Kibatalia (PROSEA Medicinal plants)
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Introduction |
Kibatalia G. Don
- Protologue: Gen. syst. 4: 86 (1837).
- Family: Apocynaceae
- Chromosome number: x= unknown; 2n= unknown
Major species
- Kibatalia arborea (Blume) G. Don.
Vernacular names
- Indonesia: kayu santen (Javanese), ki benteli (Sundanese)
- Malaysia: jelutong pipit (Peninsular)
- Philippines: lanete (trade name which includes Wrightia spp.)
- Thailand: ba-du-bu-wae (peninsular)
- Vietnam: thần linh.
Origin and geographic distribution
Kibatalia comprises 15 species and is restricted to South-East Asia, where it is found from southern China (Yunnan) to Indo-China, peninsular Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Borneo and the Philippines. Although only 2 species are confined to continental Asia, it is assumed that Kibatalia originated from there and spread to the Malesian region afterwards.
Uses
In the Philippines, the bark and leaves of K. blancoi and K. gitingensis are used as a fish poison. A decoction of the root or bark is applied as an abortifacient. In Java, the latex of K. arborea is a well-known local anthelmintic. In the Philippines, leaves of K. maingayi (Hook.f.) Woodson are externally applied in the treatment of an enlarged spleen. In Vietnam, the latex of K. macrophylla (Pierre ex Hua) Woodson (synonym K. anceps (Dunn & R. Williams) Woodson) from Indo-China, Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia, is used to arrest bleeding of leech bites.
The wood of Kibatalia is used for medium-heavy construction under cover, but more often for small objects such as musical instruments, handicrafts and utensils. The flowers are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
Properties
The major phytochemical characteristic of Kibatalia is the occurrence of steroidal alkaloids. The leaves of K. gitingensis are relatively rich in these compounds. Among those that have been obtained is gitingensine, which is bis (N-demethyl) kibataline and has spasmolytic properties. The bark of K. gitingensis contains numerous alkaloids, among them paravallarine and N-methyl-paravallarine, along with their 20-epimers, and lanitine, or 2α-hydroxy-20-epi-N-methyl-paravallarine, along with its 2-epimers. The chief alkaloid of K. macrophylla is the 20-epimer of kibataline. In general, all these alkaloids have the unusual feature of a (18-> 20S) lactone function. The only alkaloid isolated from K. arborea is a simple amino-steroid holafebrine, also present in Holarrhena pubescens Wallich ex G. Don. Saponins are present in the leaves of K. blancoi, which may explain its use as a fish poison.
Description
- Evergreen or sometimes deciduous shrubs, or small to large trees up to 45(-65) m tall; bole straight, branchless for up to 30(-40) m, up to 120 cm in diameter, sometimes with short buttresses up to 1.5 m high; bark surface smooth to fissured or sometimes cracked, lenticellate, grey-brown to black, sometimes mottled, inner bark granular, orange to white, often mottled, with copious white latex.
- Leaves decussate, simple, entire, often with domatia underneath, petioles of a pair connate to form a short cup.
- Flowers in a terminal or axillary, cymose cluster, 5-merous; calyx lobes imbricate, mostly with colleters inside at base; corolla gamopetalous, white to pale green, with a narrow tube, the lobes overlapping to the right in bud; stamens inserted on the corolla tube, anthers narrowly triangular with a sagittate base, adhering to the pistil head; disk present; ovary superior, 2-carpellate with free carpels and many ovules.
- Fruit consisting of 2 narrowly ellipsoid or cylindrical follicles with seeds in 2 ranks.
- Seed pointed or beaked, with a tuft of hairs.
Growth and development
Flowering and fruiting in Kibatalia seem to occur throughout the year, but in Java K. arborea flowers in June-July or October just after the leaves are shed. Kibatalia species with seeds bearing a hairy coma are probably wind-dispersed.
Other botanical information
Traditionally Kibatalia has been placed in the tribe Nerieae of the subfamily Apocynoideae. It was considered closely related to the liana genera Vallariopsis, Vallaris and Beaumontia. However, recently Kibatalia is placed separately in the tribe Malouetieae. In the Philippines, reports of K. blancoi for Leyte probably are K. gitingensis. K. blancoi, K. gitingensis and K. elmeri Woodson, endemic to Luzon, are apparently used indiscriminately in Luzon.
Ecology
Kibatalia species are found scattered in the canopy or subcanopy layer of lowland and lower montane, primary rain forest on well-drained places like slopes, sometimes along streams or in swamp forest, up to 500(-1200) m altitude. They are found on various soils including sandy soils, limestone and volcanic soils. Occasionally individual Kibatalia species are found in freshwater swamp forest and savannas.
Propagation and planting
Kibatalia can be raised from seed.
Harvesting
To obtain the exudate from Kibatalia, incisions in the bark are made.
Genetic resources and breeding
There are no records of Kibatalia species in seed or germplasm banks. Trees are fairly common in the forest and are incidentally grown in botanical gardens. Local utilization can be quite intensive, however, and may deplete particular populations.
Prospects
Very little information is available on the pharmacological properties of extracts and purified compounds from Kibatalia. More research on this subject will be needed to fully evaluate its potential.
Literature
- Bisset, N.G., 1988. Phytochemistry of Kibatalia. In: Leeuwenberg, A.J.M. Series of revisions of Apocynaceae. Part XXI. Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 87-5. pp. 55-58.
- Heyne, K., 1950. De nuttige planten van Indonesië [The useful plants of Indonesia]. 3rd Edition. W. van Hoeve, 's-Gravenhage, the Netherlands/Bandung, Indonesia. p. 1291
- Perry, L.M., 1980. Medicinal plants of East and Southeast Asia. Attributed properties and uses. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States & London, United Kingdom. p. 26
- Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the Philippines. Katha Publishing Co., Quezon City, the Philippines. p. 729.
- Rudjiman, 1998. Kibatalia G. Don. In: Sosef, M.S.M., Hong, L.T. & Prawirohatmodjo, S. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 5(3). Timber trees: Lesser-known timbers. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, the Netherlands. pp. 313-315.
- Rudjiman, 1987. A revision of Beaumontia Wallich, Kibatalia G. Don and Vallariopsis Woodson (Apocynaceae). Series of revisions of Apocynaceae XIX. Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 86-5. pp. 36-89.
Selection of species
Authors
- Rudjiman
