Sterculia foetida L., commonly known by various names such as Java Olive and Wild Indian Almond, is a significant plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. It is a large, attractive, and spreading deciduous tree, recognized for its substantial size and medicinal utility across different traditional systems. The species name, foetida, is derived from the Latin word meaning "stinking," referring to the malodorous nature of its flowers and sometimes its leaves. This tree is native to parts of tropical Asia and Northern Australia but is widely cultivated across the tropics for its ornamental value and useful products.
Herb's Introduction
Sterculia foetida L. is a versatile tropical tree whose various parts—including the leaves, bark, fruit, and seeds—have been utilized in traditional medicine for centuries. It is particularly noted for its seeds, which are edible when roasted and resemble cacao or almond in flavor, and for the oil extracted from them. The plant's rich phytochemical profile, including flavonoids, fatty acids (like the unique cyclopropene fatty acids, Sterculic acid), alkaloids, and triterpenoids, forms the basis of its reported pharmacological activities. Traditional uses span from treating skin conditions and rheumatism to acting as aperients and diuretics.
Name in Different Countries
The plant is known by a multitude of names reflecting its widespread use and characteristics across different regions. Language / Region Name Common/English Java Olive, Peon, Poon Tree, Wild Indian Almond, Skunk Tree, Bastard Poon Tree, Hazel Sterculia Scientific Name Sterculia foetida L. Family Malvaceae (formerly Sterculiaceae) Synonyms Clompanus foetida (L.) Kuntze. Sanskrit पुतिदारु (Putidaru), वित्खदिर (Vitkhadirah) Hindi जंगली बादाम (Jangali Badam) Bengali জংগলী বাদাম (Jungli Badam), বাক্স বাদাম (Baksho Baadaam) Marathi जंगलीबादाम (Jangalibadam), पुनव (Punava) Tamil குதிரைப்பிடுக்கன் (Kutiraippitukkan), பீநாறி (Pinari) Telugu అడవిబాదము (Adavibadamu), గుర్రపుబాదము (Gurrapubadamu) Malayalam പിണര് (Pinar), പീനാറി (Pinari), പൊട്ടക്കാവളം (Pottakkavalam) Kannada ಭಾಟಲ ಪೆನಾರಿ (Bhatala Penari) Konkani कुवें रुक (Kuvem Ruk), नागिन (Nagin) Export to Sheets
Terminology
Aperient: A mild laxative or purgative, promoting bowel movements. Diuretic: A substance that increases the excretion of urine. Diaphoretic: A substance that induces perspiration (sweating). Astringent: A substance that causes the contraction of body tissues, useful in stopping bleeding or reducing secretions (e.g., in diarrhea). Laxative: A substance that loosens the bowels. Abortifacient: A substance that causes or induces abortion. Antidiabetic/Antihyperlipidemic: Properties that help lower blood glucose and cholesterol/triglyceride levels. Anticonvulsant: A substance used to prevent or reduce the severity of epileptic fits or other convulsions.
Availability
Sterculia foetida is a tree of the tropical and subtropical lowlands, thriving in hot climates. Its native range is generally considered to include parts of India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, and Northern Australia. Due to its ornamental value, it has been widely cultivated in tropical zones across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The tree is not specifically mentioned as a common "Medicinal Plant of Nepal" in the search results, which often focus on high-altitude or Himalayan species, but as a widely distributed tropical species, its availability is generally high in its native and cultivated regions. Its various parts, like bark, leaves, and seeds, are collected for traditional medicinal use and commerce in these areas.
External Look
Sterculia foetida is a large, straight, attractive, and spreading deciduous tree that can reach heights of up to 35-40 meters (115-130 feet). Bark: The bark is generally smooth and gray. Leaves: The leaves are palmately compound, clustered apically on branchlets, with 7-9 leaflets. The leaflets are elliptic-lanceolate and typically 10-17 cm long. Flowers: The flowers are arranged in terminal panicles and are often dull orange, green, or purplish-red. They are the source of the plant's common name due to their strong, foul, malodorous smell (skunk-like or dung-like). Fruit: The fruit consists of four to five large, woody, ellipsoid or boat-shaped follicles (pods) that turn scarlet red when ripe. They are typically 5-8 cm long and have an acute beak at the apex. Seeds: Each follicle contains 10-15 black, ellipsoid, smooth seeds (kernels), about 1.5 cm long. These seeds are the "Java Olives" or "Wild Almonds."
Healing Properties
The plant parts possess a range of healing properties attributed to their bioactive constituents: Anti-inflammatory: Extracts, particularly from the leaves, have shown activity in reducing inflammation. Antidiabetic and Antihyperlipidemic: Leaf extracts have demonstrated the ability to lower blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Antimicrobial and Antifungal (Antidermatophytic): Seed and fruit extracts, and silver nanoparticles synthesized from the bark extract, exhibit antibacterial activity against various human pathogenic bacteria, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, and antifungal activity against dermatophytes. Antioxidant: Methanolic extracts of the leaves show significant free radical scavenging activity, acting as primary and secondary antioxidants. Anticonvulsant: Leaf extracts have been reported to possess anti-seizure activity, reducing the duration and increasing the inhibition of convulsions. Laxative/Purgative: The seeds and seed oil are known to have a laxative effect, particularly when consumed in raw form or large quantities. Astringent: The fruit decoction is used for its tissue-contracting property. Diuretic and Diaphoretic: The bark and leaves promote urine excretion and sweating.
Advantages
Versatile Medicinal Use: Nearly all parts of the tree (bark, leaves, fruit, seeds, and oil) are utilized in traditional medicine for a wide spectrum of ailments, from common fevers and rheumatism to more serious conditions like gonorrhea and skin diseases. Nutritional and Edible Seeds: The kernels, known as Java Olives or Wild Almonds, are edible when roasted, possessing an oily, pleasant, cacao-like flavor. They are a good source of fat (30-36%) and protein (11.4%). Potential for Modern Drug Development: Recent pharmacological studies support many traditional uses, showing significant activities such as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects, suggesting potential for novel drug discoveries. Non-Medicinal Uses: The tree provides fiber from the bark, wood for construction and carving, gum (resembling gum tragacanth) used for bookbinding, and the seed oil is used as an illuminant and for biofuels. Fodder Source: The leaves are rich in calcium, protein, and phosphorus, making them suitable as fodder for ruminants.
Uses
The primary uses are derived from its medicinal and non-medicinal properties: Digestive System: Used as an aperient or mild laxative (bark, leaves, seeds/seed oil), and a fruit decoction is used as an astringent for diarrhea. Skin Conditions: Seed oil is administered internally and applied externally as a paste for itches and other skin diseases. Leaf decoctions are used to treat suppurative cutaneous eruptions. Inflammatory/Rheumatic Conditions: Bark decoction is used for rheumatism and dropsy. Wood boiled with seed oil is applied externally for rheumatism. Urogenital System: Bark and leaves are used as a diuretic. Fruit decoction is used in cases of gonorrhea. Bark decoction has been traditionally used as an abortifacient in some regions (Caution: Abortifacient use carries significant risks). Infections and Fevers: Leaf infusion used as an aperient for fever. The plant exhibits antimicrobial properties, suggesting use against various pathogens. Nutritional/Culinary: Roasted seeds are consumed as a snack, resembling almonds or cacao. The oil can be used for culinary purposes, although caution is advised regarding raw consumption due to cyclopropene fatty acids. Insect Repellent: Fresh leaf juice is used as an insect repellent. Industrial: Gum is used in bookbinding. Fiber from the bark is used for making cord. The oil is used as an illuminant and for biofuels.
Using Way
The preparation and application methods vary depending on the part of the plant and the ailment being treated: Decoction: The most common method involves boiling the plant material (bark, leaves, or fruit) in water to extract the active compounds. Bark/Leaves: Decoction is consumed orally as a diuretic, diaphoretic, and aperient for conditions like dropsy and rheumatism. Fruit: Decoction is taken orally for its astringent properties, such as in gonorrhea or diarrhea. Infusion: Soaking leaves in hot water (like a tea) for fever or as an aperient. Juice/Paste: Fresh Leaf Juice: Applied externally as an insect repellent. Seed Oil Paste: Applied externally to the skin for pruritic conditions and skin diseases. Oral Consumption: Seeds: Roasted seeds are eaten as an edible nut. Raw seeds or large quantities should be avoided as they can be a violent purgative and cause nausea or giddiness due to the presence of cyclopropene fatty acids. Seed Oil: Taken internally as a laxative and for certain skin diseases. External Application: Pounded leaves are applied to broken limbs and dislocated joints. Heated, oiled leaves are applied to the abdomen for children's fever.
Conclusion
Sterculia foetida L., the Java Olive or Wild Indian Almond, stands as a testament to the rich pharmacological potential of tropical flora. From its malodorous flowers to its edible seeds and versatile bark, nearly every part of this robust tree has found application in traditional medicine systems across its native range. Scientific research is increasingly validating its traditional uses, particularly highlighting its anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and potent antimicrobial properties, including activity against multi-drug resistant bacteria. While offering significant advantages in medicine, nutrition, and industry, caution is necessary regarding the consumption of raw seeds due to their strong purgative and potential toxic effects from cyclopropene fatty acids. Its established role as an aperient, diuretic, astringent, and its emerging potential as an antidiabetic and antibacterial agent solidify its importance as a valuable resource that warrants continued scientific investigation and sustainable utilization.
