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Family Araliaceae
Lima-lima
Schefflera elliptica (Blume) Harms

FIVE FINGERS
Qi ye lian

Scientific names  Common names 
Hedera verticillata Span. Arasagat (Ilk.)  
Heptapleurum ellipticum (Blume) Seem. Galamai-amo (Tag.) 
Heptapleurum micranthum (Miq.) Seem. Kalakang (Bag.) 
Heptapleurum natale Ridl. Karangkang (Bik.) 
Heptapleurum verticillatum (Span.) Seem. Kayangkang (Bik.) 
Paratropia crassa  Blanco Kokotimbazlun (Yak.) 
Paratropia elliptica  (Blume) Miq. Lima-lima (Tag.)
Paratropia macrantha  Miq. Palan (Sul.) 
Paratropia micrantha  Miq. Panagang (Tagb.) 
Paratropia verticillata  (Span.) K.Koch Tagima (Bis.) 
Polyscias odorata  Blanco Tagilima (Bis.) 
Schefflera agusanensis Elmer Tarangkang (S. L. Bis.) 
Schefflera elliptica (Blume) Harms Tughik (Iv.) 
Schefflera fukienensis Merr. Tuglima (Bis.) 
Schefflera nitida Merr. Five fingers (Engl.)
Schefflera odorata (Blanco) Merr. & Rolfe Schefflera vine (Engl.)
Sciodaphyllum ellipticum Blume  
Schefflera verticillatum (Span.) Walp.  
Galamai is a local name for three different species of genus Schefflera, distinguished from each other by the leaf numbers and features: (1) Schefflera elliptifoliola Merr. (Galamai) (2) Schefflera insularum Seem. (Galamai-amo, kalangkang, kulolo, pararan) (3)Schefflera odorata Merr. (Galamai-amo, kalakang, lima-lima)
Schefflera venulosa is considered by some to be misapplied to this species.
Schefflera odorata (Blanco) Merr. & Rolfe is a synonym of Schefflera elliptica (Blume) Harms The Plant List
Schefflera elliptica (Blume) Harms is an accepted name. The Plant List

Other vernacular names
CHINESE: Qi ye lian, Mi mai e zhnag chai (S. ellipitica).
MALAY: Ara bebari, Bunga kuku langsuir.
LAOTIAN: Lep meu nang.
OTHERS: Cenama, Gajah, Rawanito, Waghchavad.

Gen info
- Schefflera are shrubs or trees, sometimes climbers or epiphytes, usually with palmately compound leaves. Several recent phylogenetic studies have shown Schefflera is clearly polyphyletic, and that the Asian species belong to a single, well supported, morphologically coherent clade, which might have to be transferred to some other genera. (8)
- There are nearly 1100 species widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics of both hemispheres; about 5 or 6 species endemic in the Philippines.

Botany
Lima-lima is a smooth vine, 2 to 6 meters high. Petioles are longer than the leaflets. Leaves are palmately compound leaves, with 5 to 6 leaflets. Leaflets are smooth and shining, leathery, elliptic to broadly ovate, of different sizes in the same leaf, 10 to 24 centimeters in length, 3 to 8 centimeters wide, with pointed tips. Flowers are greenish, 6-parted, 2 to 3 millimeters in diameter, borne on terminal, lax panicles 10 to 20 centimeters long. Fruit is globose and fleshy when fresh, 4 to 5 millimeters long with 6 prominent angles when dry.

Distribution
- Common in secondary forests and thickets at low and medium altitudes, occurring in most or all islands and provinces from the Batan Islands and northern Luzon to Palawan and Mindanao.
- Also occurs in Indo-China, Thailand and Malaysia.

Constituents
- The leaves yield oleanolic acid, lutein, fatty alcohols and hydrocarbons. (1)
- S. venulosa yielded a betulinic acid glycoside.
- Aerial parts of S. venulosa yielded two new triterpenoid saponins: 3-O-β-D-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)--β-D-glucuronopyransyl oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopy-ranosyl ester(1)、3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)--β-D-glucuron-opyransyl oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2).
(11 )

Properties
- Antiscorbutic, vulnerary.
- Studies have suggested wound healing, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antiprotozoal, hepatoprotective properties.

Parts utilized
Leaves, bark.

Uses
Folkloric
- Bark is used for treatment of coughs.
- Used for asthma, liver diseases, rheumatism, arthritis, sprains.
- Used for fever and inflammation.
- Used as tonic.
- Decoction of leaves used as antiscorbutic.
- Resin used as vulnerary.
- In India, roots mixed with rice, eaten to cure dropsy.
- In Thailand, used as ingredient in post-partum baths and food supplements. (10)
- In Laos, stem bark used for rheumatism; also used as tonic. (15)
-
- In
India, leaves used in treatment of bone fractures.

Studies
Secondary Metabolites / Oleanolic Acid / Leaves:
Study of diclhloromethane extract of leaves yielded oleanolic acid, lutein, fatty alcohols and hydrocarbons from the leaves of Schefflera odorata. Some of the biological activities of the plant may be attributed to oleanolic acid. (1)
Wound Healing / Lectins:
Philippine study reports the potential of leaves of two medicinal plants - Pithecellobium dulce and Schefflera odorata as available and inexpensive sources of lectins and suggests further studies for its wound healing properties. (3)
Lectins / Leaves: Study extracted a lectin from the leaves of Schefflera odorata, non-blood type specific and non-blood group specific. The lectin was a glycoprotein containing 2.33% total sugars. (5)
Saponin / Cell-Signaling Pathway Modulator / Antioxidant / Immunomodulatory:
Study
evaluating the mechanisms of how saponins from leaf extracts of S. odorata modulate cell signaling pathways suggest: (1) leaf extracts act as an extracellular signal switching off extracellular enzymes and (2) induction of apoptosis through signal transmission into the nucleus promoting DNA fragmentation of cancer cell lines. Study also demonstrated antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. (6)
Anti-Protozoal:
In a study of 10 lectins screened for cytotoxic activity against Acanthamoeba sp. (a keratitis-causing amoeba) and Tetrahymena pyriformis, lectins from Schefflera odorata and Swietenia macrophylla were found to possess high cytotoxic activity against the test organisms. (7)
Cytotoxicity / Leaves and Roots:
Study for cytotoxicity of air-dried leaves and roots of Schefflera odorata extracts showed an IC5020 µg/ml for all cell lines tested (A549, adenocarcinoma of lung; SL6, large cell of lung; Calu-1, squamous carcinoma of lung; Hep-2, epidermoid carcinoma of larynx; and L929, m mouse fibroblast as control). (9)
Lupane Triterpenoids:
Study yielded two new lupane triterpenoids, viz., 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-27-oxo-betulinic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 3-O-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl-27-oxo-betulinic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2). (12)
Hepatoprotective / Antioxidant:
Study evaluated the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extracts of S. venulosa and S. wallichiana leaves on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in male albino rats. Results showed S. venulosa aqueous extract has potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity when compared to AESW. (13)

Antistress / Antioxidant / Bark and Leaves: Study of ethanol extract of bark and leaves showed showed antistress effect on mice at oral doses of 158 and 167 mg/kbw, respectively. The bark was more effective than the leaves, with efficacy increasing with doses. Both extracts showed in vitro antioxidant activity at 50-100 mcg/ml, with the bark showing greater effect than the leaves. The saponin extract of the bark exhibited antioxidant effects at 5-25 mcg/mL. The saponins may be th chemical constituent responsible for the antioxidant activity. . (17)

Availability
Wild-crafted. 


Updated April 2022 / May 2018 / February 2015

PHOTOS / ILLUSTRATIONS
Photos © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Secondary Metabolites from Schefflera odorata Blanco / Consolacion Ragasa and Kathleen Lim / Philippine Journal of Science, Vol 134, No 1, June 2005
(2)
An Investigative Study on the Hypoglycemic Property of Schefflera Odorata (Lima-lima) Leaves / Ramos R, Raymundo M: / UST Faculty of Medicines, 1993.
(3)
LECTINS FROM TWO PHILIPPINE MEDICINAL PLANTS/ Marivic S. Lacsamana, Ana Christina et al / Institute of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences / University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna
(4)
Micronutrients and health - molecular biological mechanisms / FreeLibrary
(5)
Lectin from S. Odorata leaves / Kalaw, GJD, F.E. Merca, M.S. Lacsamana. 2001. Philippine Agricultural Scientist 84: 2, 192-196.
(6)
Saponin from Schefflera odorata as potential modulator of the cell-signaling pathways / Castro-Bernas G de, Ramos MCR / Book: Micronutrients and health: molecular biological mechanisms 2001 pp. 135-150
(7)
Evaluation of Some Lectins as Anti-protozoal Agents / Marla A. Endriga, Elmer-Rico E. Mojica, Florinia E. Merca, Marivic S. Lacsamana and Custer C. Deocaris / Journal of Medical Sciences, 5: 31-34.
(8)
Schefflera (Genus) / Overview / ZipcodeZoo
(9)
Preliminary screening of cytotoxic activity of Raphanus sativus L. seeds and Schefflera odorata B. leaves and roots on different human-derived cancer cell lines. / Josephine K. Sarau / Thesis / University of Santo Tomas / Herdin Record #: PCHRD01121101013764
(10)
Medicinal Plants Of The Mien (Yao) In Northern Thailand And Their Potential Value In The Primary Healthcare Of Postpartum Women. / Kannika Panyaphu, Tran Van On, Panee Sirisa-ard, Pratchaya Srisa-nga, Sunee ChansaKaow and Surapol Nathakarnkitkul / Journal of ethnopharmacology, May 17, 2011
(11)
Studies on chemical constituents of Schefflera venulosa(Ⅱ) / CUI Tao, PENG Ling-fang, XIA Wei-jun, YANG Shun-li, DING Zhong-tao / Journal of Yunan Univerisity (Natural Sciences), 2011, Vol 33, Issue 1, pp 89-92
(12)
Two new lupane triterpenoides from Schefflera venulosa / Ling-Fang Peng, Wei-Jun Xia, Lei He, Tao Cui / Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines 03/2012; 10(2):81–83. DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1009.2012.00081
(13)
Aqueous Leaf Extracts of Schefflera venulosa and S. Wallichiana (Araliaceae) Protects the Liver Against Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4) - Induced Hepatic Damage in Albino Rats / Deepa Raghavendra Hebbar, Gujjaiah Savitha, Monnanda Somaiah Nalini* / American Journal of PharmTech Research
(14)
Scheffleraa elliptica / Synonyms / The Plant List
(15)
Inventory of medicinal plants of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic: A mini review / Kongmany Sydara, Mouachanh Xayvue, Onevilay Souliya, Bethany G. Elkington, and Djaja D. Soejarto* / Journal of Medicinal Plant Research,
17 November 2014; Vol. 8(43), pp 1262-1274 / DOI: 10.5897/JMPR2014.5534
(16)
Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used by ethnic communities of South iIndia / Sathosh Kumar et al / Ethnobotany Research and Applications
(17)
Studies on Antistress and Antioxidant Effects if Scefflera alliptica (Blumae) Harms (Araliaceae) / Nguyen Thi Thu Huong / Journal of Medicinal Materials, 2003: pp 113-118

α(5)

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