Herb's Introduction
Swietenia macrophylla King, commonly known as Big-Leaf Mahogany or Honduras Mahogany, is a majestic deciduous or semi-evergreen tree belonging to the Meliaceae family, often cited alongside species used in the "Medicinal Plants of Nepal" context due to its wide cultivation across tropical Asia. While globally renowned for producing genuine, highly valuable mahogany timber, its seeds, bark, leaves, and fruits have been integral components of traditional medicine systems, particularly in Central/South America and Southeast Asia, where it is often referred to by the commercial name 'Sky Fruit' due to the distinctive upward growth of its fruit capsule. This plant's profound medicinal significance lies in its rich phytochemical composition, featuring potent limonoids responsible for a wide spectrum of biological activities, notably its effectiveness in managing chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
Name in Different Countries
Swietenia macrophylla boasts a variety of common names across its native and cultivated ranges, reflecting its global prominence: Language Name English Big-Leaf Mahogany, Honduras Mahogany, Bastard Mahogany Spanish Mogno, Caoba, Aguano, Mara French Acajou, Acajou à grandes feuilles, Acajou du Honduras German Amerikanisches Mahagoni Finnish Amerikanaitomahonki Chinese 大叶桃花心木 (Dà yè táohuāxīnmù) Thai มะฮอกกานีใบใหญ่ (Ma-hok-ka-nee bai yai) Japanese オオバマホガニー (Ōba-mahogani) Malayalam മഹാഗണി (Mahagony) Tamil மகாகனி (Mahakani) Telugu Mahagani, Peddakulamaghani Vietnamese Nhạc ngựa (cây gỗ) Export to Sheets
Terminology
The formal classification and nomenclature of the herb are as follows: Scientific Name: Swietenia macrophylla King Family: Meliaceae (Mahogany Family) Synonyms: This species has been historically classified under several names, including Swietenia belizensis Lundell, Swietenia candollei Pittier, Swietenia macrophylla var. marabaensis Ledoux & Lobato, and Swietenia tessmannii Harms. The Meliaceae family itself is known for producing many medicinally active compounds, primarily limonoids and triterpenoids.
Availability
Swietenia macrophylla is native to the wet tropical biome of Central and South America, with its historical range extending from Southern Mexico through Central America to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. It is currently classified as Endangered (IUCN 3.1) in its native habitat due to intensive logging for its prized timber. However, its widespread availability is maintained through extensive cultivation across the global tropics and subtropics, primarily in large-scale commercial plantations. Key areas of cultivation include: Asia: India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Fiji, where it is often planted for reforestation and as an avenue tree. Habitat: The tree thrives in lowland tropical rainforests, typically below 600 meters in elevation but tolerating altitudes up to 1,500 meters. It prefers rich, deep, and well-drained alluvial soils, requiring high mean annual rainfall (1,000–2,500 mm). While not indigenous to Nepal, it can be cultivated in the subtropical Terai region.
External Look
Big-Leaf Mahogany is a massive, stately tree known for its imposing stature and characteristic fruit. Size and Trunk: It is a large, rapidly growing tree, typically reaching heights of 25 to 45 meters, and sometimes up to 60 meters in ideal conditions. Mature trees develop a tall, straight, cylindrical trunk, often supported by high buttresses at the base. Bark: The bark is brown, becoming dark brown, ridged, and flaky with age. Leaves: The leaves are large, long (12–45 cm), and paripinnate (feather-like with an even number of leaflets), arranged alternately. Each leaf consists of 3 to 6 pairs of obliquely ovate-lanceolate or falcate leaflets (5.5–12 cm long), which are glossy dark green above. Flowers: Flowers are small (up to 8 mm across), pale yellow, and bisexual, borne in axillary panicles. Fruit (Sky Fruit): The fruit is a distinctive, large, woody, light grey to brown capsule (8.5 x 6.5 cm, sometimes up to 40 cm long) that grows erectly, pointing upwards toward the sky, hence the popular name "Sky Fruit." Seeds: Inside the woody capsule, numerous winged seeds are packed (22–71 seeds per fruit). The seeds are chestnut-colored and equipped with a long, thin, tail-like wing, allowing them to disperse effectively by wind.
