(Boraginaceae) Cordia myxa L.

Local name(s): 

Medicinal use(s): as a tonic.

Part(s) used: root.

Field Characters: Tree 8-15 meters high. Heartwood and bark are yellow. When cut, a blackish liquid is released, and the cut surface changes to greenish-blue. Alternate and oval leaf with entire margin, 4 x 8 centimeters, yellowish-green. Fruit globular.

Locality: Savannakhet Province, Xonbouly District, Ban Nonh Sa Vang.

Habitat: 

Altitude: 533 m asl. 

Collector(s): K. Sydara, D.T. Kien, M.V. Sinh

Collection number(s): LAOS_109 (Sydara 109)

Collection Date: February 6, 2000.

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA, under accession no. 2245829.

Project:  ICBG

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 


Plants of the World onlineFlora of China Vol. 5 Page 70GBIF | Global Biodiversity Information FacilityWFO - The World Flora Online (as Cordiaceae)

Medicinal properties:



Bhardwaj V. Assyrian Plum (Cordia myxa): A Valuable Ethnomedicinal plant. Journal of Pharmacology & Pharmaceutics 2024, volume 1, issue 1, Article 1001.  https://www.remedypublications.com/open-access/assyrian-plum-cordia-myxa-a-valuable-ethnomedicinal-plant-10081.pdf

El-Massry KF, Farouk A, Mahmoud KF, et al. Chemical characteristics and targeted encapsulated Cordia myxa fruits extracts nanoparticles for antioxidant and cytotoxicity potentials. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021, 28(9):5349-5358. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.05.064 
El-Nashar HAS, Zengin G, Tarek A, et al. Comparative metabolic profiling of Cordia myxa leaves and fruits based on UPLC-ESI/MS-MS analysis and investigation of antioxidant activities and enzyme inhibitory properties. Sci Rep 2025, 15, 19296. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04015-2  
Matias EFF, Alves EF, do Nascimento Silva KM, de Alencar Carvalho VR, et al..The genus Cordia: botanists, ethno, chemical and pharmacological aspects. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia 2015, volume 25, issue 5, pages 542-552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjp.2015.05.012

Oza MJ, Kulkarni YA. Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the medicinal species of the genus Cordia (Boraginaceae). Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2017, volume 69, issue 7, pages 755-789.  https://doi.org/10.1111/jphp.12715

Wani YA,  Khaliq R, Kousar N, Pundir S. The pharmacognostic profile and pharmacological importance of cordia myxa-a review. Computational Algorithms and Numerical Dimensions 2023, volume 2, Issue 3, pages 186-194.  https://doi.org/10.22105/cand.2024.437572.1086