(Loganiaceae) Strychnos nux-blanda A.W. Hill

Local name(s): ໝາກ ຕູມ ກາ ຂາວ (mak toum ka khao)

Medicinal use(s): Used as a body tonic; to treat backache.

Part(s) used: leaves, stem

Field Characters: Tree 15 m tall, fruits globular, greenish-yellow, many-seeded.

Locality: Luang Prabang province, Park Ou district, Medicinal Biodiversity Preserve above Somsanouk village. GPS reading: 20o 04.088’ N; 102o 16.438’ E.

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

Altitude: 390 m asl 

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

Collection number(s): DDS 15419

Collection Date: February 10, 2020

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA under accession no. 2329996.

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 

Plants of the World onlineFlora of China Vol. 15 Page 325GBIF | Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Useful references:


Sichaem J, Khumkratok S, Siripong P, et al. New non-glucosidic iridoid from the roots of Strychnos nux-blanda. Natural Product Communications 2016,11(6):709-710. PMID: 27534097. https://europepmc.org/article/MED/27534097

Sichaem J, Ingkaninan K, Tip-Pyang S. A novel pyrrole alkaloid from the fruit peels of Strychnos nux-blanda. Nat Prod Res 2017, 31(2):149-154. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2016.1222388. Epub 2016 Aug 22. PMID: 27545867.

Sichaem J, Tip-pyangb S, et al. Strychnuxinal, a new alkaloid from Strychnos nux-blanda fruits. Natural Product Communications 2018, vol. 13, no. 5:533 -534. DOI:10.1177/1934578X1801300505