Artocarpus macrocrapon

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• jack
• jak
• Jakfruit

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Artocarpus integrifolius var. heterophyllus
• Artocarpus grandis
• Polyphema jaca
• Saccus heterophyllus
• Artocarpus maximus
• Artocarpus philippensis
• Artocarpus brasiliensis
• Artocarpus integrifolius var. glaber

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Artocarpus heterophyllus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Rosalales, it is a member of the family Moraceae. It is further categorized under the genus Artocarpus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several tropical regions. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in both Gambia and Guinea. Moving toward the center of the continent, it can be found throughout West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically in Cameroon and the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Additionally, its range extends across the ocean to the Western Indian Ocean. Within this maritime region, the species is specifically documented in the Comoros.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Artocarpus heterophyllus is characterized by a broad adaptive capacity across diverse environmental settings, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 1500 m AMSL. This species exhibits significant ecological versatility, thriving in a variety of distinct biomes and landscapes, including Anthropic Areas (Área Antrópica), Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forests (Floresta Estacional Semi-decidua), and Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila), which encompasses both Pluvial and Mixed Ombrophilous types. Additionally, it is found within the Amazonian Savanna (Savana Amazônica), demonstrating its ability to persist in both dense, high-moisture forest ecosystems and more open, transitional vegetation structures.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Ombrófila Mista, Savana Amazônica

Life history

The life history of Artocarpus heterophyllus is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring a long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, a life form that allows it to dominate the forest canopy. It exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage throughout the year to facilitate continuous metabolic activity and growth. Through these biological traits, the species establishes a robust and enduring structural presence in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Artocarpus heterophyllus is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically categorized as a large tree. As a terrestrial species, it exists independently of other organisms, functioning as an independent plant rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting and does not exhibit climbing habits such as lianas or vines. In terms of stature, it reaches significant dimensions, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 10 m to a maximum of 20 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Artocarpus heterophyllus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic approach to carbon fixation. The plant's vegetative structure exhibits specific morphological dimensions, with leaves typically reaching a mean length of 11 cm (ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 15 cm) and a mean width of 5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 7 cm). These leaves possess a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 94.6 cm²/g and do not exhibit succulence, indicating a standard leaf architecture optimized for its environment. Structurally, the plant maintains a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of approximately 512.67 mg/cm³. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying on soil nutrient availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen fixation for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

11 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

94.6 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

512.666666666667 mg/cm³

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Artocarpus heterophyllus is characterized by a complex cycle involving specific inflorescence and fruit development traits. The flowering process involves inflorescences that are relatively small, ranging in length from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.07 m, which are primarily serviced by an insect pollination syndrome. Following successful pollination, the plant develops massive, fleshy fruits. These fruits exhibit significant size variation, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 300 cm to a mean of 200 cm and reaching a maximum of 100 cm (noting the specified data range). Within these fleshy fruits, the seeds serve as the primary reproductive units, displaying a mean mass of approximately 10.06 g, with individual seeds weighing between 5 g and 16.67 g. The seeds also vary in volume, ranging from a minimum of 150 mm³ to a mean of 4125 mm³, reaching a maximum volume of 8100 mm³. Dispersal of the species is facilitated through an anthropochorous syndrome, where human activity plays a significant role in the movement and distribution of its seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

100 cm

Fruit length mean:

200 cm

Fruit length min:

300 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.07 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.02 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Seed mass max:

16.6665 g

Seed mass mean:

10.06216667 g

Seed mass min:

5 g

Seed volume max:

8100 mm³

Seed volume mean:

4125 mm³

Seed volume min:

150 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Artocarpus heterophyllus has 5 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, root, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Bioorganic chemistry
4. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Fruit

1. Environmental monitoring and assessment
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Natural product research

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Fitoterapia

Seed

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Stem

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Chemicals

Artocarpus heterophyllus has 47 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, artocarpanone, ascorbic acid, 1,4-dibutyl benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate, 3-prenyl luteolin.

Flavonoids

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Anti-cancer drugs
3. Fitoterapia

artocarpanone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental monitoring and assessment

1,4-dibutyl benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate

1. Food science & nutrition

3-prenyl luteolin

1. Fitoterapia

5,7,2',4'-tetrahydroxy-6-isoprenylflavone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ARTOCARPIN

1. Dr. Duke

Artoflavanone

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Artocarpus heterophyllus has 355 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiproliferative, Antioxidant, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, Acidulant.

Antiproliferative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current pharmaceutical design
3. Bioorganic chemistry

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current pharmaceutical design

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Artocarpus heterophyllus has 13 reported medicinal uses identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, HIV-1, Streptobacillus, air pollution, alpha-amylase.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations