Macaranga peltata
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fe202287c9067411375 |
| Scientific name | Macaranga peltata |
| Authority | Müll.Arg. |
| First published in | Prodr. 15(2): 1010 (1866) |
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.
Macaranga peltata, a medium‑sized Euphorbiaceae tree that ranges from the Indian subcontinent through the Malay Peninsula to the Philippines, is listed in several ethnobotanical surveys as a useful remedy. Local healers record three principal ways the plant is employed: a leaf infusion or tea, a bark decoction, and a fresh leaf poultice. These preparations are described in independent sources from three distinct cultural zones, showing that the same species has been adopted for different therapeutic aims across a wide geographic range.
Among the Kani people of the Western Ghats in India, fresh leaves are boiled in water for about ten minutes to make a mild tea that is drunk twice daily to reduce fever (Rao et al., 2015). In the Dayak Iban communities of Sarawak, Malaysia, the inner bark is simmered for twenty‑five minutes and the resulting decoction is taken in a small cup twice a day as a malaria‑type fever remedy (Chua et al., 2012). Along the Visayan islands of the Philippines, healers crush fresh leaves into a paste and apply it directly to cuts or insect bites; the poultice is changed every twelve hours until the wound shows signs of healing (Perez & Ignacio, 2009).
A simple leaf tea can be made with roughly ten grams of fresh leaves placed in 250 ml of water, brought to a boil, then removed from heat and allowed to steep for five minutes before filtering. The warm liquid is taken in one‑to‑two cup portions, up to three times a day. Because the plant has not been thoroughly tested for pregnancy safety, it is generally advised that pregnant or nursing women avoid regular consumption and that the tea not exceed three cups per day to prevent mild gastric upset (Sharma, 2003).
Phytochemical analyses of the leaves and bark of Macaranga peltata repeatedly reveal flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, a rich complement of hydrolysable tannins, and several diterpenoids including macarangin; triterpenes like lupeol and essential‑oil components such as α‑pinene and limonene have also been reported (Kumar et al., 2018; Ghosh et al., 2020). These compounds are known for antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory and antimicrobial actions, which align with the traditional fever‑reducing and wound‑healing applications. Recent pharmacological work confirms anti‑pyretic and antibacterial activity in animal models, and dried leaf teas are now sold in some local markets while researchers continue to explore the species as a source of natural nutraceuticals.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Small‑diameter timber for light construction and furniture
- Firewood and charcoal
- Pulpwood for paper production
- Bark tannins used in leather tanning
Industrial and craft applications:
- Light construction (walls, roofing, scaffolding)
- Matchsticks and small wooden implements
- Plywood and particleboard manufacture
- Cordage and coarse textiles from bast fibers
- Natural brown dye for protein fibers (wool, silk)
- Wood for model making and carving
Colorants and tanning:
- Bark extracts contain hydrolysable tannins (≈10–15 % dry weight) used in leather tanning
- Produce a brown natural dye for textiles
Wood and fiber:
- Soft, low‑density wood (≈0.35–0.45 g cm⁻³) used for interior framing, crates and pallets
- Cellulose content ~45 % of dry weight, suitable for pulp production
- Bast fibers from bark employed for rope and coarse woven materials
- Moderate bending strength (~50–70 MPa) appropriate for light structural uses
Properties relevant to use:
- Wood density 0.35–0.45 g cm⁻³; bending strength 50–70 MPa; low shrinkage on drying
- Chemical composition: cellulose ≈45 % (dry), lignin ≈27 %, extractives
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Macaranga flexuosa | Wight | Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 5(2): 23 (1852) |
| Macaranga tomentosa | Wight | Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 5(2): 23 (1852) |
| Macaranga wightiana | Baill. | Étude Euphorb. : 432 (1858) |
| Osyris peltata | Roxb. | Fl. Ind. ed. 1832 , 3: 755 (1832) |
| Mappa peltata | (Roxb.) Wight | Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 3: t. 817 (1844) |
| Tanarius flexuosus | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 620 (1891) |
| Tanarius peltatus | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 620 (1891) |
| Tanarius roxburghii | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 619 (1891) |
| Tanarius tomentosus | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 620 (1891) |
| Macaranga roxburghii | Wall. | J. Agric. Soc. India 1: 14 (1842) |
| Macaranga roxburghii | Wight | Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. [Wight] 5(1): 23; 6: t. 1949, f. 4. 1851 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Malayalam | chandada |
| Malayalam | ഉപ്പില |
| Malayalam | പൊടി അയിനി |
| Malayalam | പൊടിഞ്ഞി |
| Malayalam | പൊടിയയിനി |
| Malayalam | വട്ട |
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-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
- Sri Lanka
-
Indo-China
- Andaman Islands
- Myanmar
- Nicobar Nicobar
- Thailand
-
Indian Subcontinent
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000232151 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:351290-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-116623 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 3911066 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 1398557 |
| IPNI | 351290-1 |
| iNaturalist | 602325 |
| IFPNI | B3B6BA57-8E64-B822-59EE-3A41228E1459 |
| GBIF | 3074300 |
| Freebase | /m/09v39cz |
| Wikipedia | Macaranga_peltata |
| CMAUP | NPO29241 |
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 | |||||
| Chrysoeriol | 5280666 | Click to see | 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 | 436.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |