HOME      •      SEARCH      •      EMAIL    •     ABOUT


Family Leguminosae / Fabaceae
Laguan
Euchresta horsfieldii (Lesch.) Benn.

Fu mao shan dou gen

Scientific names Common names
Andira horsfieldii Lesch. Katanda (Buk.)
Euchresta horsfieldii (Lesch.) Benn. Laguan (Tag.)
Euchresta horsfeldii (Lesch.) Benn. Makahilab (Buk.)
Euchresta strigillosa C. Y. Wu  
Katanda is a shared common name by: (1) Katanda, Cassia tora, sicklepod (2) Akapulko, Cassia alata (3) Laguan, Euchrestia horsfieldii
Euchresta forsfieldii (Lesch.) Benn. is the preferred name. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: April 2013

Other vernacular names
CHINESE: Fu mao shan dou gen.
INDONESIAN: Ki jiiwa, Panjang jiwa, Pranajiwa.

Botany
Laguan is an erect, tough, unarmed shrub about 0.5 to 1.5 meters high. Leaves are alternate, smooth, long-petioled, and odd-pinnate, with 3 to 5 leaflets which are oblong, 10 to 15 centimeters in length, often rounded at the base and pointed at the tip. Flowers are borne in considerable numbers in simple, peduncled, axillary racemes. Corolla is white, about 1.25 centimeters long or twice the length of the calyx. Pods are oblong, 1 to 2 centimeters long, and very turgid, purplish black when mature, and contain a single, large seed.

Distribution
- Of local occurrence on the higher mountains from northern Luzon to Mindanao.
- Also occurs in India to the Riu Kiu Islands from Taiwan southward to Java.

Constituents
- Seeds contain cytisine.
- Study isolated two new prenylflavanones, euchrenones a7 and a8 from the roots and stems.
- Study yielded 40 chemical compounds. The highest, kaur-16-ene, was found in the root (51.29%) and stem (36.13%). Palmitic acid was 16.7% in roots, 34.79% in stems, 23.55% in leaves, 13.79% in skin of seed, and 36.13% in seeds. Vitamin C was highest in the seed skin. (3)
- Roots yielded three new flavonoids, viz., 5,2',4'-trihydroxy-6-(3,3-dimethylallyl-6''',6'''-dimethylpyrano[2''',3''':7,8)] flavanone(euchrenone a9),5,4'-dihydroxy-6(3,3-dimethylallyl)-5'''-hydroxyisoproyldihydrofurano [2",3":7,8]isoflavone(euchrenone b10) and 2-methoxymaackiain, together with known compounds kushenol E, 6,8-di(3,3-dimethylallyl)genistein, osajin, warangalone, derrone 4'-O-methyl ether, alpinumisoflavone 4'-methyl ether and feruloyl hexadecayl ester. (4)
- GC-MS analysis of seed extract yielded 9 compounds, among which were eugenol 17%, terpenoid compounds (trans-caryophyllene 17.55% and a-humulene 1.67%), and carboxylic acid group (hexadecanoic acid 1.30%, 9.12-hexadecadienoic acid 3.66%, hexanedioic acid 10.06%, and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid 2.30%.), along with the alkaloid compound (matrine 8.45%). (see study below) (7)

Properties
- Seeds are bitter and poisonous.
- Considered tonic and aphrodisiac.
- Study has shown hypolipidemic property.

Parts used
Roots, seeds.

Uses

Folkloric
- In the Philippines, roots are chewed as a cure for snake bites.
- Seeds are used for diseases of the chest.
- Although considered poisonous, used as a tonic and aphrodisiac.


