(Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae) Piliostigma malabaricum (Roxb.) Benth. 

Local name(s): ສົ້ມສ້ຽວຕົ້ນ (som sieo ton)

Medicinal use(s): treat fever, swollen body parts

Part(s) used: bark

Field Characters: Tree 15 m tall, dbh 15 cm, bark gray, finely fissured, slash pinkish brown, fruits green, drying brown.

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 15422

Collection Date: February 10, 2020

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA under accession no. 2329991.

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 

Plants of the World onlineGBIF | Global Biodiversity Information FacilityeFlora of India https://efloraofindia.com/2011/02/09/bauhinia-malabarica/

Useful references:


Igwe OU, okeke IE. Leaf and flower extracts of Piliostigma malabaricum: Phytochemistry and antibacterial application. Journal of Applied Ch emical Science International 2017, 8(3), 89–94. https://ikprress.org/index.php/JACSI/article/view/3813. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Okenwa-Igwe/publication/321606369_LEAF_AND_FLOWER_EXTRACTS_OF_Piliostigma_malabaricum_PHYTOCHEMISTRY_AND_ANTIBACTERIAL_APPLICATION/links/5a28c8774585155dd4278072/LEAF-AND-FLOWER-EXTRACTS-OF-Piliostigma-malabaricum-PHYTOCHEMISTRY-AND-ANTIBACTERIAL-APPLICATION.pdf

Kaewamatawong R, Kitajima M, Kogure N, Takayama H. Flavonols from Bauhinia malabarica. J Na Med 2008, 62(3):364-365. doi: 10.1007/s11418-008-0249-9. Epub 2008 Apr 15. PMID: 18414979.

Thenmozhi K, Anusuya N, Ali MA, et al. Pharmacological credence of the folklore use of Bauhinia malabarica in the management of jaundice. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 2018, 25(1), 22-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2017.08.001


Thetsana P, Chayanon Chaowuttikul C, et al. Pharmacognostic specifications, Quercetin and Quercitrin quantification in Bauhinia malabarica Leaf. Pharmacognosy Journal 2019,11,1,155-160. DOI:10.5530/pj.2019.1.26