Catunaregam (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Catunaregam Wolf
- Protologue: Gen. pl.: 75 (1776).
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Chromosome number: x= 11;C. spinosa: 2n= 22, 44
Origin and geographic distribution
Catunaregam comprises approximately 8 species and occurs in tropical Africa and Asia. About 4 species are found in South-East Asia, which have a very limited distribution in Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Java).
Uses
In India and Indo-China, Catunaregam fruits are used externally to treat ulcers and sores, and the bark is used internally against diarrhoea and dysentery and to regulate menses. The plants are also used in traditional medicine to treat bronchitis, asthma, leucoderma and diseases of the brain. In Indo-China, the leaves of C. tomentosa are considered to be cooling and diuretic and are prescribed against oliguria and dysuria. In Africa, C. spinosa is much used as a medicinal plant to treat melanomas, fever, nausea, coughs, toothache, dizziness, menorrhagia, depressed fontanelle, snake bites, gonorrhoea and as a sedative.
The fruits are used as a substitute for soap. Bark and fruits are used as a fish poison. The plants are often planted in fences. The wood is used as fuelwood, and sometimes also to make small implements, e.g. combs.
Properties
The fruits of C. spinosa are emetic. Fruit and root extracts have insecticidal and insect-repelling properties. Several triterpenes (e.g. α-amyrin, β-amyrin, oleanolic acid and 1-keto-3α-hydroxy-oleanane from the root bark), sterols (e.g. β-sitosterol from the root bark) and triterpene saponins (from the fruits and leaves) have been reported for C. spinosa . Other isolated compounds include coumarins (e.g. scopoletin, scopolin and xeroboside from African plants), iridoids (e.g. the glucoside 10-methylixoside from the leaves and bark) and an aliphatic diol, randiol, from the bark.
Extracts of C. spinosa fruit pulp prevented pregnancy in 67% of treated rats and significantly reduced implantation sites when compared with a control group. The triterpene diglucoside saponin randianin isolated from the methanolic extract of C. spinosa fruits haemolyzed human red blood cells. Several other saponins have been isolated from methanolic extracts of the fruits, and several of these significantly enhanced the proliferation of human lymphocytes in vitro, whereas the crude saponin fraction showed haemolytic and immunostimulating activities. Sun-dried and powdered unripe fruits of C. spinosa killed fish in 45-180 minutes at a concentration of 15 ppm; residual toxicity in treated water persisted for about 72 hours. Triterpenoidal glycosides isolated from the leaves and fruits showed molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata , which is a schistosomiasis vector.
An extract of the African C. nilotica (Stapf) Tirveng. showed strong larvicidal activity against mosquitoes. Molluscicidal saponins are also present in this species and these also have haemolytic activity.
Botany
Spiny shrubs or small trees up to 10 m tall; spines opposite or alternate. Leaves mostly clustered on short axillary branchlets, opposite, simple and entire; stipules interpetiolar, ovate or triangular. Inflorescence a terminal simple or branched cyme, sometimes flowers solitary or fascicled. Flowers bisexual, 5-10-merous, pedicellate; calyx with distinct tube and short lobes; corolla gamopetalous, subrotate, tube shorter than lobes, densely pubescent outside and with a band of hairs inside; stamens inserted in throat of corolla tube, anthers sessile, usually exserted; ovary inferior, 2(-3)-locular, style as long as corolla tube or exserted, stigma ellipsoid or cylindrical. Fruit berry-like, ellipsoid to globose, many-seeded. Seeds discoid or compressed-ellipsoid, embedded in pulp, with reticulation on testa.
In older literature, species now included in Catunaregam were considered to belong in the large genus Randia . However, Randia has been split up into numerous smaller genera.
Ecology
Catunaregam occurs in dry, open lowland locations, also in recently burned savanna and in dry, open forest, sometimes also on the beach.
Genetic resources
In Malesia, Catunaregam is uncommon or even rare, but this seems the result of its preference for drier climatic conditions. In mainland South-East Asia, species are common and widely distributed, and are not in need of protection.
Prospects
Interesting pharmacological properties have been demonstrated in Catunaregam , such as haemolytic and immunostimulating activities. The insecticidal, molluscicidal and piscicidal properties also deserve more attention, in the search for effective plant-based pesticides which are easily biodegradable. Catunaregam species may be promising for planting as multi-purpose plants in regions in South-East Asia with dry climatic conditions.
Literature
224, 671, 852.
Selection of species
Authors
R.H.M.J. Lemmens