Studies
Hypolipidemic / PPAR Activation:
Study of EH fruit extracts showed significant PPARa activation, increased PPARa target gene expression and regulated protein expression for lipid metabolism. Results indicate that E. horsfieldii shows potential as a natural lipid-lowering agent. (1)
• Antidiabetic / Antioxidant / Leaves: Study showed E. horsfieldii leaf extract can prevent oxidative stress by decreasing the levels of MDA (malondialdehyde) and can improve the histopathological profile of pancreatic ß-cell damage in alloxan induced diabetic Wistar rats at 140 mg/kbw dose. (5)
• Antioxidant Capacity / Effect on SOD and GPx Activities: Study evaluated the effect of an ethyl acetate extract of E. horsfieldii leaves on increasing activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and GPx in blood plasma of Wistar rats with maximum physical activity. Results showed antioxidant capacity with IC50 of 393.95 mg/l on DPPH assay and total flavonoid level of 6619.72 mg QE/100g or 6.62% QE. (6)
• Antihyperglycemic / Repair of Damaged Pancreatic ß-Cells / Seeds: Study evaluated the effectiveness of seed extract in repairing ß-cell pancreatic damage in alloxan induced hyperglycemic Wistar rats. Results showed pranajiwa seed extract at 5mg/kbw reduced the rate of ß-cell destruction and structural changes of pancreatic ß-cell tissue histopathology in the Wistar rats. (see constituents above) (7)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Updated October 2018 / May 2015

IMAGE SOURCE: Photo / Euchresta horsfieldii (Leschen.) Benn. / © / Copyright / / forest.gov.tw
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Euchresta horsfieldii (Lesch.) Benn. / Miquel, F.A.W., Flora van Nederlandsch Indie , vol. 1(1): t. 3 (1855) [Q.M.R. VerHuell] / Illustration contributed by the Missouri Botanical Garden / Plant Illustrations

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Euchresta horsfieldii Benn. activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and regulates expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism in human HepG2 cells / Kim J H, Kim D, Kim J, Hwang JK / J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Jan 7;133(1):244-7. Epub 2010 Oct 20.
(2)
Two flavanones from Euchresta horsfieldii / Mizuo Mizuno, Toshiyuki Tanaka, Nobuyasu Matsiuura et al / Phytochemistry, Vol 29, No 8, 1990, Pp 2738-2740 / doi:10.1016/0031-9422(90)85236-9
(3)
Study on phenology and chemical compound of Pronojiwo (Euchresta horsfieldii [Lesch] Benn.)
/ Tirta, I G., Ardaka, I M., Darma, I Dw. Pt. / The Spice and Medicinal Crops Bulletin;Vol. 21 No. 1
(4)
Flavonoids in the roots of euchresta horsfieldii in thailand / Mizuno M.; Tanaka T.; Tamura K I.; Matsuura N.; IInuma M.; Phengklai C. / Phytochemistry (oxford). 29(8): 2663-2666, 1990.
(5)
POTENTIAL OF EUCHRESTA HORSFIELDII LESCH BENN LEAF EXTRACT PREVENT OXIDATIVE STRESS THROUGH DECREASE OF MALONDIALDEHYDE LEVELS AND PROFILE HISTOPATHOLOGY PANCREATIC Β-CELLS IN DIABETIC RATS / I Wayan Gede Gunawan Ketut Suastika, A A Bawa Putra / World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016; 5(1): pp 1340-1352
(6)
Effect Of Euchresta Horsfieldii Lesch Benn Leaf Extract On Increases Enzyme Activity Of Superoxide Dismutase And Glutathione Peroxidase In Rats with Maximum Physical Activity / I W G Gunawan, N M Puspawati, N W Rika Kumara Dewi and M Oka Adi Parwata / J. Pharm. Sci. & Res., 2017; 9(5): pp 578-582
(7)
Effects of Pranajiwa Seed Extract Repair Damaged Pancreatic Β-Cells through Decrease of Blood Glucose Levels, Advanced Glycation end-Products and Profile Histopathology in Hyperglycemic Rats / I. W. G. Gunawan, I G. A. G. Bawa and *W.P. Sutirta Yasa / J. Biol. Chem. Research. 2015; Vol 32, No 1: pp 299-312


HOME      •      SEARCH      •      EMAIL    •     ABOUT
pan