The Herbal Plantsby:btgalea

OREGANO (Coleus Aromaticus)FOR DYSPEPSIA, ASTHMA, CHRONIC COUGHS, BRONCHITIS, COLIC, FLATULENCE, RHEUMATISM, OTALGIA, CARBUNCLES, BOILS, SPRAINS, FELONS, PAINFUL SWELLING AND SORE THROAT. 

TAWA-TAWA (Euphorbia Hirta)Tawa-tawa has known for its use in Dengue, with increasing anecdotal report of cures.

TURMERIC (Curcuma Longa)Curcumin Suppresses metastasis in a human breast cancer, Hepato protective, Antifungal, Anti-bacterial, Anti-oxidant(luyang dilaw)

SAMBONG (Blumea Balsamifera)FOR HYPERTENSION, DISSOLVES KIDNEY STONES, being promoted by the Department of Health (DOH) and National Kidney Institute to avert or delay Dialysis and or Kidney Transplantation. Being sold in Tablets and Capsule form by some Pharmaceutical Companies

LAGUNDI (Vitex Negundo)FOR COUGHS, COLDS, FEVER AND ASTHMA, Being promoted by the Department of Health (DOH).

JAVA TEA (Misai Kucing)FOR TREATING AILMENTS OF THE KIDNEY, BLADDER STONE, URINARY TRACT INFECTION, LIVER AND BLADDER PROBLEMS, DIABETES RHEUMATISM AND GOUT. IT IS ALSO USED TO REDUCE CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD PRESSURE

SINTA (Andrographis Paniculata)ANTI CANCER, LIVER PROTECTOR, IMPROVES GALL BLADDER FUNCTION, INCREASE BILE FLOW AND ANTI AGING

YNURA (Gynura Procumbens)FOR TREATMENT OF DIABETIS MELLITUS AND HYPERLIPIDEMIA

STEVIA (Stevia Rebaudiana)THE SAFEST ORGANIC SWEETENER (300 times sweeter than sugar) an aid to Diabetics.

GOTU KOLA (Centella Asiatica)FOR MEMORY ENHANCEMENT, VARICOSE VEINS, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ANXIETY, SCLERODERMA  AND  INSOMNIA

CUBAN OREGANO (Plectranthus Amboinicus) For the treatment of coughs, sore throats and nasal congestion, but also for a range of other problems such as infections, rheumatism and flatulence

AKAPULKO- In Africa, the boiled leaves are used for hypertension.- In South American, used for skin diseases, stomach problems, fever, asthma, snake bites and venereal disease.- In Thailand, leaves are boiled and drunk to hasten delivery.- As laxative, boil 10-15 dried leaves in water, taken in the morning and bedtime.- For wound treatment, leaves are boiled and simmered to one-third volume, then applied to affected areas twice daily.- In India, plant used as cure for poisonous bites and for venereal eruptions.- In Nigeria locally used for treatment of ringworm and parasitic skin diseases.- In the Antilles, Reunion, and Indo-China, plant is used as hydrogogue, sudorific, and diuretic.- Decoction of roots used for tympanites.- Wood used as alterative.- Sap of leaves used as antiherpetic.- Leaf tincture or extract used as purgative.- Juice of leaves mixed with lime-juice

UsesFolkloric- The seeds used for intestinal parasitism. - Tincture from leaves reported to be purgative.- Decoction of leaves and flowers for cough and as expectorant in bronchitis and asthma. Also used as astringent.- Crushed leaves and juice extract used for ringworm, scabies, eczema, tinea infections, itches, insect bites, herpes.- Preparation: Pound enough fresh leaves; express (squeeze out) the juice and apply on the affected skin morning and evening. Improvement should be noticed after 2 - 3 weeks of treatment.- Decoction of leaves and flowers used as mouthwash in stomatitis.- In Africa, the boiled leaves are used for hypertension.- In South American, used for skin diseases, stomach problems, fever, asthma, snake bites and venereal disease.-

Tanglad• Parts utilized

Leaves and whole plant.• Uses

Culinary- Commonly used as a stuffing ingredient in pig spit-roasting to improve the flavor and decrease the grease-taste.- Used for cooking stale fish to improve the taste. - Also used to flavor wines, sauces and spices.used as a diuretic.

In Cuban folk medicine, used to lower blood pressure and as anti-inflammatory.· In Brazil, used as sedative, for gastrointestinal maladies, and as febrifuge. Also, tea from leaves used for anxiolytic, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant effects.· In Malaya, used as a potion after childbirth.· In Indonesia, used as digestive, diuretic, sudorific and emmenagogue.· In India, used for gastrointestinal problems. Also, oil used as remedy for cholera.· In China, used as ansiolitic.· In Nigeria, used as antipyretic, stimulant and antispasmodic.· In Trinidad and Tobago, used for diabetes.· In various folk medicinal use: oil used for cough, cold, hemoptysis, rheumatism, back pain, bladder problems

• Others- Essential Oil: Volatile oil, called Lemon grass oil, consists mainly of citral and used in perfumery, soap, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, insecticide and food industries. - Roots used for perfuming hair washes of gogo. - Lemon grass oil is used in making perfumes, especially ionone (synthetic essence of violets). - In India, cultivated around houses to repel snakes.- Scavon Vet Spray: Andropogon citratus is one of the ingredients in a spray used for parasitic mite, Demodex bovis, that causes demodectic mange in cattle.

• Recent uses and preparations:Stomach discomfort, toothache, sprain, vomiting and ringwormPreparation :Liniment: Boil equal amounts of chopped leaves and roots with freshly made coconut oil. Also use as insect repellant.Infusion: Mix four ounces of the grass to one pint of boiling water. To keep away mosquitos, plant it around your house or place crushed leaves on your window sills.

Studies• Antibacterial / Antifungal: (1) Studies have shown antibacterial activity, comparable to penicillin. (2) Various studies has shown activity against C albicans, C pseudotropicalis, Mycrosporum gypseum and A niger. (3) Study evaluated the antibacterial properties of alcohol and water extracts. The alcohol extract was generally more effective than the water extract. The presence of alkaloids and phenols were assumed responsible for the antibacterial activity of the extracts.• Neurobehavioral Effects: (1) Study of myrcene in rats suggests anxiolytic activity. (2) Study of essentail oil produced marked CNS depression in mice, similar to chlorpromazine effect. Also, it increased sleepness time, similar to a thiopental effect.• Antinociceptive / Analgesic: Myrcene extract from the essential oil has been shown to have an antinociceptive effec

Antitumoral: (1) Study showed a-myrcene possess antimutagenic activity in mammary cells. (2) Plant compounds, a-limonene and geraniol showed inhibition of liver and intestinal mucous membrane cancer in mice. (3) Study in Thailand showed inhibition of colorectal neoplasia in mice. (4) Study showed inhibitory effects on early phase hepatocarcinogenesis in rats after initiation with diethylnitrosamine.• Insect repellent / Insecticidal: Studies of plant oil and powder have shown insect repellent and insecticidal activity. Essential oil has shown activity against Anopheline mosquitos, A culicifacies and A quinquefasciatus and certain developmental phase inhibition of A aegypti.• Mosquito repellent: Study on the mosquito repellency properties of volatile oils derived from lemongrass (C citratus), citronella grass (cymbopobon nadus) and May chang (Litsea cubeba) against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefascitus showed no significant difference on repellency.• Vascular Smooth Muscle Relaxation Effect: Study evaluated the effects of methanolic extracts of leaves, stems, roots, and citral on vascular smooth muscle using isolated tissue preparations. Citral, leaves, and roots exhibited a dose-dependent relaxant effect on the PE-induced contractions. Citral seemed to partially act via NO. Results suggest the relaxant effect of citral, leaves and roots is endothelium-dependent and may be through its effect on intracelluar calcium concentration. A vasodilator prostaglandin may mediate the effect of leaves.• Toxicity / Repellent Activity: E

Toxicity / Repellent Activity: Essential oils of C. citratus (lemongrass) and Murray koenigii (curry leaf) were tested for toxicity and repellant activity against C. maculatus in stored cowpea. Results showed lemongrass oil to be a more effective contact toxicant on bruchids than curry leaf oil.• Neurobehavioral Effect of Essential Oil: Study in Swiss male mice of essential oil from fresh leaves produced increase in sleeping time, elevation of seizure threshold and/or blockage of seizure spread. Results suggest sedative/hypnotic, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant activity.• Essential Oil / Phytochemical Composition / Antiinflammatory / Analgesic: Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effects of C. citratus and Eucalyptus citriodora essential oils on formol-induced edema and acetic acid-induced abdominal cramps in Wistar rats. C. citratus yielded 16 chemical constituents, among which geranial (27.04%), neral (19.93%) and myrcene (27.04%) were major constituents. The oils exhibited significant dose-dependent edema inhibition. Results showed anti-inflammatory activities and a potential role as adjuvant alternative in the treatment of inflammatory-related diseases.• Antioxidant / Hepatoprotective: Study evaluated the effect of C. citratus against carbon tetrachloride- mediated hepatic oxidative damage in rats. Results showed a hepatoprotective effect attributed to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging property. • Citral / Housefly (Musca domestica) Control: Study showed the potential of C. citratus oil as an excellent insecticide for housefly control, the results opening up the opportunity for oil/monoterpenes in the development of an eco-friendly, economical, and acceptable product.• Gastroprotective: Study evaluated C. citratus leaves essential oil for gastroprotection against injuries caused by necrotizing agents (absolute alcohol and aspirin) in rodents. Results showed EOCC reduces gastric damage induced by ethanol, in part, through mechanisms involving endogenous prostaglandins.

Other scientific names Common namesRhoeo spathacea Bangka-bangkaan (Tag.)  Oyster plant (Engl.)  Moses-in-the-cradle (Engl.)

Rhoeo discolorMOSES-IN-THE-CRADLE

Bangka-bangkaan

• Parts utilizedFowers, leaves.Collect the whole year round. Sun-dry.

Properties and constituents• Decongestant, expectorant, blood refrigerant, antidysenteric.• Phytochemical studies yielded alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, tannin and phenolic coumpounds and oil

UsesFolkloric· Cough, cold, coughing phlegm with blood, whooping cough.· Nose bleed.· Bacillary dysentery, blood in the stool.· Dosage: use 30 to 60 gms fresh material, 15 to 84 gms dried material or 20 to 30 pieces dried material in decoction.· In Singapore, sold in markets as both ornamental and medicinal: Boiled in water, it is believed to have cooling properties.

BotanyAbukado is a medium-sized tree reaching a height of up to 10 to 15 meters. Leaves are alternate, leathery, oblong to oval or obovate, about 20 centimeters long. Flowers are small, yellow, borne in naked, panicled hairy cymes. Stamens are 12, in groups of 3 in 4 whorls. Fruit is large, fleshy, elongated, of various sizes and shapes, often resembling a pear, 8 to 18 centimeters long, some weighing as much as two kilos, soft and edible, with a nutty flavor, color varying from yellow-green to purple.

Properties- Digestive, emmenagogue, antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, pectoral, stomachic, anthelmintic, antiperiodic, antidiarrheal.- Pulp considered to have aphrodisiac and emmenagogue properties.

Parts usedBark, fruit, leaves and seeds.

UsesEdibility / Nutritional• Fruit eaten with a dressing as a salad.• Makes an excellent ice cream and dessert.• A good source of vitamins A, some B, C and E, potassium (higher than bananas) and fiber ; fair source of iron; low in calcium. A fruit with high-energy producing value, each edible pound allegedly provides an average of 1,000 calories.

• Fat content averages about 20 percent and increases with maturity of the fruit. The digestibility of the fat is comparable to that of butter fat. • The caloric or energy-producing value of avocado is high. One pound of edible portion represents an average of 1,000 calories. The maximum yield is about twice that of lean meat.• High in fat, about 25-35 gms on average. however, about 65% of it is health-promoting monosaturated fat, particularly oleic acid. • Mineral content is considered greater than in any other fresh fruit. Salts of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium compose more than one-half of the ash. It yields an excess of base-forming elements, compared to nuts which furnish an excess of acid-forming elements.• Protein content, which averages 2%, is higher than any other fresh fruit.• Leaves used as a substitute for tea.

• Folkloric• The pulp is thought to promote menstruation.• The pulp is used to hasten the suppuration of wounds.• The pulp is considered aphrodisiac and emmenagogue. • Ointment from pulverized seeds sometimes employed as rubefacient.• Decoction of pulverized seeds used as gargles for toothaches; also, a piece of the seed placed in the cavity of the tooth to relieve toothaches.• The leaves and bark promote menstruation; the tea has been used to expel worms.•

Used for diarrhea and dysentery.• Rheumatism and neuralgia: Pulverize seeds or bark, mix with oil and apply on affected area as counterirritant.• Beverage: Take decoction of leaves as tea.• Pulp is applied to shallow cuts, prevents infection.• Flesh of ripe fruit is soothing to sunburned skin.• In different parts of the world, has been recommended for anemia, exhaustion, high cholesterol, hypertension, gastritis and duodenal ulcers. The leaves have been reported effective as antitussive, antidiabetic, antiarthritic and antiinflammatory.

Botany

Guayabano is a small tree, usually less than 7 meters high. Leaves are smooth, shiny, oblong-obovate to oblong, 7 to 20 centimeters in length, pointed on both ends, with petioles about 5 millimeters long. Flower is solitary, large, solitary, yellow or greenish-yellow. Three outer petals are broadly ovate with a heart-shaped base, up to 5 centimeters long, and 3 centimeters wide; and the inner three are also large, elliptic to obovate, and rounded. Fruit is ovoid and large, up to 18 centimeters long, covered with small scattered, soft spinelike processes. Skin is thin, and the pulp is soft, rather fibrous, white, and fleshy, with an agreeable, but rather sour flavor.

Constituents· Alcoholic extract of leaves, when distilled with steam, yielded a small amount of essential oil with a strong, somewhat agreeable odor. · The extract also yielded a dark-green resin containing: myricyl alcohol, sitosterol, fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, and stearic acids, together with a higher fatty acid, possibly lignoceric acid) and a diphydric alcohol, anonol. iso· Flesh of fruit contains saccharose 2.53%, dextrose 5.05 percent, and levulose 0.04%.· Bark yielded an amorphous alkaloid, found to be ponous, causing tetanus-like convulsions when injected to mice.· Seed contains a nonpoisonous alkaloid.· Recent studies isolated three acetogenins: annonacin, annonacin A and annomuricin A.· Stem bark yielded one acetogenin, solamin and two triterpenoids, stigmasterol and sitosterol.

BotanyLangka is a smooth tree reaching a height of 8 to 15 meters. Leaves are alternate, leathery, elliptic-oblong to obovate, entire or sometimes 3-lobed, 7 to 15 centimeters long, the apex and base both pointed. Female heads are embraced by spathaceous, deciduous, stipular sheaths, 5 to 8 centimeters long. Sepals are two. Spike is 5 to 15 centimeters long. Fruit is green to greenish-yellow when ripe, fleshy, hanging on short stalks from the main stem or from large branches in old trees, oblong with pyramidal projections, 25 to 60 centimeters long. Seeds are numerous, oblong, 2.5 to 4 centimeters long. The testa is thin, coriaceous, surrounded by an edible luscious pulpFolkloric· Skin diseases, ulcers and wounds: Ash of burnt leaves applied on wounds and ulcers as cicatrizant. · Burnt ashes of leaves (preferably fresh) with coconut oil, and as ointment, also used for ulcers and woundsseeds considered cooling, tonic and nutritious China.· In India, the leaves and bark of Artocarpus heterophyllus and Mangifera indica, boiled in water, are used as postpartum bath, to rejuvenate the mothers after delivery.

BotanyLangka is a smooth tree reaching a height of 8 to 15 meters. Leaves are alternate, leathery, elliptic-oblong to obovate, entire or sometimes 3-lobed, 7 to 15 centimeters long, the apex and base both pointed. Female heads are embraced by spathaceous, deciduous, stipular sheaths, 5 to 8 centimeters long. Sepals are two. Spike is 5 to 15 centimeters long. Fruit is green to greenish-yellow when ripe, fleshy, hanging on short stalks from the main stem or from large branches in old trees, oblong with pyramidal projections, 25 to 60 centimeters long. Seeds are numerous, oblong, 2.5 to 4 centimeters long. The testa is thin, coriaceous, surrounded by an edible luscious pulp.

Distribution - Cultivated throughout the Philippines at low and medium altitudes. - In some regions, spontaneous.- Prehistoric introduction from Malaya or tropical Asia.- Also occurs in India to Malaya, and is now cultivated in most tropical countries.

Constituents· Jackfruit contains morin and a crystalline constituent, cyanomaclurin.· Cyanomaclurin reported to contain a phoroglucinol group and is probably isomeric with catechins.· Phytochemical screening yielded alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and saponins.· Chemical analysis yields moisture 28.50%, sugars (saccharose, fructose, glucose) 5.48%, fixed oil 6.64%, essential oil 0.15%, other extracts 22.39%, protein 18.85%, cellulose 14.47%, inorganic matter 3.52%.· Pulp (lamukot) of the fruit contains vitamin C.· Good source of provitamin A carotenoids.· Of the components of essential oil, piperonal is noted.· Study yielded a new flavonone, a new prenylflavone, a novel phenolic compound, heterophylol and nine known flavonoids.

Properties· Root is considered antiasthmatic.· Ripe fruit is sweet, cooling, demulcent, nutritive, laxative, aphrodisiac.· Unripe fruit is acrid, astringent, carminative and tonic.· Pulp or flesh surrounding the seed is aromatic, cooling and tonic.· Bark is considered sedative.

Parts utilized · Leaves, fruit, seeds

UsesNutrition / Edibility- The young fruit is also a vegetable.- Fruit has a high carbohydrate content. - Seeds are very rich in starch, but a poor source of calcium and iron.- The pulp or flesh (lamukot) surrounding the seeds is rich, yellow, sweet and aromatic, rich in vitamin C, eaten fresh or cooked or preserved. - The seeds are boiled or roasted. - The unripe fruit can be pickled.- In India, the unripe fruit used in the preparation of pickles.Folkloric· Skin diseases, ulcers and wounds: Ash of burnt leaves applied on wounds and ulcers as cicatrizant. · Burnt ashes of leaves (preferably fresh) with coconut oil, and as ointment, also used for ulcers and wounds.· Diarrhea, fever and asthma: A decoction of the root (preferably chopped into small pieces before boiling) of the tree, three to four cups daily.· Glandular swelling and snake bites: Apply the milky juice of the tree. · When mixed with vinegar, it is especially beneficial for glandular swelling and abscesses, promoting absorption and suppuration.· The ripe fruit is laxative; in large quantities, it produces diarrhea.· The roasted seeds believed to have aphrodisiac properties.· Pulp envelopes or arils of seeds considered cooling, tonic and nutritious China.· In India, the leaves and bark of Artocarpus heterophyllus and Mangifera indica, boiled in water, are used as postpartum bath, to rejuvenate the mothers after delivery.Starch of seeds given in bilious colic.· In China, roasted seeds used as aphrodisiac. · Root extract used for asthma , fever and diarrhea. · Bark is considered sedative.· In Sri Lanka and India, extracts of mature leaves used for treatment of diabetes.· In China, pulp of fruit also considered useful in suppressing alcohol in the body.· In Indian medicine, bark used in fever, boils, wounds, skin diseases.· In Mauritius, used for diabetes.· In Ayurvedic medicine, hot water extract of mature leaves used for treatment of diabetes.Others· Fruit used to flavor and age lambanog; locals believe it increases alcohol potency.· Tree latex is used as bird lime; and when heated makes a good cement for china.· Bark sometimes used for making rope and cloth.· Wood has limited use as source of yellow dye.

Studies • Antiinflammatory: Study isolated flavonoids including: 1-cycloartomunin, 2-cyclomorusin, 3- dihydrocycloartomunin, 4- dihydroisocycloartomunin, 5- cudraflavone A, 6- cyclocommunin, 7-artomunoxanthone, 8- cycloheterohyllin, 9- artonin A, 10- artonin-B, 11- artocarpanone, 12- artocarpanone A, 13, 14, 15 -heteroflavanones A, B and C. Many of the compounds exhibited varying degrees of antiinflammatory activities–inhibitory effects on chemical mediator release from mast cells, neutrophils and macrophages. • Inhibition of Melanin Biosynthesis: (1) Inhibitory Effect of Artocarpanone from Artocarpus heterophyllus on Melanin Biosynthesis: Study showed the extract of AH to be one of the strongest inhibitor of tyrosinase activity. Study isolated Artocarpanone, which inhibited both mushroom tyrosinase activity and melanin production in B16 melanoma cells and presents as a potential as a remedy for hyperpigmentation in human skin. (2) Structure-Activity Relationship of Prenyl-Substituted Polyphenols from Artocarpus heterophyllus as Inhibitors of Melanin Biosynthesis in Cultured Melanoma Cells: Study isolated flavone-based polyphenols which were found to be active inhibitors of the in vivo melanin biosynthesis in B16 melanoma cells.• Antibacterial: Multibeneficial natural material: Dye from heartwood of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk: Material isolated could be used as a direct dye for wool and silk; with antibacterial activity against B. subtilis, B. cereus, S. aureus, E coli, K pneumonia. • Source of Provitamin A carotenoids: Analysis of carotenoids in ripe jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) kernel and study of their bioconversion in rats: Study showed jackfruit to be a good source of provitamin A carotenoids (not as good as papaya).• Antioxidant activity / Scavenging Activity: (1) Study showed prenylated flavonoid with more antioxidant than non-prenylated flavonoid. (2) Study isolated prenylflavones cycloheterophyllin and artonins A and B which inhibited iron-induced lipid peroxidation and also show radical scavenging activity.• Hypoglycemic / Anti-Diabetic: (1) Screening of traditional antidiabetic medicinal plants of mauritius for possible -amylase inhibitory effects in vitro: Of several medicinal plants studied in Mauritius, only Artocarpus heterophyllus significantly inhibited a-amylase activity in vitro indicating that AH could act as a starch blocker to decrease post-prandial glucose peaks. (2) Study in male Wistar rats showed the flavonoid fraction of the leaf of AH to have a higher hypoglycemic effect than the sulfonylurea drug tolbutamide with no significant effects on the liver, kidney and heart. • Sexual Competence Inhibition: Study sought to resolve the conflicting beliefs on the roasted seeds of AH - its aphrodisiac activity vs the claim that use of the seeds prior to coitus disrupts sexual function. Study in rats utilizing a seed suspension markedly inhibited libido, sexual arousal, sexual vigor and performance while also causing mild erectile dysfunction. The results suggest that AH seeds do not have aphrodisiac activity, at least, in rats.• Cytotoxicity / Anti-Tumor: Study showed the methanol extract to have maximum cytotoxicity on HEp2 cells with cell aggregation, cell rounding and cell death. Results suggest a potential use of the crude extract from the tegmen of AH as an antitumor agent.• Anti-Inflammatory / Bark: Study of a methanolic extract of A. heterophyllus on a carrageenan-induced model in albino rats showed dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity.• Hypoglycemic / Hypolipidemic: Study of ethyl acetate fraction of A. heterophyllus leaves in STZ-induced diabetic rats showed significant lowering of serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Study concludes the EA fraction contains one or more hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic principles with a potential for further development for diabetes treatment. • Improved Glucose Tolerance / Type-2 Diabetes: Study showed the extracts of both Artocarpus heterophyllus and Asteracanthus longifolia significantly improved glucose tolerance in both normal subjects and diabetic patients.• Hypoglycemic / Hypolipidemic / Antioxidant Pathway: Ethanol and butanol extracts showed hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in STZ-diabetic rats through an oxidative pathway that may be attributed to flavonoid contents.• Jacalin / Seed-Derived Lectin / Immunobiologic Applications: Jacalin, a major lectin protein from the jackfruit seed has been found strongly mitogenic for human CD4+ T lymphocytes. It has been found to have diverse applications: as a tool for evaluation of immune status in HIV-1, isolation of hum plasma glycoproteins, investigation of IgA -nephropathy, and detection of tumors.• Seed Starch Binding Property: Study showed the starch obtained from A. heterophyllus fruit seeds showed comparable binding properties.• Latex / Protease / Antimicrobial: A protease isolated and purified from crude latex of a jackfruit tree, designated as antimicrobial protease-48 kDa or AMP48 inhibited the growths of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853 and clinical isolated Candida albicans.• Nutritional Assessment of Jackfruit Meal/ Protease / Antimicrobial: In Sri Lanka, the jackfruit is consumed either as main meal or supplement. A nutritional assessment of a meal composed of flesh (80% available carbohydrate) and seeds (20% available carbohydrate) showed it to be a good source of starch (22%) and dietary fiber, and categorized as a low GI meal.

