Amboyna-wood

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Pterocarpus indicus

Family: Fabaceae Genus: Pterocarpus Species: indicus

Synonyms: Pterocarpus luteus, Pterocarpus zollingeri, Lingoum echinatum, Malaparius flavus, Pterocarpus echinatus, Pterocarpus carolinensis, Lingoum indicum, Pterocarpus blancoi, Pterocarpus klemmei, Pterocarpus wallichii, Pterocarpus obtusatus, Pterocarpus indicus f. echinatus, Pterocarpus papuana, Echinodiscus echinatus, Pterocarpus casteelsii var. ealaensis, Pterocarpus saxatilis, Pterocarpus pallidus

Amboyna-wood
Amboyna-wood

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:
astringent

Traditional Uses

In Southeast Asian and Malesian traditional medicine, the red kino (gum-resin) and bark of Pterocarpus indicus are valued as astringents. They are used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery, are applied to mouth and throat complaints such as ulcers and sore throat, and are used topically on sores; the astringent kino is the principal medicinal product of the tree (Burkill, 1966; Perry, 1980).

Botanical Description

Pterocarpus indicus (Burmese rosewood, amboyna, narra) is a large deciduous tree in the Fabaceae (subfamily Faboideae), reaching up to about 30-40 m tall, often with a buttressed trunk and a broad, spreading, dome-shaped crown. The leaves are pinnately compound with several alternate, glossy, ovate leaflets. Fragrant yellow pea-like flowers are borne in panicles, followed by characteristic flat, rounded, winged pods (samaras) that aid wind dispersal; the trunk exudes a red astringent kino when cut. It is native to Southeast Asia and the western Pacific, growing in coastal and lowland forest, and is widely planted as a shade and avenue tree.

Native Region: Andaman Is., Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Cambodia, Caroline Is., China South-Central, China Southeast, India, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maldives, Maluku, Marianas, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, New Guinea, Philippines, Santa Cruz Is., Solomon Is., Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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