Healing Properties
The therapeutic efficacy of Swietenia macrophylla is attributed mainly to the high concentration of limonoids (like swietenine and swietenolide) found in its seeds and bark. Its healing properties are extensive: Metabolic and Cardiovascular: Antidiabetic, hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering), hypolipidemic (cholesterol/fat lowering), and antihypertensive (blood pressure lowering). Anti-Infective: Antimalarial, antiviral (against Hepatitis C), and antimicrobial/antibacterial (against bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli). Anti-Inflammatory & Analgesic: Anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive (pain relief), and febrifuge (fever reducing). Anti-Cancer: Exhibits anticancer, antitumor, and antimutagenic activities. Gastrointestinal: Antidiarrhoeal and anti-ulcer activity (the lipid content of seeds is speculated to aid gastric ulcer healing).
Advantages
The key advantages of Swietenia macrophylla as a medicinal plant are: Potent Bioactive Compounds: It is an exceptionally rich source of limonoids, complex triterpenoid compounds that form the basis of its powerful pharmacological profile, including its confirmed antihypertensive and antidiabetic effects. Multipurpose Treatment: Unlike many single-use herbs, various parts of the mahogany tree (seeds, bark, and leaves) can be used to treat a diverse range of ailments, from chronic metabolic disorders to acute infectious diseases and wounds. Traditional Validation: Its extensive and long-standing use in multiple traditional systems of medicine across Latin America and Asia lends credence to its therapeutic potential, particularly for conditions like malaria, diabetes, and hypertension, which are now being validated by modern scientific studies. Wide Availability in Cultivation: While endangered in its native range, its successful cultivation in Asian countries ensures a reliable supply of the seeds and bark for herbal use, making it a viable, natural-source alternative for various health products.
Uses
Traditional medicinal applications of different parts of Swietenia macrophylla include: Seeds: Widely used in Malaysia and Indonesia to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes mellitus. A decoction of the seeds is also reported in Indonesia to treat malaria. In Amazonian Bolivia, mashed seeds are applied externally to heal wounds and skin ailments. Bark: A bitter decoction of the bark is used by highland Indians in Guatemala and Nicaraguan Garifuna to treat fever (febrifuge). Peruvians use a concentrated bark decoction for hemorrhoids and venereal diseases (VD). Bark/Leaves: The bark extract is used as an astringent for wounds. Folk Remedies: Mexican folklore suggests applying scorched seeds mixed with grease to bald spots to restore hair. Peruvian traditional practitioners have suggested concentrated bark decoction, sometimes mixed with other herbs, as a contraceptive and for treating leishmaniasis.
Using way
The methods for preparing and consuming the herb vary depending on the part used and the intended ailment: Raw Consumption (Seeds): For treating hypertension and diabetes, the seeds are often simply consumed raw by chewing (usually on an empty stomach). Decoction (Seeds/Bark): A decoction of seeds (made by boiling them in water) is used in Indonesia to treat malaria and, historically, by some Bolivian groups to induce abortion (a method linked to toxicity). A bitter bark decoction is prepared and consumed orally to treat fever, intestinal ailments, and various infections. Powdered Form (Seeds): The powdered seed is successfully employed for the treatment of diabetes, typically consumed in capsule form or directly mixed with water on an empty stomach. External Application: Mashed seeds or a paste made from the bark extract are applied externally to treat wounds and various skin ailments.
Conclusion
Swietenia macrophylla is a globally significant botanical resource, celebrated for its invaluable hardwood and, increasingly, for its powerful medicinal properties. Scientific investigation has strongly supported its traditional use as an effective antidiabetic and antihypertensive agent, thanks to its high concentration of beneficial limonoids and flavonoids. Despite being recognized as a high-value timber, its non-timber forest products, especially the seeds, offer a rich avenue for developing natural remedies against prevalent modern diseases. It is crucial, however, that consumers note the historical reports of toxicity, such as uterine hemorrhage, and the potential for liver injury reported in some case studies involving prolonged consumption of its seed extracts. Therefore, while its potential is vast, responsible and well-researched usage is essential. The species stands as a prime example of a tropical plant with enormous economic value that also holds immense promise for global public health, warranting continued pharmacological research and sustainable cultivation practices.
