(Rubiaceae) Gardenia obtusifolia Roxb. ex Kurz

Local name(s): (Sidacoke)

Medicinal use(s): treat gastrointestinal ulcer

Part(s) used: stem

Field Characters: Shrub, growing to 3 m tall, fruits globular.

Locality: Vientiane Municipality, Saythany District, Hua Sieng Village.

Habitat: 

Collector(s): M. Xayveu

Collection number(s): Xayveu 0168

Collection Date: May 17, 1999

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA under accession no. 2328290.

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 


Plants of the World onlinePham Hoang Ho: Cayco Vietnam vol. 3, p. 164, plant no. 8352GBIF | Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Medicinal properties:

Phromnoi K, Reuter S, Sung B, et al. A Dihydroxy-pentamethoxyflavone from Gardenia obtusifolia suppresses proliferation and promotes apoptosis of tumor cells through modulation of multiple cell signaling pathways. Anticancer Res 2010, 30(9):3599-610. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20944143/ 

Tuchinda P, Pompimon W, Reutrakul V, et al. (2002). Cytotoxic and anti-HIV-1 constituents of Gardenia obtusifolia and their modified compounds. Tetrahedron 2002, 58, 8073-8086. DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(02)00999-7 

Yaosanit W, Prachya S, Pailee P, et al. Cytotoxic, antibacterial, and aromatase inhibitory activities of cycloartane triterpenes and flavones from Gardenia obtusifolia. Phytochemistry 2025, 237:114531.  DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2025.114531