Samadera indica

Samadora indica is a small evergreen tree that grows in low‑land tropical forests of the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka and the Malay archipelago. It is a member of the Simaroubaceae family, a source of intensely bitter compounds. Traditional healers across these regions have recorded several preparations for internal and external ailments, often harvesting young shoots by climbing the slender trunk to collect the freshest material.

In Kerala, South India, dried leaves are infused as a tea to reduce intermittent fevers (Jain, 1991). On Java, Indonesia, a poultice of freshly scraped bark is applied to skin infections; the bark is first mashed and mixed with a little coconut oil before being bound to the lesion (Matsui, 1976). In the coastal lowlands of Sri Lanka, practitioners decoct a mixture of bark and rhizome in water for 20–30 minutes and drink the liquid twice daily to treat dysentery and liver‑related complaints (Silva et al., 2014). These preparations are typically prepared fresh before sunrise to preserve the bitterness, and each of them involves a clearly specified plant part and a documented method.

One practical way to prepare a mild febrifuge tea uses the leaves: place 2 g of dried, crumbled leaf material in a cup, pour 250 ml of freshly boiled water over it, cover and steep for 10–12 minutes, then strain. The infusion can be taken warm, up to two cups per day while fever persists. If the tea tastes excessively bitter, a small amount of honey can be added, though traditional practitioners advise against sweetening as it is believed to diminish the medicinal effect. Because the plant contains quassinoids, which are bitter and can irritate the gastrointestinal tract at high doses, it is advised not to exceed the recommended amount and to avoid use during pregnancy or in children under twelve without professional supervision.

Chemical analyses have identified a suite of quassinoid triterpenoids (samaderine A and B) together with indole‑type alkaloids and several coumarins (Murray et al., 1995; Huang & Liao, 2001). These compounds display antipyretic and antimalarial activity in vitro, offering a phytochemical explanation for the traditional fever‑reducing and dysentery‑treating preparations. The ongoing interest in quassinoids for antimalarial drug discovery reflects the longstanding cultural knowledge embedded in these simple teas and decoctions. While the plant is still sold in local markets as a dried herb or bark powder, its use remains rooted in community practice across South and Southeast Asia.

Industrial and craft applications:
The heartwood and bark contain quassin and related quassinoid bitter principles; the bitter constituents have been reported in the literature as a source of quassin and as constituents of insect antifeedant or insecticide preparations. The wood is noted as heavy and durable in technical references for tropical timbers.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
In some producing regions the wood has been used as an adulterant or substitute in “quassia wood” preparations for non-medicinal flavoring purposes; any such use as a food ingredient or processing aid is not widely commercialized and is context-specific.

Wood and fiber:
Utilized locally as a utility timber for posts, tool handles, and heavy construction due to density and durability; limited data on woodworking characteristics suggest moderate to high specific gravity and potentially good dimensional stability.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
There is no documented current use in fragrances or cosmetic formulations.

Properties relevant to use:
The presence of quassinoid bitter principles underlies bitterness, stability, and potential bioactivity of extracts; timber properties are consistent with high-density, durable hardwoods.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Occurs in coastal and riverine forests of South and Southeast Asia; timber availability is limited due to distribution and ecology, with ecological considerations relevant to harvesting.

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