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Family Burseraceae
Sahing
Canarium luzonicum (Blume) A. Gray
MANILA ELEMI
Ch'ing-kuo

Scientific names  Common names
Canarium album Blanco                 [Illegitimate] Alañgi (Ilk) 
Canarium carapifolium G. Perkins Alanki (Ilk) 
Canarium luzonicum (Blume) A. Gray Antang (Ibn)
Canarium oliganthum Merr. Anteng (Ilk) 
Canarium polyanthum G.Perkins  Bakan (Ting.) 
Canarium triandrum  Engl. Bakoog (Ilk)
Pimela luzonica  Blume                    Unresolved Basiad (Tag) 
  Belis (Tag) 
  Bulau (Pang) 
  Malapili (Bik) 
  Pagsahingin (Tag) 
  Pili (Tag., Bik., Bis., Ibn.)
  Piling liitan (Tag) 
  Pilauai (Tag) 
  Pisa (Tag) 
  Sahing (Tag.)
  Tugtugin (Tag.)
  Chinese olive (Engl.)
  Elemi canary-tree (Engl.)
  Elemi (Engl.)
  Manila Elemi (English) 
Both Canarium luzonicum and C. ovatum are locally known as pili. The Manila elemi of commerce is derived from both species.
There is a confusing sharing of common names and scientific names between Canarium ovatum (pili) and Canarium luzonicum (sahing).
Some compilations attribute the scientific name Canarium asperum subsp. asperum to pagsahinigin or sahing.
Canarium luzonicum (Blume) A.Gray is an accepted name. The Plant List

Other vernacular names
FRENCH: Arbre à baume, Élémi de Manille, Élémi sauvage.
GERMAN: Manilaelemi, Manilaelemibaum, Elemiharz.
JAPANESE: Manira eremi.
MALAY: Kedongdong, Kenari.
PORTUGUESE: Elemi de Manilha.
RUSSIAN: Elemi.
SPANISH: Arbol a brea, Brea blanca.

Gen info
Canarium belongs to the family Racecourse with 75 known genera and about 550 species.

Of the canarium species, there are 75 known and nine of which are found in the Philippines, with at least four of economic importance: Canarium ova-tum (Pile), C. indium, C. album, and C. cumulonimbi (Sashing,Manila elem).

Resin called elem is obtained from members of the family Bursecraceae, particularly Canarium, Dacryodes, and Protium. As with other resins grouped as balsams, elemis are more viscous than oleoresins, semisolid, and very fragrant. Its soft and malleable nature comes from its liquid sesquiterpenes. The resin is primarily from volatile sesquiterpenes and non-volatile triterpenes.

Although "elemi" used to be generically applied to a large number of oleoresins from several botanical species and geographical origins, it is now used to describe Manila elemi, from Canarium luzonicum, one of the best known and single largest source of the world's supply of elemi. Manila elemi is a soft and fragrant oleoresin, oily, paie yellow to greenish, of honey consistency, balsamic in odor and bitter tasting.

The elemi tree is related to frankincense, myrrh and opoponax, all belonging to the Burseraceae family. When lacerated, the bark yields a sharp, green, and pungent, white or yellow oleoresin. (9)

The trees can be tapped throughout the year in Philippine rain forests. However, the wet season yields a greater flow of oleoresin. Tappers cut into the trunk using the "bolo", a local machete, and strips of bark are removed every few days to stimulate the flow of the exudate. (9)

The collected oleoresin is cleansed of debris before undergoing steam distillation. The yield is 15% to 25% essential oil. (9)

Elemi has properties and uses similar to Frankincense; ergo, also referred to as "Poor Man's Frankincense." source

France has been the largest single market, followed by Germany, and increasingly by Japan.

Botany
Sahing is a large tree reaching a height of more than 30 meters, the trunk a meter or more. Leaves are alternate, pinnate, and about 30 centimeters long, commonly with three opposite pairs and a terminal leaflet. The leaflets are smooth, oblong-ovate, 12 to 20 centimeters long, 3 to 7 centimeters wide, smooth and shiny on both sides, pointed at the apex, rounded or obtusely pointed at the base. Flowers are clustered and borne on large compounded inflorescences. Fruit is ovoid, 4 to 5 centimeters long, 2 to 2.5 centimeters wide, smooth, with a single seed.

Distribution
- Common in primary forests at low and medium altitudes from northern Luzon (Cagayan) to Mindoro, Ticao, and Masbate.
- Classified by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as "vulnerable." (7)

Constituents
Manila elemi is an oleoresin composed mainly of resenes, resin acids, and volatile oils.
• Oleoresin (Manila Elemi), d-alpha-phellandrene, dipentene, sesquiterpine alcohol, elemicin, trimethyl homogallic aldehyde, trimethyl homogallic acid, d-limonene, terpene, terpinolene, pinene.
• Major constituents of essential oil are (+)-limonene, elemol, α-phellandrene, elemicin, p-cymene, α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, dipentene, terpineol, and other minor constituents.
• Study on the composition of Manila elemi oil from the distillation of elemi gum yielded 39 compounds constituting 99.2% of the oil with limonene, the most abundant at 56%.

Manila elemi yields: d-a-phellandrene, diterpene, d-limonene, terpinene, terpinolene, terpene, sesquiterpene alcohol, elemicin, trimethyl homogallic aldehyde, trimethyl homogallic acid, and pinene. Roots yield 7.8% tannin. Seed (kernel) has a fixed oil, canariol, with triolein 51%, tristearin 12%, trimyristin 37%, laurin, protein 12.24 %, fat 56.12 to 65.73 percent, etc. (Q)
- GC-MS analysis of Manila elemi oil hydrodistilled from Manila elemi gum yielded 39 cmpounds constituting 99.2% f the oil. Most abundant constituents was limonene at 56%. (13)
- Quantitative study of chemical composition of Manila elemi yielded: limonene 56.0%, a-phellandrene 17.6%, elemol 6.3%, sabinene 5.7%, terpinolene 2.8%, elemicine 2.4%, ß-phellandrene 3.3%. (16)

Properties
• Rubefacient and antirheumatic.
• Considered antiseptic, antispasmodic, antibacterial, fungicidal and insecticidal.

Parts utilized
Bark, resin.

Uses
Edibility  
- Seeds eaten raw or cooked.Young shoots eaten in salads. (12)
- Nuts when roasted have a delicious flavor. Also used in confections, ice creams, as as adulterant to chocolate.
- Note: The kernel coat should be removed as it can cause diarrhea. (1
2)
- Seed yields a sweet oil used for cooking purposes. (1
2)
Folkloric 
- For arthritis and rheumatism, oleoresin is applied over affected parts.
- For boils, abscesses, and furuncles, apply oleoresin over affected area to induce swelling to come a point.
- Used for burns and sores.
- For fevers and chills, the tree bark is struck with a bolo or sharp instrument to induce the sap to bleed. The tree sap is allowed to hardened overnight and a corn-sized drop is taken with water.
- The tree bark is commonly used for postpartum baths, one of many ingredients in a decoction (balat ng buboy, palad ng buli, dahon ng payang-payang, galamay amo, and three pieces of batong buhay). Also see: Suob
- In plaster, heated and applied to the chest to stop severe coughing.
Others 
Anti-lice:
Marketed as Lysout, a natural anti-lice foaming gel composed of: Echinacea purpurea 10%, Canarium luzonicum gum oil 2%.
Perfumery: Used to scent soaps and cosmetics.
Ingredient in making incense sticks.
Aromatherapy: Elemi essential oil is considered to have a stimulating, energizing, strengthening, cleansing, and clarifying action. It is also considered antiseptic and antimicrobial. (9)
Traditional uses of resin: Used as incense in religious ceremonies and as caulking material for boats. (16)
Industrial uses of resin: Components of oil and spirit varnishes and paints. Used to provide toughness and elasticity to pharmaceutical products such as plaster, lithographic works, and perfumery. Used in making patent leather and sealing wax and in manufacture of soaps, plastics, printing ink, linoleum, shoe polish, floor wax, etc. (16)

Studies
- Genotoxicity
: In a 1985 review, of 138 medicinal plant preparations used in the Philippines, 12 exhibited detectable genotoxicity, including Canarium luzonicum. (3)
- Mutagenic:
The oleoresin of Canarium luzonicum has been identified in studies as mutagenic. (5) Of 138 medicinal plant preparations used in the Philippines, only 12, including Canarium luzonicum, exhibited detectable genotoxicity in any system. (10)
- Antifungal / Essential Oil: Study evaluated the chemical composition and antifungal activity of four essential oils from the Burseraceae family- two Boswellia carterii Flueck oils, Canarium luzonicum and Commiphora myrrh oils. GC-FID and GC/MS analysis showed the essential oil components were a-pinene (23.04% and 31.84%), limonene (45.62%) and curzerene (34.65%), respectively. All tested Candida spp. clinical isolates and ATCC strains showed dose-dependent susceptibility to the tested essential oils. (8)
• Radical Scavenging / Phenolic Content: Study for DPPH radical scavenging activity and total phenolic content yielded 11.83 ± 0.013% and 7.58 ± 0.530 µg GAE/5mg essential oil/ml, respectively.   (11)
• Potential Supplement to Diesel Oil: The oleoresin of C. luzonicum gave an average yield of 30% essential oil upon water distillation. Tests suggested potential for use as liquid fuel. Engine performance tests showed the oil in a 1:3 blend with diesel oil could run a ISUZU 240 diesel motor vehicle.. One liter of the blend covered a distance of six kilometers at the speed of 80 km/hr in a road test. (14)
• Pimaric Acid: Study isolated its major chiral resin component, pimaric acid, which was derivatized into its amine form. Pimaric acid and pimaryl amine were evaluated for its use as potential acid and base resolving agents in the resolution of racemic a-phenyl ethylamine and racemic ibuprofen, respectively. For both compounds, favorable resolutions of racemic substances were achieved. (15)
• Improved Tapping of Tress for Resin: Study reports on how to improve tapping of trees for Manila elemi, providing details of basic stem structure and factors affecting resin production, and traditional tapping methods and proper methods of tapping. (16)

Availability

- Commercial and wild-crafted.
- Essential oils and Elemi oil in the cybermarket.

Updated December 2019 / June 2017 / August 2013

Photos ©Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Elemibaum. Canarium commune / File:Koeh-171.jpg / Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen / 1897 / Wikipedia

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
The Composition of Manila Elemi Oil / Merle A. Villanueva and Rosalinda C. Torres / FLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, VOL. 8, 35-37 (1993)
(2)
Plant Resins: Chemistry, Evolution, Ecology
(3)
Mutagenic and Antimutagenic Activities in Philippine Medicinal and Food Plants / Clara Y Lim-Sylianco and W Thomas Shier / Summary • Toxin Reviews, 1985, Vol. 4, No. 1, Pages 71-105 / DOI 10.3109/15569548509014414
(4)
Sorting Canarium names / Authorised by Prof. Snow Barlow / Maintained by: Michel H. Porcher / MULTILINGUAL MULTISCRIPT PLANT NAME DATABASE / Copyright © 1997 - 2000 The University of Melbourne.
(5)
Medicinal Uses Of Selected Fruit Trees And Woody Perennials / Saturnina Halos / Journal of Tropical Medicinal Plants, Vol 5, No2.
(6)
Canarium luzonicum / Synonyms / The Plant List
(7)
Canarium luzonicum / The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
(8)
Sensitivity of clinical isolates of Candida to essential oils from Burseraceae family / Miloš Nikolic, Marija Smiljkovic, Tatjana Markovic, Ana Cirica, Jasmina Glamoclija, Dejan Markovic,  and Marina Sokovic* / EXCLI J. 2016; 15: pp 280–289  / doi:  10.17179/excli2014-621
(9)
Elemi Essential Oil / Quinessence
(10)
Mutagenic and Antimutagenic Activities in Philippine Medicinal and Food Plants
/ Clara Y. Lim-sylianco & W. Thomas Sier /
Journal of Toxicology: Toxin Reviews, 1985; 4(1) / http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/15569548509014414
(11)
DPPH Free-Radical Scavenging Activity, Total Phenolic Contents and Chemical Composition Analysis of Forty-Two Kinds of Essential Oils / CHIA-WEN LIN, CHIA-WEN YU, SUNG-CHUAN WU AND KUANG-HWAY YIH* / Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, Vol. 17, No. 5, 2009, Pages 386-395
(12)
Canarium luzonicum / Ken Fern, Tropical Plants Database / Useful Tropical Plants
(13)
The composition of Manila elemi oil / Merle A Villanueva, Rosalinda C Torres, Kemal Husnu Can Baser et al / Flavour and Fragrance Journal, Jan-Feb 1993; 8(1): pp 35-37 / https://doi.org/10.1002/ffj.2730080107
(14)
PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF C4NARIUM LUZON/CUll'! (BLUME) A. GRAY AS A POSSIBLE SUPPLEMENT TO DIESEL O IL / LUl Oli\'crO'i~-Bclardo. Zenaida B. Galpa and Mu.. Judith P. Ahadiallo / Trans. Nat. Acad. Scie. & Tech., 1985; 7: pp 219-232
(15)
Pimaric Acid from Manila Elemi derived from CanariumJuronicum as a resolving agent in the resolution of racemic compounds / Susan D R . Arco and Florentino C Sumera / Kimika, 2004; 20(1/2): pp 29-35
(16)
Improved Tapping of Philippine Canarium Trees for Manila Elemi / Arsenio B Ella and Emmanuel P Domingo / Forest Products Research and Development Institute, Dept of Science and Technology, College, Laguna 4031


 

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                                                            List of Understudied Philippine Medicinal Plants

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