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Brucea javanica (L.) Merr.

Family Name:	Simaroubaceae
Synonyms:	Brucea sumatrana Roxb., Brucea amarissima (Lour.) Desv. ex Gomes, Rhus javanica L., Brucea sumatrensis Spreng., Lussa radja Rumph.
Common Name:	Lada Pahit, Embalau Padang, Kusum, Melada Pahit, 鸦胆子

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Shrub

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Shrub, Tree
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	10 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	From India, Sri Lanka, Southern China, Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a shrub or small tree, up to 10 m tall.
Foliage	Leaves are spirally arranged and imparipinnate. Each leaf about 20 – 50 cm long and comprises of 3 – 15 leaflets. Leaflet is ovate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate (3.5 – 11 cm long and 1.5 – 5 cm wide) with toothed margin. Young leaves have dense hairs on the leaf blade and petiole.
Flowers	Flowers occurs as an axillary raceme-like inflorescence. They are small, green-white to green red or purple. Flower is unisexual and each has 4 sepals joined at the base, 4 petals and a thick disc with 4 lobes.

Fruit	Fruit is a drupe that occurs in cluster of 1 – 4. It is oval to elliptical shaped (0.4 – 0.7 cm long), slightly 2-ribbed and turns purplish black when ripe. Each fruit bears one seed that is yellow-white.
Habitat	It is found in secondary forest, sandy dunes and limestone, up to 900 m altitude. <2, 3, 4, 5>
Associated Fauna	The flowers are likely pollinated by insects.
Etymology	The genus Brucea commemorates James Bruce (1730 – 1794) a Scottish scholar and explorer. The specific epithet javanica, is named after the island Java, in Indonesia, referring to one of the natural geographical distributions of this species.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Medicinal: Scientific evidence of medicinal properties Based on research on the effect of Brucea javanica on animals, it is found to have antidiabetic properties <1>. Traditional Medicinal Uses In Asia, Brucea javanica is used in traditional medicine to treat a wide variety of conditions, such as amoebic dysentery, diarrhoea, malaria. In the chinese traditional medicine, it is applied for treatments of haemorrhoids, corns, warts, ulcers and cancer. In Australia, the bark and roots have been used by Aborigines to treat toothache <6>. It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported or verified by scientific research. Others: The ripe fruits are edible and eaten by the rural eastern Indian community (i.e.Orissa Jharkand state) <1>.

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

References

References	<1> Adbulwali, A. et al. (2014). Evaluation of antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of Brucea javanica seed. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 14(3): 440-458. <2> de Padua, L.S., Bunyapraphatsara, N. & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (Editors). 1999. Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 5 (2). Timber Trees: Minor commercial timbers. Indonesia Prosea Foundation. 655 pages. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers. <3> Keng, H. (1990). The Concise Flora of Singapore: Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Singapore: Singapore University Press. <4> Kulip, J. & Wong, K.M. (1995). Simaroubaceae. In: Soepadmo, E. & Wong, K.M. (eds). Tree Flora of Sabah Sarawak, vol. 1, pp. 421–442. Malaysia: Sabah Forestry Department, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, & Sarawak Forestry Department. <5> Nooteboom, H.P. (1962) Simaroubaceae. In: Steenis, C.G.G.J. van (ed.), Flora Malesiana. Series 1 Vol. 6. Pp. 193–226.G roningen: Wolters-Noordhoff Publishing. <6> Soerianegara, I. & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (1999). PROSEA, No. 12(1) Medicinal and Poisonous Plants 1, pp.160-161. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers.

References

<1> Adbulwali, A. et al. (2014). Evaluation of antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of Brucea javanica seed. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 14(3): 440-458.

<2> de Padua, L.S., Bunyapraphatsara, N. & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (Editors). 1999. Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 5 (2). Timber Trees: Minor commercial timbers. Indonesia Prosea Foundation. 655 pages. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers.

<3> Keng, H. (1990). The Concise Flora of Singapore: Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Singapore: Singapore University Press.

<4> Kulip, J. & Wong, K.M. (1995). Simaroubaceae. In: Soepadmo, E. & Wong, K.M. (eds). Tree Flora of Sabah Sarawak, vol. 1, pp. 421–442. Malaysia: Sabah Forestry Department, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, & Sarawak Forestry Department.

<5> Nooteboom, H.P. (1962) Simaroubaceae. In: Steenis, C.G.G.J. van (ed.), Flora Malesiana. Series 1 Vol. 6. Pp. 193–226.G roningen: Wolters-Noordhoff Publishing.

<6> Soerianegara, I. & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (1999). PROSEA, No. 12(1) Medicinal and Poisonous Plants 1, pp.160-161. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers.

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Master ID	33932
Species ID	8348
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.

Species record last updated on: 15 November 2024.