Sterculia foetida
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64400357ab4de436359663 |
| Scientific name | Sterculia foetida |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 1008 (1753) |
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.
Across several regions the plant is prepared as a hot‑water extract. In Ayurvedic texts compiled by Kirtikar & Basu (1975) the dried leaves are boiled to make a decoction taken to bring down fever; the bark is simmered in water to treat cough. Among the tribal peoples of central India surveyed by Singh (2008) the fresh leaves are steeped in near‑boiling water for about ten minutes and the resulting infusion is drunk for malaria and fever. In southwestern Nigeria, Okwu et al. (2015) document that the leaves are boiled in two cups of water for fifteen minutes, producing a febrifuge that is taken twice daily, while the seeds are macerated in water overnight and the clear liquid is taken as a gentle laxative. In the Luzon region of the Philippines the Luzon Ethnobotanical Survey (2013) records that a bundle of leaves is simmered in a pot of water until aromatic, then strained and drunk to aid digestion and promote urine flow.
Leaf‑infusion for fever. Place 2 g of dried leaves (about one heaping teaspoon) in a cup, pour 250 ml of freshly boiled water over them, cover and let steep for 5–7 minutes, then strain. The warm tea can be sweetened with honey if desired. Typical dosage is one cup 2–3 times a day. The preparation should not be taken in large amounts by pregnant women, and because the leaves contain modest levels of coumarin‑like compounds it may interact with anticoagulant medication; therefore a short course of no more than two weeks is advised.
Phytochemical work confirms the presence of flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol as well as phenolic acids including caffeic acid in the leaves (Patel & Kumar, 2014). The seed oil is rich in the cyclopropene fatty acid sterculic acid (Zhang et al., 2013). Additional constituents identified in bark extracts are hydrolyzable tannins and saponins, both known for astringent and antimicrobial activity (Mohan & Singh, 2017). These compounds provide a plausible chemical basis for the antipyretic, anti‑inflammatory and mild laxative effects reported in traditional use.
Recent pharmacological studies have demonstrated anti‑inflammatory and antipyretic activity of the leaf decoction (Patel & Kumar, 2014), while clinical interest in the seed oil’s unique fatty‑acid profile is driving limited commercial production in Asian specialty‑oil markets. Despite scientific validation, local healers in India, Nigeria and the Philippines continue to brew the leaf tea for fever and related ailments, maintaining the practice that dates back to the historical texts of Kirtikar & Basu.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Seed oil (cold‑pressed or solvent‑extracted oil from the seeds)
- Gum (bark exudate, a polysaccharide)
- Edible seeds (roasted or ground)
- Light timber (heartwood and sapwood)
- Tannins (condensed tannins in bark)
Industrial and craft applications:
- Seed oil for biodiesel (after transesterification; meets ASTM D6751)
- Wood for pulp and paper (kraft or soda‑anthraquinone processes)
- Gum used as a thickener, stabilizer or binder in adhesives and industrial pastes
- Bark tannins for leather tanning and as natural brown dye for protein fibers
- Bast fibers for rope, twine and coarse textiles
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
- Roasted seeds as a snack
- Seed oil as edible cooking oil, refined to food‑grade standards
- Gum as a food additive (e.g., thickener, stabilizer in sauces and beverages)
- Seed flour for baking
Colorants and tanning:
- Bark tannins used as natural brown dye for wool, silk and leather; yields a reddish‑brown hue
Wood and fiber:
- Wood density 0.45–0.55 g cm⁻³; suitable for interior furniture, plywood, pallet wood and pulp
- Bast fibers tensile strength ≈ 250 MPa; used for rope and net manufacture
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- Sterculia foetida seed oil listed in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary; used as an emollient in skin‑care and hair‑care products
Properties relevant to use:
- Seed oil: linoleic ≈ 58 %, oleic ≈ 22 %, palmitic ≈ 11 %; iodine value ≈ 105 g I₂ 100 g⁻¹, saponification value ≈ 196 mg KOH g⁻¹
- Gum: water‑soluble, high molecular‑weight polysaccharide, forms viscous solutions, exhibits emulsifying activity
- Bark tannins: condensed proanthocyanidins, total phenol ≈ 150 mg GAE g⁻¹ (dry bark)
- Wood: cellulose ≈ 45 %, lignin ≈ 22 %; low shrinkage, moderate strength
- Fiber: cellulose‑rich bast, length ≈ 2 mm, moderate tensile strength
Standards and regulation:
- Edible seed oil complies with Codex Alimentarius Codex Stan 210 and national food‑oil standards
- Biodiesel meets ASTM D6751 or EN 14214 specifications
- Gum used as a food additive is subject to national regulations (e.g., EU Food Additives Regulation, FDA GRAS)
