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Family Combretaceae
Kalumpit
Terminalia edulis Blanco

BELLERIC MYROBALAN

Scientific names Common names  
Myrobalanus bellirica Gaertn. Alupi (Ibn.)  Kalomaog (P. Bis.) 
Myrobalanus laurinioides Kuntz. Anagep (Ilk.)  Kalumagon (Bik.) 
Terminalia microcarpa Decne. Bajo (Tagb.)  Kalumangog (Bik.) 
Terminalia augustifolia Blanco  Balisayin (Tag.)  Kalumanog (P. Bis.)  
Pentaptera mollis Presl Bango (Mbo.)  Kalumpit (Tag., Sbl.) 
Terminalia mollis Rolfe Baraus (Tagb.)  Kalupi (Neg., Ign.) 
Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. Basal (Tag.)  Kalupit (Ilk., Neg.) 
Terminalia javanica Miq. Basi (Itn.) Kalurig (Ibn.) 
  Bisi (Gad.)  Kalusit (Ibn.) 
  Buluang (Bis.)  Kamaris (Tagb.)
  Dalinson (Tag.)  Kamaris (Tagb.) 
  Disi (Gad.)  Kotmok (Bik.) 
  Gayumayen (Sbl.) Lumangog (S. L. bis.) 
  Gisit (Itn.)  Magtalisai (P. Bis.) 
  Kalamai (Tag.)  Taya-taya (P. Bis.) 
  Kalantit (Ilk.)  Bastard myrobalan (Engl.) 
  Kalaotit (Gad.) Belleric myrobalan (Engl.) 
  Kalomagon (Bik.)   

Botany
Kalumpit is a tree growing to a height of 25 meters and a diameter of 1 meter. Leaves are 6 to 15 centimeters long, smooth, and pointed at both ends. Flowers are small, yellowish-white, on slender spikes growing from the axil of the leaves. Fruit is about 3 centimeters wide, smooth, and dark red when ripe.


Distribution
- Very common and widely distributed in primary forests at low altitudes from northern Luzon to southern Mindanao.
- Also reported from Java.

Constituents
- Bark contains tannin, 42%.
- Seeds yield an oil content of 40%, with a fatty-acid methyl ester that meets major biodiesel requirements.
- Fruit yields ascorbic acid, enzymes, bioflavonoids.
- Rich in minerals like chromium, potassium, magnesium, B vitamins, and amino acids.

Properties
- Fruit pulp considered by Hindu physicians as astringent and laxative.
- Some reports consider the kernels as narcotic.


Parts used
Fruit.

Uses
Nutritional
Fruit is fleshy and makes a good preserve; also used to sweeten and age lambanog (coconut liquer).
Folkloric
- Fruit is used in eyewashes as the fruit of aroma – Acacia farnesiana.
- Fruit lotion also used in humid herpetism or eczema.
- In India, T. bellirica is traditionally used for diabetes.
- Hindu physicians prescribe the fruit pulp with salt and long pepper for throat and chest affections.
Others
- Bark contains tannin, 42%, extract used in tanneries and manufacture of tannin extract.
- Leaves considered cattle fodder.
- Some tribes in the Indian subcontinent smoke dried kernels for its mind-altering properties.

Studies
Angiogenesis Potential:
Study evaluated the angiogenic activity of an ethanolic extract of T. bellirica Roxb. Results showed EETB significantly promoted the development of capillary networks in CAM and the newly synthesized vessels participated actively in the circulating blood vessels in-ova.
Antidiabetic: Study showed aqueous extract stimulated basal insulin output and potentiated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion concentration-dependently in the clonal pancreatic beta-cell line. Results showed components in the TB extract stimulated insulin secretion, enhance insulin action and inhibit both protein glycation and starch digestion.
Antimicrobial: Study evaluated T bellirica dry fruit extracts against 9 human microbial pathogens. Results showed strong inhibitory activity against S. aureus, the ethanol extract more effective than the crude extract. Results showed the dry fruit possesses potential broad spectrum antimicrobial activity.


Availability
Wild-crafted. 


Last Update January 2012

Photos © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange
Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
EVALUATION OF ANGIOGENESIS POTENTIAL OF TERMINALIA BELLIRICA ROXB. BY CHICK CHORIO-ALLANTOIC MEMBRANE (CAM) ASSAY / V Vinoth Prabhu, V Gopal / International Journal of Drug Development & Research | April-June 2011 | Vol. 3 | Issue 2 | ISSN 0975-9344 |
(2)
Sorting Terminalia names / Maintained by: Michel H. Porcher / MULTILINGUAL MULTISCRIPT PLANT NAME DATABASE
(3)
Terminalia bellirica stimulates the secretion and action of insulin and inhibits starch digestion and protein glycation in vitro. / Kasabri V, Flatt PR, Abdel-Wahab YH. / ju.edu.jo
(4)
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF TERMINALIA BELLERICA / K.M. Elizabeth / Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, 2005, 20 (2) 150-153
(5)
Prospects and potential of fatty acid methyl esters of some non-traditional seed oils for use as biodiesel in India / M Mobibbe Azam et al / Biomass and Bioenergy, Vol 29, No 4, October 2005, Pages 293-302 /
doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2005.05.001


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