AvailabilityWildcrafted.Commercial fruiting.

Studies • Antiinflammatory: Study isolated flavonoids including: 1-cycloartomunin, 2-cyclomorusin, 3- dihydrocycloartomunin, 4- dihydroisocycloartomunin, 5- cudraflavone A, 6- cyclocommunin, 7-artomunoxanthone, 8- cycloheterohyllin, 9- artonin A, 10- artonin-B, 11- artocarpanone, 12- artocarpanone A, 13, 14, 15 -heteroflavanones A, B and C. Many of the compounds exhibited varying degrees of antiinflammatory activities–inhibitory effects on chemical mediator release from mast cells, neutrophils and macrophages. • Inhibition of Melanin Biosynthesis: (1) Inhibitory Effect of Artocarpanone from Artocarpus heterophyllus on Melanin Biosynthesis: Study showed the extract of AH to be one of the strongest inhibitor of tyrosinase activity. Study isolated Artocarpanone, which inhibited both mushroom tyrosinase activity and melanin production in B16 melanoma cells and presents as a potential as a remedy for hyperpigmentation in human skin. (2) Structure-Activity Relationship of Prenyl-Substituted Polyphenols from Artocarpus heterophyllus as Inhibitors of Melanin Biosynthesis in Cultured Melanoma Cells: Study isolated flavone-based polyphenols which were found to be active inhibitors of the in vivo melanin biosynthesis in B16 melanoma cells

• Antibacterial: Multibeneficial natural material: Dye from heartwood of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk: Material isolated could be used as a direct dye for wool and silk; with antibacterial activity against B. subtilis, B. cereus, S. aureus, E coli, K pneumonia. • Source of Provitamin A carotenoids: Analysis of carotenoids in ripe jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) kernel and study of their bioconversion in rats: Study showed jackfruit to be a good source of provitamin A carotenoids (not as good as papaya).• Antioxidant activity / Scavenging Activity: (1) Study showed prenylated flavonoid with more antioxidant than non-prenylated flavonoid. (2) Study isolated prenylflavones cycloheterophyllin and artonins A and B which inhibited iron-induced lipid peroxidation and also show radical scavenging activity.