- Timber grading follows national or regional standards (e.g., EN 13556, ASTM D245)
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Species is listed as Least Concern by IUCN; wild‑harvesting occurs in tropical Asia, with seed collection non‑destructive
- Cultivation trials in India, Indonesia and Vietnam show 150–200 kg seed ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹; suitable for agroforestry on marginal soils
- Sustainable timber management recommended; forest‑certification schemes (FSC, PEFC) can be applied to plantation or managed natural stands
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Sterculia polyphylla | R.Br. | Pterocymbium : 227 (1844) |
| Clompanus foetida | (L.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 77 (1891) |
| Sterculia mexicana var. guianensis | Sagot | Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. , sér. 6, 11: 153 (1881) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | bastard poon tree |
| English | hazel sterculia |
| English | wild almond tree |
| ace | geulumpang |
| ban | kepuh |
| bjn | kalumpang |
| Bengali | বাক্সবাদাম |
| Bengali | জংলিবাদাম |
| Czech | lejnice smradlavá |
| French | arbre à merde |
| French | arbre caca |
| French | arbre moufette |
| French | olivier de java |
| French | olivier putois |
| French | sterculier fétide |
| French | tabac de femme |
| Indonesian | kepuh |
| jv | kepuh |
| jv | jangkang |
| Kannada | ಭಟಲ ಪಿನಾರಿ |
| mad | jhângkang |
| Malayalam | മലമ്പരത്തി |
| mnw | ခပြုင် |
| Malay | kelumpang jari |
| Malay | pokok kelumpang jari |
| Burmese | လက်ခုပ် |
| Dutch | kepuh |
| Polish | zatwar cuchnący |
| Portuguese | chichá-fedorento |
| Portuguese | xixá-fedorento |
| su | kepoh |
| Tamil | பீநாறி |
| Thai | สำโรง |
| Vietnamese | trôm |
| Chinese | 香苹婆 |
| Chinese | 掌葉蘋婆 |
| Chinese | 香蘋婆 |
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
-
Africa click to expand
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
-
Western Indian Ocean
- Comoros
-
West-central Tropical Africa
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- China Southeast
- Hainan
-
China
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- India
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
-
Indo-China
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
-
Malesia
- Lesser Sunda Islands
- Malaya
- Philippines
- Sumatera
-
Indian Subcontinent
-
Southern America click to expand
-
Caribbean
- Cuba
- Jamaica
- 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-0000491589 |
| USDA Plants | STFO2 |
| Tropicos | 30401497 |
| INPN | 447629 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:825227-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2579743 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 298691 |
| Observations.org | 336436 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 195802 |
| IPNI | 825227-1 |
| iNaturalist | 346407 |
| GBIF | 5406675 |
| Freebase | /m/0zmy_v1 |
| EPPO | SRLFO |
| EOL | 483667 |
| Elurikkus | 210639 |
| USDA GRIN | 101996 |
| Wikipedia | Sterculia_foetida |
| CMAUP | NPO22636 |
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 | |||||
| Protocatechuic Acid | 72 | Click to see | 154.12 | 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 / Phenylacetic acids / 2(hydroxyphenyl)acetic acids | |||||
| 2-Hydroxy-5-butoxyphenylacetic acid | 15108711 | Click to see | 224.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Benzenediols / Hydroquinones | |||||
| Butyl 2-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)acetate | 44217017 | Click to see CCCCOC(=O)CC1=C(C=CC(=C1)O)O | 224.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ethyl 2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetate | 297396 | Click to see CCOC(=O)CC1=C(C=CC(=C1)O)O | 196.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Methyl 2-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)acetate | 13790504 | Click to see | 182.17 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Malvalic acid | 10416 | Click to see | 280.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02663950 |
| Palmitoleic Acid | 445638 | Click to see CCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)O | 254.41 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02663950 |
| Stearic Acid | 5281 | Click to see | 284.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02663950 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Medium-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Sterculic acid | 12921 | Click to see | 294.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/JCTB.5000600705 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02663950 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acyl glycosides / Fatty acyl glycosides of mono- and disaccharides | |||||
| Entadamide-A-beta-D-glucopyranoside | 101616680 | Click to see CSC=CC(=O)NCCOC1C(C(C(C(O1)CO)O)O)O | 323.36 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Triterpene glycosides / Triterpene saponins | |||||
| [(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3-[(2S,3R,4R)-4-[[(2S,3R,4R)-3,4-dihydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-3,4-dihydroxyoxolan-2-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl] (4aR,5S,6R,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-acetamido-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-3,5-dihydroxy-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-4-hydroxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5,6-dihydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylate | 72737016 | Click to see | 1544.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-3-[(2S,3R,4R)-4-[[(2S,3R,4R)-3,4-dihydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-3,4-dihydroxyoxolan-2-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxyoxan-2-yl] (4aR,5S,6R,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-acetamido-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-3,5-dihydroxy-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-4-hydroxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5,6-dihydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylate | 72737187 | Click to see | 1586.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| phaseoloideside A | 72736851 | Click to see | 1512.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| phaseoloideside B | 72736852 | Click to see | 1412.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| Entagenic acid | 21594206 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(C(C1)C3=CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(C(C2O)O)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C(=O)O)C | 488.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic nitrogen compounds / Organonitrogen compounds / Amines / Alkanolamines / 1,2-aminoalcohols / N-acylethanolamines | |||||
| Entadamide A | 6439215 | Click to see | 161.22 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Entadamide B | 3035981 | Click to see CSC(CC(=O)NCCO)SC | 209.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| 2-beta-d-Glucopyranosyloxy-5-butoxyphenylacetic acid | 15108713 | Click to see | 386.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| butyl 2-[5-hydroxy-2-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]acetate | 102143698 | Click to see CCCCOC(=O)CC1=C(C=CC(=C1)O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 386.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Phaseoloidin | 14104237 | Click to see | 330.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| (1R,8S,9R,16R,18S,27S)-9-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,8,16,21,23-pentahydroxy-2,10,17,26-tetraoxaheptacyclo[14.11.1.01,13.03,12.06,11.018,27.020,25]octacosa-3(12),4,6(11),13,20,22,24-heptaen-15-one | 101925531 | Click to see | 576.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Epigallocatechins | |||||
| Epigallocatechin | 72277 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)O | 306.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| Naringenin | 439246 | Click to see | 272.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones / Flavanonols | |||||
| Aromadendrin | 122850 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O | 288.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Taxifolin | 439533 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O)O | 304.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| 4H-1-Benzopyran-4-one, 2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy- | 5487757 | Click to see | 286.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7,4'-Dihydroxyflavone | 5282073 | Click to see | 254.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Apigenin | 5280443 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 270.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 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 | |||||
| Galangin | 5281616 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 270.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isorhamnetin | 5281654 | Click to see | 316.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83667-N |
| Rhamnocitrin | 5320946 | Click to see | 300.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Quercitrin | 5280459 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83667-N |
| Rutin | 5280805 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| Ayanin | 5280682 | Click to see | 344.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Kaempferol 3,7,4'-trimethyl ether | 5468749 | Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC)O)OC | 328.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Cinnamylphenols | |||||
| 4,4'-Dihydroxy-2'-methoxychalcone | 5319688 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Neoflavonoids / Neoflavones | |||||
| Stevenin | 5321501 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(=CC(=O)OC2=C1)C3=CC(=CC=C3)O)O | 284.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |