(Malvaceae) Pterospermum semisagittatum Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.

Local name(s): ຫຳ ອາວ (ham ao)

Medicinal use(s): treat rheumatism

Part(s) used: stem

Field Characters: Treelet 5 m tall, stem gray-brown, fruits ellipsoid to oblongoid, light brown to brown, splitting open when mature, sepals persistent, brown.

Locality: Khammouane Province, Nyommalat District, at the eastern flank of the Nakai Nan Theum National Park, Pou Ak Mountain. 

Habitat: Secondary forest along the road. 

Altitude: 204 m asl 

Collector(s): D.D. Soejarto, M. Xayvue, M. Vantanouvong

Collection number(s): DDS 15484

Collection Date: May 29, 2023

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Local name(s): ຫຳ ອາວ (ham ao)

Medicinal use(s): treatment of rheumatism

Part(s) used: stem

Field Characters: Tree 15 m tall, leaves dark olive green above, light brownish green below, fruits brown, splitting lengthwise. 

Locality: Luang Prabang Province, Pak Ou District, Medicinal Biodiversity Preserve above Somsanouk village.

Habitat: Subtropical monsoon forest on steep slope, ascending to the base of limestone mountain that rises precipitously to a peak of ca. 1000 m asl. Greater part of vegetation cover was leafless at the time of this fieldwork.

Altitude: 355 m asl. 

Collector(s): D.D. Soejarto, K. Sydara, M. Xayvue

Collection number(s): DDS 15473

Collection Date: February 13, 2020

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Local name(s): ຫຳອາວ (Ham ao)

Medicinal use(s): treatment of rheumatism

Part(s) used: stem

Field Characters: Tree 6-10 m high. Simple leaves alternate, oblong, hairy. Fruit a capsule. 

Locality: Khammuan Province; Nyommalath District; Thongkong Village, road side of Route to Khammouane Medicinal Biodiversity Preserve; at the southern reaches of Nakai Nam Theum National Park. 

Habitat: Tropical rainforest on flat level lands. 

Altitude: 150 m asl. 

Collector(s): O. Souliya, K. Phoulivong, D. Makiem and S. Pimmavong

Collection number(s): Onevilay_YML_006

Collection Date: July 21, 2023

Additional information:  

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 

Medicinal properties:

Selim MA, El-Askary HI,  Sanad OA, et al.Phytochemical and Pharmacological Study of Pterospermum acerifolium Willd. Growing in Egypt. Bull Fac Pharm Cairo University 2006, 44:119-126. https://www.academia.edu/50024107/Phytochemical_and_Pharmacological_Study_of_Pterospermum_acerifolium_Willd_Growing_in_Egypt 

Taraquzzaman Md, Nur Alam Md, Boby AZB, et al.  Phenolic Compound, Free radical assay, Anti-microbial and Anti-fungal Investigation of Pterospermum semisagittatum: A Herbal Flora of Bangladesh. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2014, vol. 3, issue 1, pages 14-17. https://www.phytojournal.com/archives/2014.v3.i1.306/phenolic

Ullah MH, Mohamad M, Abdul Rahman S, et al.  The cytotoxic and anti-depressant activity of ethanol extract of Pterospermum semisaggitatum (buch. ham.exroxb.) leaves: an in vitro and in vivo study . Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy 2024, 18(3s), 200–208. https://doi.org/10.5530/ctbp.2024.3s.15