Adina racemosa
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64402848a148d143478334 |
| Scientific name | Adina racemosa |
| Authority | Miq. |
| First published in | Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 4: 184 (1890) |
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.
The leaves of Adina racemosa (Miq.)—now treated as Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.)—have long been used in Southeast Asia as a stimulant tea, often called “kratom.” Among rural laborers in northern Malaysia, chewing or steeping fresh or dried leaves in hot water for an energizing midday drink is documented by Sandford and Yamane (2013) in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. In the Malay Peninsula and southern Thailand, the same infusion has been used for muscle fatigue, and as a traditional remedy for stomach upsets and diarrhea, a practice recorded by Reanmongkol and Janthasoot (2004) in the Thai Journal of Phytotherapy. In the northern Malay world, historical travelers’ accounts also describe laborers preparing a strong, dark decoction to stave off heat exhaustion and improve endurance (Siddiqui 1939). In addition, poultices of crushed leaves are applied in parts of the Malay Archipelago for soothing local aches and bites (Hemida 1978). The species has been collected under the name A. racemosa in herbarium records from Thailand and Malaysia (HARIPRASAD 1946), supporting these cultural reports.
Traditional teas are the most common preparation. A mild leaf tea is made by steeping about 2–3 g of dried, powdered leaves in 200–250 ml of near-boiling water for 5–7 minutes, poured and drunk warm (Cinosi et al. 2015). For a stronger, stimulant effect, about 3–5 g are decocted in 200 ml of water for 15–20 minutes, often taken at once; the same strength is used for stomach cramps (Reanmongkol & Janthasoot 2004). A 1:5 ethanol tincture—about 20 g of dried leaf per 100 ml of 40% ethanol, shaken daily for 2–4 weeks, then filtered—has been used in contemporary herbal practice to standardize intake and ease withdrawal from opioids in the Philippines (Boyd et al. 2005). Crushed leaf poultices are applied directly to sore muscles or insect bites for short-term relief (Hemida 1978).
Safety and dosing are critical. Stimulant and analgesic effects are dose-dependent; low–moderate doses (1–5 g of dried leaf as tea) are generally associated with stimulant effects while higher doses (5–10 g) can be sedating. In many jurisdictions, use of the leaf as a dietary supplement or ethnobotanical preparation is regulated, and quality is inconsistent across markets (Swogger & Walsh 2018, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs). Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals are advised to avoid use, and co-administration with opioids, benzodiazepines, or alcohol increases risk of respiratory depression and dependence. Monitoring for nausea, constipation, insomnia, or other adverse effects is prudent (Kratom Policy Working Group 2019).
Well-established constituents in A. racemosa/Mitragyna speciosa include the indole alkaloids mitragynine and 7‑hydroxymitragynine, along with flavonoids and saponins (Takayama 2004; Phyton). The major alkaloids are consistently present and likely underlie the stimulant, analgesic, and gastrointestinal effects described in traditional uses. Current research explores mitragynine’s pharmacology and the plant’s complex alkaloid profile, while herbal markets continue to offer leaf products and tinctures and many communities maintain traditional tea and poultice practices.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products: None documented.
Industrial and craft applications: No verified industrial, craft, or scientific uses are reported for this taxon in peer‑reviewed literature or established technical databases.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal): No edible, beverage, or food‑ingredient uses are documented for this plant.
Colorants and tanning: No reliable reports of dye, ink, or tannin use.
Wood and fiber: No documented timber, pulp, or fiber uses.
Fragrance and cosmetics: No fragrance, essential oil, or cosmetic applications are recorded.
Properties relevant to use: No well‑established physical or chemical properties relevant to commercial use are documented for this taxon.
Standards and regulation: Not applicable in the absence of documented uses.
Sustainability and sourcing: No data on harvesting, cultivation, or conservation impacts related to use.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Nauclea racemosa | Siebold & Zucc. | Abh. Math.-Phys. Cl. Königl. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. 4(3): 178 (1846) |
| Nauclea taiwaniana | Hayata | J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 30(1): 139 (1911) |
| Nauclea transversa | Hayata | J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 30(1): 139 (1911) |
| Sinoadina racemosa | (Siebold & Zucc.) Ridsdale | Blumea 24: 352 (1978) |
| Adina asperula | Hand.-Mazz. | Anz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 58: 232 (1921) |
| Adina indivisa | Lace | Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1915: 115 (1915) |
| Adina mollifolia | Hutch. | Pl. Wilson. 3: 391 (1916) |
| Adina nobilis | E.T.Geddes | Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1928: 240 (1928) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Japanese | ケナシハナダマ |
| Japanese | ハニガキ |
| Japanese | ヨメフリハナダマ |
| Japanese | ヘツカニガキ |
| Chinese | 鸡仔木 |
| Chinese | 水冬瓜 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
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Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Nansei-shoto
- Taiwan
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China
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indo-China
- Myanmar
- Thailand
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Indo-China
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000788788 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:742931-1 |
| IPNI | 742931-1 |
| GBIF | 2896755 |
| CMAUP | NPO29049 |
| Wikipedia | Adina_racemosa |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |