Java brucea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Java brucea
• Macassar kernels

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lussa amarissima
• Tetradium amarissimum
• Brucea amarissima
• Rhus bucku-amela
• Rhus fastuosa
• Rhus bucki-amela
• Rhus javanica
• Brucea sumatrana
• Gonus amarissimus
• Brucea sumatrensis
• Brucea sumatrana var. cambodiana
• Brucea glabrata

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. Further taxonomic descent places it in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales. It is a member of the family Simaroubaceae and is specifically identified under the genus Brucea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several major regions. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically within the DR Congo. Its presence extends into Central Asia, where it is documented in both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Within China, the species is located in the South-Central regions as well as on the island of Hainan. These varied locations highlight the broad environmental adaptability of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Brucea javanica is characterized by its ability to thrive within specific altitudinal gradients and diverse landscape settings. This species is typically found inhabiting areas such as gardens and along roadsides, demonstrating a degree of adaptability to human-disturbed environments. Its distribution is vertically constrained, with a recorded elevational range that spans from a minimum of 950 m AMSL to a maximum of 2400 m AMSL. On average, the plant is most commonly situated at a mean elevation of 975 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for lower-to-mid altitude montane or subtropical zones within its ecological niche.

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

975 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

950 m AMSL

Habitat :

garden,roadsides

Life history

The life history of Brucea javanica is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons within its natural habitat. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it is categorized as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting the traits of both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte, which indicates that its perennating buds are located high above the ground on aerial shoots. This growth form enables the plant to maintain a robust presence in its ecosystem over an extended period.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Brucea javanica is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which typically attains a height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 10 meters, with a mean height of approximately 10 meters. As a terrestrial organism, it lives in non-aquatic environments and functions as an independent species rather than a parasite. The plant is a self-supporting structure, meaning it does not exhibit climbing behaviors such as being a vine or liana, and it maintains a strictly terrestrial existence without acting as an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Brucea javanica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative architecture is supported by leaves that exhibit significant morphological variation; the leaf length typically maintains a mean of 30 cm, though it can range from a minimum of 20 cm to a maximum of 40 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 5 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition and symbiotic capabilities, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-based nitrogen uptake rather than biological nitrogen fixation through symbiotic relationships.

Leaf length max:

40 cm

Leaf length mean:

30 cm

Leaf length min:

20 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Brucea javanica is characterized by a specific seasonal and biological cycle involving biotic interactions. The flowering period is concentrated around August, serving as both the start and end of the flowering season. The flowers are relatively minute, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.15 cm to a maximum of 0.2 cm. In terms of pollination, the plant utilizes a biotic syndrome, specifically relying on insects for the transfer of pollen. Successful fertilization is dependent on these external agents, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. Following pollination, the plant develops fruits that vary in size, typically measuring between 0.6 cm and 0.8 cm in length, with an average length of 0.7 cm. The width of these fruits ranges from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.6 cm, with a mean width of 0.5 cm. Once the fruit is mature, the dispersal syndrome is zoochorous, meaning the seeds are dispersed via animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower length max:

0.2 cm

Flower length min:

0.15 cm

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.7 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.5 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Brucea javanica has 5 reported plant parts identified across 33 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, seed, leaf, root, stem.

Fruit

1. The Journal of veterinary medical science
2. Journal of natural products
3. Planta medica
4. Natural product research
5. Veterinary parasitology

Seed

1. Journal of natural products
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Archives of pharmacal research
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry

Leaf

1. Natural product research
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
4. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
5. Fitoterapia

Root

1. Natural product research
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
4. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Fitoterapia

Stem

1. Natural product research
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Fitoterapia
4. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Brucea javanica has 72 reported phytochemicals identified across 33 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Brusatol, Bruceine D, BRUCEANTINOL, Bruceine A, Bruceine B.

Brusatol

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of natural products
3. Veterinary parasitology
4. Phytochemistry
5. Biochemical pharmacology

Bruceine D

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Archives of pharmacal research
5. Journal of chemical ecology

BRUCEANTINOL

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of natural products
3. Veterinary parasitology

Bruceine A

1. The Journal of veterinary medical science
2. Journal of natural products
3. Veterinary parasitology

Bruceine B

1. ACS pharmacology & translational science
2. Veterinary parasitology
3. Archives of pharmacal research

Bruceantinoside A

1. Journal of natural products
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Bruceoside A

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Planta medica

Bruceoside B

1. Phytochemistry
2. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Canthin-6-one

1. Fitoterapia
2. Data in brief

Cleomiscosin A

1. Phytochemistry
2. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Activities

Brucea javanica has 6 reported activities identified across 33 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Anticancer, Antitumor, Antiplasmodial, Antiprotozoal.

Antimalarial

1. Planta medica
2. International journal of nanomedicine
3. The Journal of veterinary medical science
4. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Anticancer

1. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antitumor

1. Archives of pharmacal research
2. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Antiplasmodial

1. Parasitology international

Antiprotozoal

1. Poultry science

Chemopreventive

1. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin

Medicinal Uses

Brucea javanica has 33 reported medicinal uses identified across 33 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, cancer, dysentery, fever, inflammation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations