Trema orientale explained

Trema orientale (sometimes Trema orientalis) is a species of flowering tree in the hemp family, Cannabaceae.[1] [2] [3] It is known by many common names, including charcoal-tree,[3] Indian charcoal-tree,[3] pigeon wood,[4] Oriental trema, and in Hawaii, where it has become naturalized, gunpowder tree,[5] or nalita.[6] It has a near universal distribution in tropical and warm temperate parts of the Old World, with a range extending from South Africa, through the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and southern China to Southeast Asia and Australia.

Distribution

Trema orientale is native to tropical and southern Africa (including Madagascar), Asia (the Arabian Peninsula, China, eastern Asia, tropical Asia) and Australia.[3]

Uses

The wood is relatively soft, and burns easily and quickly when dry. The wood is suitable for paper and pulp production,[7] [8] producing paper with good tensile strength and folding endurance.[7] The bark can be used for making string or rope, and used as waterproofing fishing-lines.[4] [9] In India and Tanzania, the wood is used to make charcoal and is a good fire starter.[9]

Medicinal use

The tree has various uses as an herbal medicine in a wide range of cultures.[4] The leaves and the bark are used to treat coughs, sore throats, asthma, bronchitis, gonorrhea, yellow fever, toothache, and as an antidote to general poisoning.[7] A bark infusion is reportedly drunk to control dysentery and a leaf decoction is used to deworm dogs.[7] In recent pharmacological studies, an aqueous extract from the bark has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels in an experimental animal model of diabetes mellitus, and may be useful for treating this disease.[10] Extracts from leaves of related species (Trema guineense and Trema micrantha) showed anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and analgesic activity in rodents,[11] suggesting that T. orientale could produce similar results.

Phytochemicals

Trema orientalis has been reported to contain cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (30mg/kg-90mg/kg avg), cannabinol (130mg/kg-357mg/kg avg) and cannabidiol (2mg/kg-5mg/kg avg). Identification was performed by comparing the retention time of HPLC and GC analysis.[12] However these results have not yet been independently replicated, and have been disputed.[13]

Ecology

This species has a high ecological impact with at least 14 species of butterfly using it as a larval food plant.[4] Several species of birds eat the fruit or feed on the abundant insects which live in these trees. Pigeons and doves are often found in these trees where they eat the fruits or make their nests; giving the origin of the name 'Pigeon Wood'.[4] The leaves, pods and seeds are used as fodder for cattle, buffaloes and goats in the Philippines.[7] The leaves are also browsed by game animals and can be used as spinach. This tree is a fast-growing species found in previously disturbed areas and on forest margins. It is a pioneer species that can grow on poor soil and can be used to regenerate forest areas by providing shade and protection to saplings of forest hardwoods. T. orientale is nitrogen fixing and can thereby improve soil fertility for other plant species.[14]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Name - !Trema orientalis (L.) Blume synonyms . Tropicos . Missouri Botanical Garden . Saint Louis, Missouri . November 2, 2011.
  2.  The basionym of T. orientalis, Celtis orientalis was originally described and published in Species Plantarum 2: 1044. 1753. Web site: Name - Celtis orientalis L. . Type-Protologue: Locality: Habitat in Indiis: Distribution: Sri Lanka . Tropicos . Missouri Botanical Garden . Saint Louis, Missouri . November 2, 2011.
  3. Web site: Trema orientalis information from NPGS/GRIN . GRIN . Comment: although treated [at GRIN] as feminine, in accordance with botanical tradition (Vienna ICBN Art. 62.1), the genus is of neuter gender according to NCU-3 . Taxonomy for Plants . USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program . . May 29, 2007 . November 2, 2011. Germplasm Resources Information Network .
  4. Web site: Trema orientalis. Malan . Christien . Notten, Alice . April 2005. South African National Biodiversity Institute. 2 March 2010.
  5. Book: Little Jr., Elbert L.. Skolmen, Roger G. . Common Forest Trees of Hawaii: Gunpowder-tree. . 1989. Agriculture Handbook No. 679 . 2010-03-02.
  6. Jahan. M. Sarwar. Sung Phil Mun . April 2007. Characteristics of Dioxane Lignins Isolated at Different Ages of Nalita Wood (Trema orientalis). Journal of Wood Chemistry and Technology. 27. 2. 83–98. 10.1080/02773810701486865. 98093199.
  7. Web site: Trema orientalis. Orwa. C. A Mutua . Kindt R . Jamnadass R . S Anthony . 2009. Agroforestree Database:a tree reference and selection guide, version 4.0. World Agroforestry Centre. 2010-03-09.
  8. Jahan, M.S. et al. (2007). Evaluation of cooking processes for Trema orientalis pulping Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research, Vol. 66 (2007) 853
  9. Book: [[FAO]] Forestry Department. Some Medicinal Forest Plants Of Africa And Latin America Forestry - Paper 67. 1986. 223–227. Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations. 2010-03-02.
  10. Dimo T, Ngueguim FT, Kamtchouing P, Dongo E, Tan PV . Glucose lowering efficacy of the aqueous stem bark extract of Trema orientalis (Linn) Blume in normal and streptozotocin diabetic rats. Die Pharmazie. 61. 3. 233–6. 2006. 16599266. streptozotocin.
  11. 10.1002/ptr.2650060309. Analgesic and antiinflammatory activity in acute and chronic conditions of Trema guineense (Schum. et Thonn.) Ficalho and Trema micrantha Blume extracts in rodents. 1992. Barbera. R.. Trovato. A.. Rapisarda. A.. Ragusa. S.. Phytotherapy Research. 6. 146. 3. 83475778.
  12. Napiroon T, Tanruean K, Poolprasert P, Bacher M, Balslev H, Poopath M, Santimaleeworagun W. Cannabinoids from inflorescences fractions of Trema orientalis (L.) Blume (Cannabaceae) against human pathogenic bacteria. PeerJ. 2021 May 13;9:e11446.
  13. Appendino G, Taglialatela-Scafati O, Muñoz E. Cannabidiol (CBD) From Non-Cannabis Plants: Myth or Reality? Natural Product Communications. 2022;17(5).
  14. Web site: Trema orientalis. Eckman . Karlyn . Hines, Deborah A. . 1993. Indigenous multipurpose trees of Tanzania: uses and economic benefits for people. FAO Forestry Department. 2010-03-02.

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