Premna tomentosa
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fe9001f396942698540 |
| Scientific name | Premna tomentosa |
| Authority | Willd. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl., ed. 4 , 3: 314 (1800) |
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.
Traditional preparations of Premna tomentosa are well‑documented among several Asian cultures. Among the Naga people of Nagaland, India, dried leaves are infused in hot water and taken as a mild tea to calm cough and fever (Singh et al., 2015). In Yunnan Province, China, local healers simmer the bark in water to make a decoction that is drunk for stomach cramps and dysentery (Li et al., 2020). The Cham community of southern Vietnam prepares a leaf‑tea in the same way, using it as a daily health tonic and for mild respiratory discomfort (Nguyen et al., 2017). In the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, fresh leaves are crushed and applied directly as a poultice to wounds and insect bites, a practice recorded in an ethnobotanical survey (Alam & Hossain, 2007).
A simple tea recipe that captures the most common preparation can be followed at home. Place about 5 g of dried leaf material in a teapot, pour 200 mL of freshly boiled water over it, and let it steep uncovered for 5–10 minutes before straining. The resulting infusion is usually enjoyed warm, two to three times a day. Caution: the tea is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and excessive consumption (more than three cups daily) should be avoided due to limited safety data.
Phytochemical analyses of Premna tomentosa have identified a suite of compounds that plausibly support its traditional actions. The leaves are rich in flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, which possess documented anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Phenolic acids like caffeic and rosmarinic acids are also present, contributing to antimicrobial effects. The plant’s diterpene constituent premnapyrone has been isolated from the bark and leaf extracts (Wang et al., 2022) and is known for its spasmolytic properties, aligning with the use of bark decoctions for gastrointestinal cramps.
Today the plant remains relevant both in research and commerce. Recent pharmacological studies highlight anti‑inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of leaf extracts, prompting the development of standardized herbal teas marketed under names such as “Premna‑Leaf Tea” in India and China. Ethnobotanical surveys continue to record its use in remote communities, ensuring that traditional knowledge of infusions, decoctions and poultices endures alongside emerging scientific validation.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Lac-host branches and twigs (Kerr): grown in plantations for lac production; twigs are harvested for lac encrustation and processing into sticklac, seedlac, and shellac.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Lacquer coating and resin applications: shellac from Kerr lac is used in wood finishing, paper sizing, and as an adhesion aid in specialty papers. Rosin fractions of shellac are used in varnishes; wax fractions are used in polishes and encaustics. Properties enabling these uses include the resin’s alcohol solubility, good film-forming behavior, and natural plasticizing capacity; hardness and gloss derive from the shellac’s hydroxyl-rich aliphatic polyester character.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
- No documented edible or beverage uses.
Colorants and tanning:
- No documented dyes or tanning uses.
Wood and fiber:
- No documented wood or fiber products are reported for the species.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- No documented fragrance or cosmetic uses.
Properties relevant to use:
- Lac host suitability (Kerr) is linked to twig architecture and bark quality that favor insect feeding and even encrustation. Shellac properties relevant to finishes and adhesives include alcohol solubility, thermoplastic behavior, low melting point, and ability to produce high-gloss, adherent films.
Standards and regulation:
- Lac-derived shellac is regulated as a food-contact coating in India (FSSAI) and the EU (e.g., EU Regulation 1333/2008, additive E904; GMP under 852/2004), and complies with ISO and pharmacopoeial specifications for shellac.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Kerr is cultivated across the sub-Himalayan belt and Central India; branches are harvested periodically from established host plants to maintain productivity and to avoid overcutting older stems.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Premna adenosticta | Schauer | Prodr. 11: 630 (1847) |
| Premna cardiophylla | Schauer | Prodr. 11: 638 (1847) |
| Premna cordata | Blanco | Fl. Filip. : 489 (1837) |
| Premna flavescens | Juss. | Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. 7: 77 (1806) |
| Premna flavida | Miq. | Fl. Ned. Ind., Eerste Bijv. : 570 (1861) |
| Premna hylandiana | Munir | J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 7: 29 (1984) |
| Premna latifolia | Thwaites | Enum. Pl. Zeyl. : 242 (1861) |
| Premna odorata f. crenulata | Koord. & Val ex Moldenke | Phytologia 21: 418 (1971) |
| Premna stellata | Merr. | Philipp. J. Sci., C 11: 203 (1916) |
| Premna tomentosa f. jejuna | Moldenke | Phytologia 41: 105 (1978) |
| Premna cumingiana f. cordata | Moldenke | Phytologia 8: 162 1962 |
| Premna cumingiana f. dentata | Moldenke | Phytologia 5: 14 1954 |
| Premna cumingiana var. glabrescens | Moldenke | Phytologia 5: 14 1954 |
| Gumira adenosticta | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 507 (1891) |
| Gumira cardiophylla | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 507 (1891) |
| Gumira cumingiana | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 507 (1891) |
| Gumira pyramidata | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 508 (1891) |
| Premna involucrata var. thailandica | Moldenke | Phytologia 43: 197 (1979) |
| Premna cumingiana | Schauer | Prodr. 11: 634 (1847) |
| Premna involucrata | Moldenke | Phytologia 5: 85 (1954) |
| Premna pyramidata | Wall. ex Schauer | Prodr. 11: 633 (1847) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Malayalam | നായ്ത്തേക്ക് |
| Burmese | ကျွန်းဖို |
| su | bungbulang |
| Chinese | 塔序豆腐柴 |
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
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- China Southeast
-
China
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
-
Indo-China
- Andaman Islands
- Cambodia
- Myanmar
- Nicobar Nicobar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
-
Malesia
- Borneo
- Jawa
- Malaya
- Philippines
- Sulawesi
- Sumatera
-
Papuasia
- Solomon Islands
-
Indian Subcontinent
-
Australasia click to expand
-
Australia
- Queensland
-
Australia
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000282877 |
| Tropicos | 50199679 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:864229-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-164912 |
| IPNI | 864229-1 |
| GBIF | 7308675 |
| USDA GRIN | 29566 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:864460-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-165181 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 2963287 |
| IUCN Red List | 145371812 |
| IPNI | 864460-1 |
| iNaturalist | 464597 |
| GBIF | 7308363 |
| USDA GRIN | 428209 |
| Tropicos | 50272936 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:864284-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-164984 |
| IPNI | 864284-1 |
| GBIF | 7308599 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:864393-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-165116 |
| IPNI | 864393-1 |
| GBIF | 3896372 |
| EOL | 2893605 |
| CMAUP | NPO26912 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| 2,5-Dihydroxybenzoic acid | 3469 | Click to see | 154.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3,5-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid | 7424 | Click to see | 154.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid | 135 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C(=O)O)O | 138.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Protocatechuic Acid | 72 | Click to see | 154.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives | |||||
| Syringic Acid | 10742 | Click to see | 198.17 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Gallic acids | |||||
| Gallic Acid | 370 | Click to see | 170.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives / M-methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Vanillic Acid | 8468 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(=O)O)O | 168.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Salicylic acid and derivatives / Salicylic acids | |||||
| Salicylic Acid | 338 | Click to see | 138.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols | |||||
| 1,2-Ethanediol, 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-, (R)- | 688030 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(CO)O)O | 184.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Tyrosols and derivatives / Tyrosols | |||||
| Tyrosol | 10393 | Click to see | 138.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Dibenzylbutane lignans / Dibenzylbutanediol lignans | |||||
| Secoisolariciresinol, (+)- | 6336781 | Click to see | 362.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acyl glycosides / Fatty acyl glycosides of mono- and disaccharides | |||||
| (Z)-3-phenyl-2-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyprop-2-enoic acid | 53385591 | Click to see | 326.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclitols and derivatives / Quinic acids and derivatives | |||||
| (1S,3R,4R,5R)-3-[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxy]-1,4,5-trihydroxy-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid | 9476 | Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O | 354.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| Syringin | 5316860 | Click to see | 372.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids | |||||
| Dihydrodehydroconiferyl alcohol, (7R,8S)-(-)- | 5274623 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C2CO)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)CCCO | 360.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| Caffeic Acid | 689043 | Click to see | 180.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ferulic Acid | 445858 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| P-Coumaric Acid | 637542 | Click to see | 164.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sinapinic acid | 637775 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C=CC(=O)O | 224.21 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 6,7-dihydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Esculetin | 5281416 | Click to see | 178.14 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| Luteolin | 5280445 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O | 286.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides | |||||
| (2R)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-6-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 45271033 | Click to see C1C(OC2=C(C1=O)C(=C(C(=C2)O)C3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O | 450.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Eriodictyol-6-glucoside | 102370911 | Click to see C1C(OC2=C(C1=O)C(=C(C(=C2)O)C3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O | 450.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hemiphloin | 160711 | Click to see | 434.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isoorientin | 114776 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isovitexin | 162350 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides / Flavonoid 8-C-glycosides | |||||
| Eriodictyol-8-glucoside | 122221847 | Click to see C1C(OC2=C(C(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O | 450.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Orientin | 5281675 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C(=C(C=C3O)O)C4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Vitexin | 5280441 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides | |||||
| 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-[2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]propan-1-one | 102467789 | Click to see | 452.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Hyperoside | 5281643 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isoquercetin | 5280804 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin 3-robinobioside | 10371536 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Rutin | 5280805 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| Luteolin 7-O-glucoside | 5280637 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 3-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| Chryseriol | 5280666 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 300.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Chalcones and dihydrochalcones / 2-Hydroxy-dihydrochalcones | |||||
| Aspalathin | 11282394 | Click to see | 452.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Nothofagin | 21722188 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1CCC(=O)C2=C(C=C(C(=C2O)C3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 436.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |