(Annonaceae) Desmos cochinchinensis Lour.

Local name(s): 

Medicinal use(s): treat dengue fever 

Part(s) used: root

Field Characters: Vine, with simple, alternate leaves with yellowish veins. Orange pubescence on stem and leaves. Lemony smell when leaves are crushed. Flower with 3 yellow sepals, 6 yellow petals,  thin and very long.

Locality: Bolikhamxai Province, Paksan District, Lak Kout Village.

Habitat: 

Altitude: 178 m asl. 

Collector(s): A. Libman, S. Bouamanivong, K. Kunsawanh

Collection number(s): LAOS_508

Collection Date: July 13, 2003

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA, under accession no. 2252439.

Project:  ICBG

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 


Plants of the World online
GBIF | Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Medicinal properties:



Bajgai SP, Prachyawarakorn V, Mahidol C, et al. Hybrid flavan-chalcones, aromatase and lipoxygenase inhibitors, from Desmos cochinchinensis.Phytochemistry 2011, volume 72, issue 16, pages 2062-2067.ISSN 0031-9422,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.07.002.

Graça IRS, Belém MVN, Pinheiro MLB, et al. The chemistry of flavonoids from Annonaceae: a comprehensive review. Front Nat Prod 2025, Sec. Isolation and Purification, volume 4.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fntpr.2025.1657095

Liao SX, Han GY, Zhang YR, et al. [Studies on the chemical constituents of the root of Desmos cochinchinensis Lour]. Yao Xue Xue Bao 1989, 24(2):110-3. Chinese.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2801131/ 

Prachyawarakorn V,   Sangpetsiripan S,  Surawatanawong P,  et al. Flavans from Desmos cochinchinensis as potent aromatase inhibitors. Med Chem Comm 2013, issue 12. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2013/md/c3md00166k


Wu T-W, Cheng Y-B, Cheng F-T, et al.  Chemical Constituents of the Leaves of Desmos cochinchinensis var. fulvescens Ban. Helvetica 2014, volume97, issue12, pages 1714-1718.  https://doi.org/10.1002/hlca.201400108