and dysentery. Leaves used as antibacterial poultices. (2)
- Infusion of flowers used for antispasmodic effect.
- In Indonesia, used to cleanse the blood during puerperium.
Bark decoction used for fever and headaches. (7)
Others
- Wood: A valuable timber tree.
- Crafts and construction: Used for high-end furniture making, interior finishing, decorative paneling, musical instruments such as Djembe, veneers, and cigar boxes, (2) (3) Bark fibers used for making string bags.
- Landscaping: Used as ornamental and as shade and roadside tree.
- Agroforestry: Used for intercropping. Planted in tea estates as a windbreak. (3)
- Dye: Flowers produce yellow and red dyes.
- Essential oil: Bark and fruits used for production of essential oil.
Studies
• Silver Nanoparticles / Antibacterial / Leaves: Study reports on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using ethanolic leaf extract as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agent. The AgNPs were assessed for antibacterial activity against a selection of microorganisms, namely: Acinetobadter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The AgNPs demonstrated potent antibacterial activity with MICs ranging from 62.5 to 250 µg/mL against selected clinical isolates. (3)
• Gold Nanoparticles / Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Cytotoxicity / Leaves: Study reports on the eco-friendly synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using ethanol extract of Toona sureni leaves. The AuNPs exhibited antibacterial activity against MRSA, P. acnes, P. aeruginosa, and S. epidermis, strong antioxidant activity, moderate cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines, and low toxicity on brine shrimp larvae. Results suggest potential of phyto-fabrication of AuNPs for biomedical applications. (4)
• Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Activity / Leaves: Study of T. Sureni leaves extract exhibited antiviral activity with IC50 of 13.9 µg/ml against hepatitis C virus (HCV) J6/JFH1. Cytotoxicity analysis of T. sureni leaves extract did not reveal any cytotoxicity effect. Study of ethyl acetate fraction (FrE) isolated ethyl gallate (1), methyl gallate (2), catechin (3), gallic acid (4), and quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside (5). Among the isolated compounds, gallic acid showed strong anti-HVC activity with IC50 of 15.9 µg/mL. (5)
• Steroid by Endophytic Fungi from Toona sureni / Heme Polymerization Inhibition: Study isolated a new ergostane-tupe steroid (22E)-3α,6α,9α-ergosta-7,22-diene-3,6,9-triol (1), along with six known steroids (2-7), from fermented unpolished rice media by Periconia pseudobyssoides K5 (Periconiaceae), an endophytic fungus from the medicinal plant Toona sureni. The isolated compounds were evaluated for heme polymerization inhibition assay (HPIA). the IC50 HPIA value of compound 1 was 8.24 mg/ml. (see constituent above) (6)
• Insecticidal / Dried Seeds: Study evaluated dried seeds extracts dissolved in acetone in various concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0%) for repellency, mortality, and progeny production of F1 adults of Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle). Highest repellency (93.30%) occurred at highest concentration (5.0% suspension). Highest mortality against adults (86.71%), larvae (88.32%), and pupae (85%) occurred at 5%. Study showed T. sureni is toxic to T. castaneum and has potential to control all stages of this insect in stored wheat. (7)
• Antiatherosclerosis / Leaves: Study evaluated the protective effect of ethyl acetate fraction of toona leaves (Toona sureni) to the atherosclerotic blood vessel on hypercholesterolemic quails on high-fat diet and prophythiouracil (PTU) induction. Study showed the dose of 50 mg/kbw exhibited best protection effect, indicated by aortic wall thickness and lumen area, and degree of endothelial cell dysfunction, not significantly different with negative control (p>0.05), but significantly different with positive control (p<0.05). (8)
• Anticancer / Heartwood: Study evaluated n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of suren heartwood using invitro anticancer tests (antioxidant, brine shrimp lethality/BSLT, antiproliferative effects on HeLa cancer cell lines, Raji lymphoma cancer cell lines and Vero normal cell lines. The methanolic and EA extracts showed high antioxidant activities with EC50s of 51 and 68 µg/ml respectively. The EA extract showed high antiproliferative effects to Raji (IC50 31 µg/ml) and HeLa (IC50 65 µg/ml), but was more secure against Vero cell lines (IC50 105 µg/ml). The EA extract yielded catechol, linalool, and sitosterol, which contributed to the high anticancer activities of the extract. (9)
• Methyl Gallate / Antioxidant / Leaves: Study of leaves isolated an antioxidant compound, methyl gallate (methyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate). The isolated compound exhibited potent antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging assay with IC50 of 1.02 µg/ml. (10)
• Effect on Dehydration-Induced Kidney Damage / Leaves: Study evaluated the effect of ethyl acetate fraction of surian leaf on renal impairment due to dehydration in male white mice. Mice were dehydrated by not drinking, but still fed for 3 days. Treatment with oral doses of ethyl acetate fractions from leaves in doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kbw were used. Results showed improvement in serum creatinine level and histopathology compared to control (p<0.05). (11)
Availability
- Wild-crafted. |
