Pithraj Tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Pithraj Tree
• Rohituka Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aglaia cochinchinensis
• Aphanamixis elmeri
• Amoora timorensis
• Aglaia aphanamixis var. frutescens
• Amoora perrottetiana
• Amoora grandifolia var. pubescens
• Amoora aphanamixis var. pubescens
• Amoora megalophylla var. frutescens
• Chuniodendron spicatum
• Aphanamixis cochinchinensis
• Trichilia tripetala
• Amoora beddomei
• Amoora amboinensis
• Aphanamixis perrottetiana
• Amoora myrmecophila
• Aphanamixis pinatubensis
• Amoora macrophylla
• Canarium vrieseo-teysmannii
• Amoora megalophylla
• Aphanamixis polillensis
• Amoora elmeri
• Amoora cumingiana
• Amoora grandifolia
• Amoora janowskyi
• Aphanamixis rohituka
• Amoora rohituka
• Aphanamixis cumingiana
• Amoora polillensis
• Amoora polystachya
• Amoora sogerensis
• Aphanamixis grandifolia
• Aglaia polystachya
• Aphanamixis lauterbachii
• Aglaia janowskyi
• Aphanamixis macrocalyx
• Aphanamixis myrmecophila
• Aglaia beddomei
• Aphanamixis schlechteri
• Andersonia rohituka
• Aphanamixis sinensis
• Ricinocarpodendron cumingianum
• Aphanamixis timorensis
• Ricinocarpodendron polystachyum
• Aphanamixis tripetala
• Chuniodendron yunnanense
• Aphanamixis amboinensis
• Aphanamixis coriacea
• Cabralea richardiana

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales. Finally, its taxonomic placement concludes within the family Meliaceae and the genus Aphanamixis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions. Within the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in Mauritius. Its presence in China is extensive, covering the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan regions. Additionally, the species is located in Eastern Asia, specifically within Taiwan. These diverse locations highlight the plant's wide natural range across different climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aphanamixis polystachya is characterized by its presence within specific altitudinal gradients, typically inhabiting forest environments ranging from a minimum elevation of 200 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 1300 m AMSL. This distribution suggests an adaptability to various subtropical and tropical montane ecosystems, where it can thrive in diverse moisture regimes and soil compositions found within these elevational bounds. Its ecological niche is defined by these specific topographical limits, which influence the climatic variables, such as temperature and precipitation patterns, to which the species is adapted.

Elevational range max:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Aphanamixis polystachya is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism, ensuring long-term survival within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically categorized under both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte growth forms depending on its developmental stage and environmental conditions. Its foliage is consistently evergreen, providing a continuous canopy and stable metabolic activity throughout the year without the seasonal shedding of leaves.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aphanamixis polystachya is characterized by a large, woody growth form, specifically functioning as a self-supporting tree. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, functioning as a non-parasitic organism. In terms of stature, the plant reaches significant dimensions, with a recorded plant height ranging from a minimum of 20 m to a mean height of approximately 25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aphanamixis polystachya is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying environmental conditions. In terms of its structural composition, the plant exhibits a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 730 mg/cm³, reflecting its internal tissue density and structural integrity. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic biological mechanisms required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on available soil nutrients for its nitrogen requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

730 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Aphanamixis polysachya is characterized by the development of fleshy fruits that serve as the primary vessel for seed dispersal. These fruits are noted for their fleshy texture upon maturity, which plays a critical role in the plant's reproductive cycle. Within these fleshy fruits, the seeds exhibit specific volumetric dimensions, ranging from a minimum volume of 920 mm³ to a maximum volume of 1000 mm³. The average seed volume recorded for this species is approximately 966.67 mm³, representing a consistent size profile for the seeds produced during the reproductive phase.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed volume max:

1000 mm³

Seed volume mean:

966.666666666667 mm³

Seed volume min:

920 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aphanamixis polystachya has 4 reported plant parts identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf, fruit, root.

Stem

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Magnetic resonance in chemistry : MRC
5. Breast cancer research and treatment

Leaf

1. Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Fruit

1. Fitoterapia

Root

1. Organic letters

Chemicals

Aphanamixis polystachya has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Amooranin, 25-hydroxy-3-oxoolean-12-en-28-oic acid, 3-oxo-24,25,26,27-tetranortirucall-7-ene-23(21)-lactone, 6beta,7beta-Epoxy-4beta,5-dihydroxyguaiane, 6beta,7beta-Epoxyguai-4-en-3-one.

Amooranin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Breast cancer research and treatment
3. Molecular carcinogenesis

25-hydroxy-3-oxoolean-12-en-28-oic acid

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

3-oxo-24,25,26,27-tetranortirucall-7-ene-23(21)-lactone

1. Phytochemistry

6beta,7beta-Epoxy-4beta,5-dihydroxyguaiane

1. Phytochemistry

6beta,7beta-Epoxyguai-4-en-3-one

1. Phytochemistry

Catechin hydrate

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Epicatechin

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

MOMBASOL

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

SYRINGIC ACID

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

caffeic acid

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Activities

Aphanamixis polystachya has 2 reported activities identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Inflammatory.

Cytotoxic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Inflammatory

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Conditions

Aphanamixis polystachya has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress.

Fibrosis

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Inflammation

1. Fitoterapia

Oxidative stress

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Preparations

Aphanamixis polystachya has 11 reported preparations identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include stem bark, extracts, stem barks, Extracts, crude ethanolic extract of the leaf.

Stem bark

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Fitoterapia
4. Molecular carcinogenesis

Extracts

1. Medicinal chemistry (Shariqah (United Arab Emirates))
2. International journal of oncology

Stem barks

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Phytochemistry

Extracts

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Crude ethanolic extract of the leaf

1. Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition

Ethanol extract

1. Magnetic resonance in chemistry : MRC

Ethyl acetate (ea) extract

1. Scientific reports

Juices

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Medicinal preparation

1. Breast cancer research and treatment

Petroleum ether extract of the stem bark

1. Phytochemistry