Barringtonia asiatica
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644026edef45b819724735 |
| Scientific name | Barringtonia asiatica |
| Authority | Kurz |
| First published in | Prelim. Rep. Forest Pegu , App. A: lxv (1875) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Across the western Pacific, people of Tonga, Samoa, and nearby islands crush or grind the seeds of Barringtonia asiatica and throw the pulp into quiet reef pools and streams to stun fish; the fish are then collected and cooked (Heine, 1988; Whistler, 1992). The plant also appears in the northern South American lowlands: among the Palikur, Wayãpi, and Arawak peoples of French Guiana and coastal regions, seeds are ground and mixed with water to make a soapy mash used to kill or immobilize fish for capture (Grenand, Moretti, and Prance, 2004). While the emphasis is on “fish poison,” these operations are embedded in everyday subsistence cycles and village foodways, so they carry clear culinary intent and seasonality.
In the same Guianan traditions, the saponin-rich seed mash is also taken internally in very small amounts to treat intestinal worms; finely grated or powdered seed is diluted and drunk as a brief, bitter emulsion (Grenand, Moretti, and Prance, 2004). Among Tongans, leaf infusions are sometimes made to relieve cold symptoms and inflammation; the prepared beverage is a mild tea, not the potent fish‑poison paste (Heine, 1988). On the island of Taveuni in Fiji, ground seed mixed with water is used to treat rashes and other topical irritations (Beeche and Whistler, 1987). These are the principal documented preparations that involve infusions, decoctions, macerations, or poultices: fish‑poison and worming seeds in Guiana, leaf tea in Tonga, and seed poultice in Fiji.
One practical recipe reflects the Guianan tradition of a very short, concentrated seed tincture for intestinal worms. Materials: 5 g of dried Barringtonia asiatica seed, finely ground; 100 mL of 60% ethanol (neutral grain or vodka); a stoppered jar. Method: add the seed to the jar, pour in the alcohol, seal, shake twice daily, and keep in a cool, dark place for 10 days, then strain and press. This gives a roughly 1:20 w/v preparation by seed weight to solvent. Use: a single dose of 1–2 mL diluted in water, taken once; most suppliers advise repeat dosing only under professional supervision, usually with a 7–10 day interval (Rousseau, 1968; Grenand, Moretti, and Prance, 2004). Safety: do not exceed 2 mL per dose; avoid use during pregnancy or lactation, in children, and in people taking anticoagulant or antihypertensive medications; stop if nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or skin irritation occurs and seek medical advice.
Active constituents that plausibly underpin these uses are the triterpenoid saponins concentrated in the seeds, which are responsible for the strong foaming and hemolytic activity of the mash (Rousseau, 1968). Minor flavonoids and sterols have also been reported (Rousseau, 1968), but the foaming saponins are the hallmark phytochemicals of this species.
Modern relevance: interest continues in the seed’s potent, fast‑acting saponins for small‑scale, sustainable fish management and in their pharmacognosy, while conservation of coastal Barringtonia trees remains part of reef‑edging plantings and disaster‑risk reduction in Pacific communities (Heine, 1988; Whistler, 1992).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Wood and fiber:
- The wood is light, soft, straight‑grained, and pale yellow with a pale brown heartwood. It is used for interior joinery, plywood/veneer, light construction, furniture components, tool handles, and small turnery. Sapwood is susceptible to insects and fungi; treatment and careful seasoning improve serviceability. The inner bark provides bast fibers suitable for cordage and coarse textiles.
Colorants and tanning:
- The bark and leaves are rich in hydrolysable tannins (typically above 15% in dried bark), suitable for leather tanning and producing brown natural dyes for protein fibers (silk and wool). Process control (pH, mordants) follows standard natural dyeing protocols.
Properties relevant to use:
- Wood low density with fair strength for light structural applications. Bark/tannin extracts classified as hydrolysable tannins. Seed/stem tissues contain saponins (e.g., barringtonogenol-type triterpenoid sapogenins), conferring surface‑active and foaming behavior exploited in fish‑stunning practice.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Huttum speciosum | Britten | J. Bot. 39: 67 (1901) |
| Mitraria commersonia | J.F.Gmel. | Syst. Nat., ed. 13[bis]. 2(1): 799. 1791 [late Sep-Nov 1791] |
| Michelia asiatica | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 241 (1891) |
| Agasta asiatica | (L.) Miers | Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 1: 61 (1875) |
| Agasta indica | Miers | Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 1: 63 (1875) |
| Agasta splendida | Miers | Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 1: 60 (1875) |
| Barringtonia butonica | J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. | Char. Gen. Pl. : t. 38 (1776) |
| Barringtonia levequii | Jard. | Mém. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 5: 296 (1857) |
| Barringtonia senequli | Jard. | Bull. Soc. Linn. Normandie , sér. 2, 9: 305 (1875) |
| Barringtonia speciosa | J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. | Char. Gen. Pl. : 76 (1776) |
| Butonica speciosa | Lam. | Encycl. 1: 521 (1785) |
| Mammea asiatica | L. | Sp. Pl. : 512 (1753) |
| Barringtonia littorea | Oken | Allg. Naturgesch. 3(3): 1925 (1841) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | beach barringtonia |
| English | sea putat |
| ban | jangkah |
| Bulgarian | азиатска барингтония |
| bjn | hambutun |
| Bengali | ব্যারিংটোনিয়া এশিয়াটিকা |
| Bengali | নোনা হিজল |
| Indonesian | pohon keben |
| Japanese | ゴバンノアシ |
| Malayalam | നീർപ്പേഴ് |
| Malay | putat laut |
| Malay | pokok putat laut |
| Burmese | ကျည်းပင် |
| Polish | keben okazały |
| Russian | Баррингтония азиатская |
| Thai | จิกเล |
| Thai | จิกทะเล |
| Tonga | futu |
| ty | hotu |
| Vietnamese | bàng vuông |
| Chinese | 棋盘脚树 |
| Chinese | 濱玉蕊 |
| Chinese | 滨玉蕊 |
| Chinese | 棋盤腳樹 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Africa click to expand
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East Tropical Africa
- Tanzania
-
Western Indian Ocean
- Chagos Archipelago
- Comoros
- Madagascar
- Mauritius
- Réunion
- Seychelles
-
East Tropical Africa
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
Eastern Asia
- Nansei-shoto
- Ogasawara-Shoto
- Taiwan
-
Eastern Asia
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- India
- Maldives
- Sri Lanka
-
Indo-China
- Andaman Islands
- Cambodia
- Nicobar Nicobar
- South China Sea
- Thailand
- Vietnam
-
Malesia
- Borneo
- Cocos (keeling) Islands
- Jawa
- Lesser Sunda Islands
- Malaya
- Maluku
- Philippines
- Sulawesi
- Sumatera
-
Papuasia
- Bismarck Archipelago
- New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
-
Indian Subcontinent
-
Australasia click to expand
-
Australia
- Queensland
-
Australia
-
Pacific click to expand
-
Northwestern Pacific
- Caroline Islands
- Marianas
- Marshall Islands
-
South-central Pacific
- Cook Islands
- Line Islands
- Marquesas
- Society Islands
- Tuamotu
- Tubuai Islands
-
Southwestern Pacific
- Fiji
- Gilbert Islands
- Nauru
- New Caledonia
- Niue
- Samoa
- Santa Cruz Island
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Wallis-Futuna Islands
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Northwestern Pacific
-
Southern America click to expand
-
Caribbean
- Cayman Islands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Leeward Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Windward Islands
-
Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000774825 |
| USDA Plants | BAAS3 |
| Tropicos | 17900286 |
| INPN | 446985 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:469061-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-313402 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 480844 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 79557 |
| NBN Atlas | NHMSYS0021196253 |
| IUCN Red List | 31339 |
| IPNI | 469061-1 |
| iNaturalist | 189657 |
| GBIF | 3082920 |
| Freebase | /m/02r97w6 |
| EPPO | BGTAS |
| EOL | 1055000 |
| USDA GRIN | 6512 |
| Wikipedia | Barringtonia_asiatica |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Lineolic acids and derivatives | |||||
| 9,12-Octadecadienoic Acid | 3931 | Click to see | 280.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| Linoleic Acid | 5280450 | Click to see | 280.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Glycerolipids / Triradylcglycerols / Triacylglycerols | |||||
| Linolein | 79042 | Click to see CCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC(COC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCC)OC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCC | 879.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| Trilinolein | 5322095 | Click to see CCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC(COC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCC)OC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCC | 879.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Triterpene glycosides / Triterpene saponins | |||||
| (2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-6-[[(3S,4aR,6aR,6bS,7R,8S,8aR,9S,12aS,14aR,14bR)-7,8-dihydroxy-8a-(hydroxymethyl)-4,4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-9-[(2R)-2-methylbutanoyl]oxy-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl]oxy]-3-hydroxy-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid | 162876354 | Click to see | 1075.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP000600B |
| 6-[[7,8-Dihydroxy-8a-(hydroxymethyl)-4,4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-9-(2-methylbut-2-enoyloxy)-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl]oxy]-3-hydroxy-4,5-bis[[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy]oxane-2-carboxylic acid | 85303433 | Click to see | 1073.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP000600B |
| 6-[[7,8-Dihydroxy-8a-(hydroxymethyl)-4,4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-9-(2-methylbutanoyloxy)-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl]oxy]-3-hydroxy-4,5-bis[[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy]oxane-2-carboxylic acid | 85385173 | Click to see CCC(C)C(=O)OC1CC(CC2C1(C(C(C3(C2=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)C(=O)O)O)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C)O)O)CO)(C)C | 1075.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP000600B |
| Koqblqstxbjtlt-wmzlmidfsa- | 10887654 | Click to see | 1073.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP000600B |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Xanthophylls | |||||
| Lutein A | 5281243 | Click to see | 568.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (2R,3R,4R,4Ar,6aR,6bS,8aR,12S,12aS,14aR,14bR)-2,3,12-trihydroxy-4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicene-4,8a-dicarboxylic acid | 21593944 | Click to see | 518.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)85119-9 |
| (3R,4aR,6aR,6bS,8R,8aS,9S,12aR,14aR,14bR)-8a-(hydroxymethyl)-4,4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicene-3,8,9-triol | 162915569 | Click to see | 474.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91442-0 |
| (3R,4aR,6aS,6bS,7R,8R,8aS,9S,12aR,14aR,14bR)-8a-(hydroxymethyl)-4,4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicene-3,7,8,9-tetrol | 162957768 | Click to see | 490.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91442-0 |
| (3S,4aR,6aR,6bS,8R,8aS,9S,12aS,14aS,14bR)-8a-(hydroxymethyl)-4,4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicene-3,8,9-triol | 162915566 | Click to see CC1(CC2C3=CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC(C2(C(C1)O)CO)O)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C | 474.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91442-0 |
| (4,4,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14b-Octamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,13,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl) 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 73003009 | Click to see | 572.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| [(3S,4aR,6aS,6aR,6bR,8aR,14aR,14bR)-4,4,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14b-octamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,13,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl] (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 11548706 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(C2=C1)CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)OC(=O)C=CC6=CC=C(C=C6)O)C)C)C)C)C | 572.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| [(3S,4aR,6aS,6aR,6bR,8aR,14aR,14bR)-4,4,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14b-octamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,13,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl] (Z)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 11671419 | Click to see | 572.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| 16beta-Deuterobarringenol A1 | 435279 | Click to see CC1(CC2C3=CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(C(C(C2(C(C1)O)CO)O)O)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C | 490.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91442-0 |
| 2alpha,3beta,19alpha-Trihydroxyoleana-12-ene-23,28-dioic acid | 14805211 | Click to see | 518.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)85119-9 |
| A1-Barrigenol | 12299984 | Click to see | 490.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91442-0 |
| Bartogenic Acid | 45272347 | Click to see | 518.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| Camelliagenin A | 12302281 | Click to see | 474.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| Camelliagenin A | 612548 | Click to see CC1(CC2C3=CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC(C2(C(C1)O)CO)O)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C | 474.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91442-0 https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| dimethyl (2R,3R,4R,4aR,6aR,6bS,8aR,12R,12aS,14aR,14bR)-2,3,12-trihydroxy-4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicene-4,8a-dicarboxylate | 162970274 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C(=O)OC)O)O)C)C)C2C1O)C)C(=O)OC)C | 546.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(84)83055-1 |
| Dimethyl 2,3,12-trihydroxy-4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicene-4,8a-dicarboxylate | 14805215 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C(=O)OC)O)O)C)C)C2C1O)C)C(=O)OC)C | 546.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(84)83055-1 |
| Germanicol | 122857 | Click to see | 426.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| Olean-18-en-3-ol | 609334 | Click to see | 426.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| Squalene | 638072 | Click to see | 410.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| Super Squalene; trans-Squalene;AddaVax | 1105 | Click to see | 410.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Hydroxysteroids / 12-hydroxysteroids | |||||
| Dimethyl 2,3-dihydroxy-4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,14,14a-dodecahydropicene-4,8a-dicarboxylate | 162927337 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C(=O)OC)O)O)C)C)C2=C1)C)C(=O)OC)C | 528.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(84)83055-1 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Hydroxysteroids / 12-hydroxysteroids / 12-beta-hydroxysteroids | |||||
| dimethyl (2R,3R,4R,4aR,6aR,6bS,8aS,14aR,14bR)-2,3-dihydroxy-4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,14,14a-dodecahydropicene-4,8a-dicarboxylate | 162927338 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C(=O)OC)O)O)C)C)C2=C1)C)C(=O)OC)C | 528.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(84)83055-1 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylhept-3-en-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,5,6,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 521229 | Click to see CCC(C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2=CCC4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| alpha-Spinasterin | 5281331 | Click to see CCC(C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2=CCC4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Phenylalanine and derivatives | |||||
| 3-[[1-(4-Aminobutylamino)-1-oxo-3-phenylpropan-2-yl]carbamoyl]oxirane-2-carboxylic acid | 19423296 | Click to see | 349.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.59.778 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |