Mulukhiyah

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Tossa Jute
• Indian Jute
• Jew's-mallow
• Nalta jute
• Jute

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Corchorus olitorius var. malchairii
• Corchorus olitorius var. incisifolius
• Corchorus quinquelocularis
• Corchorus olitorius var. grandifolius
• Corchorus olitorius var. australiensis
• Corchorus malchairii
• Corchorus catharticus
• Corchorus decemangularis
• Corchorus longicarpus
• Corchorus lanceolatus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malvales, it is classified under the family Malvaceae and the genus Corchorus. This taxonomic hierarchy identifies Corchorus olitorius as a member of a diverse group of flowering plants.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Corchorus olitorius, exhibits a specific presence across several regions in Northern Africa. Within this part of the continent, it can be found growing in the country of Algeria. Its distribution also extends through the territory of Egypt, where it thrives in suitable climates. Furthermore, the species is documented within the borders of Libya and Morocco. Finally, its geographical range in this region is completed by its presence in Tunisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Corchorus olitorius is characterized by its presence in diverse environments, specifically thriving within the Cerrado (latu sensu) and the Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial) habitats. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying a vertical range that begins at an elevation of 45 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1600 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

45 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Corchorus olitorius is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from germination to seed production and senescence—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its biological strategy relies on surviving unfavorable periods in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until environmental conditions become optimal for rapid growth. This life form enables the plant to exploit ephemeral resources efficiently, ensuring that the next generation is established before the onset of seasonal stress.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Corchorus olitorius is characterized by its growth form as a woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, nor does it act as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior. The plant's stature varies significantly depending on environmental conditions, with a minimum height of 0.4 m, a mean height of 2 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Corchorus olitorius is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Morphologically, the plant exhibits specific leaf dimensions essential to its physiological function, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. The leaf width also fluctuates within a defined range, measuring as little as 1 cm at its minimum and extending up to 4.5 cm at its maximum. Furthermore, in terms of nutrient cycling and soil interaction, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on available soil nitrates rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Corchorus olitorius is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects, which facilitates the fertilization process. The plant is capable of self-fertilization, ensuring reproductive success under various environmental conditions. The flowering period typically commences in February and concludes in May, though the timing can be variable. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules exhibit significant morphological variation, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, and an average length of approximately 5.5 cm. The fruits are dehiscence-based, meaning they split open to release their contents. The seeds produced are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.001558462 g, falling within a range between a minimum of 0.00125 g and a maximum of 0.0023 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

May

Fruit length max:

8 cm

Fruit length mean:

5.5 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.0023 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001558462 g

Seed mass min:

0.00125 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Corchorus olitorius 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 leaf, seed, stem, root.

Leaf

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Heliyon
3. International journal of food sciences and nutrition
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Seed

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. BMC microbiology

Stem

1. Heliyon
2. Scientific reports

Root

1. Heliyon

Chemicals

Corchorus olitorius has 84 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, ascorbic acid, (6S,9R)-roseoside, ACETYL GROUP, Ash.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Scientific reports

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

(6S,9R)-roseoside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

ACETYL GROUP

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Astragalin

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Behenic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Betulalbuside A

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Carotenoids

1. Scientific reports

Activities

Corchorus olitorius has 374 reported activities identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitumor, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticonvulsant.

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticonvulsant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiobesity

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Corchorus olitorius has 13 reported investigations on conditions identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include fever, pain, body weight, cold, hepatocellular carcinoma.

Fever

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Body weight

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cold

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Histamine release

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Infertility

1. BMC research notes

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Obesity

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Oxidative stress

1. BMC research notes

Preparations

Corchorus olitorius has 10 reported preparations identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include C.O., Corchorus olitorius leaf extract, buccoadhesive fast dissolving film, crude extract, ethanolic extract.

C.o.

1. Scientific reports

Corchorus olitorius leaf extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Buccoadhesive fast dissolving film

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Crude extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethanolic extract

1. Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology

Fixed oil

1. Scientific reports

Methanol extracts

1. BMC research notes

Plant oil

1. Scientific reports

Ultrasound-assisted extraction

1. Heliyon

Water-soluble mucilage extracted from dried leaves

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry