longjack

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Eurycoma longifolia, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Sapindaales and the family Simaroubaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic placement is defined by its membership in the genus Eurycoma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Eurycoma longifolia, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the Indo-China region. It is natively found within the tropical landscapes of Cambodia and Laos. Furthermore, its natural habitat extends into the territories of Myanmar and Thailand. The species also thrives throughout various parts of Vietnam. Consequently, its presence is well-established across these five distinct Southeast Asian nations.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Eurycoma longifolia is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its natural habitat over many years. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a growth form that enables it to compete effectively within its ecosystem. This phanerophyte classification is consistent across its developmental stages, as it maintains its structural integrity through robust, elevated branching patterns that define its long-term presence in the forest landscape.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Eurycoma longifolia is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a tree. This species typically reaches an average height of approximately 8 m. Regarding its growth habit and structural support, it is classified as a self-supporting plant rather than a climbing liana or vine. Furthermore, it is a terrestrial species, lacking the characteristics of an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Eurycoma longifolia is characterized by a metabolic framework utilizing the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and gas exchange mechanisms. As a C3 plant, it relies on the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco during the Calvin cycle, a process that typically occurs under moderate environmental conditions. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, instead relying on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Eurycoma longifolia is primarily driven by sexual processes facilitated by its flowering structure, though the mechanism of genetic exchange is strictly regulated. In terms of its mating system, self-fertilization is notably absent, indicating that the species relies on cross-pollination to maintain genetic diversity and avoid inbreeding depression. This absence of self-fertilization suggests that the plant requires external agents, such as insects or wind, to transfer pollen between different individual plants. The reproductive cycle involves the development of flowers that must undergo exogenous pollination to successfully produce seeds, ensuring a robust genetic recombination within the population.

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Eurycoma longifolia has 3 reported plant parts identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem, leaf.

Root

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
2. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology
3. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
4. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem

1. Journal of natural products
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Current drug targets

Leaf

1. Current drug targets
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Eurycoma longifolia has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Eurycomanone, 9-Hydroxycanthin-6-one, 9-Methoxycanthin-6-one, Eurycomalactone, Eurycomanol.

Eurycomanone

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
3. Planta medica
4. Heliyon
5. Pharmaceutical biology

9-Hydroxycanthin-6-one

1. Natural product research
2. Scientific reports
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. Drug testing and analysis

9-Methoxycanthin-6-one

1. Natural product research
2. Scientific reports
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. Drug testing and analysis

Eurycomalactone

1. Heliyon
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of natural products
4. Drug testing and analysis

Eurycomanol

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Microvascular research
3. Planta medica

Cortisol

1. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Eurycomalide C

1. Journal of natural products
2. Drug testing and analysis

longilactone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Drug testing and analysis

11-dehydroklaineanone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

14,15beta-dihydroxyklaineanone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Eurycoma longifolia has 20 reported activities identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Aphrodisiac, Anticancer, Antimalarial, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Aphrodisiac

1. Experimental animals
2. Archives of pharmacal research
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Pharmaceutical biology
5. Current drug targets

Anticancer

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
5. Current drug targets

Antimalarial

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
3. Current drug targets
4. Fitoterapia
5. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Antimicrobial

1. Progress in the chemistry of organic natural products
2. Current drug targets
3. Fitoterapia
4. Scientific reports

Antioxidant

1. Progress in the chemistry of organic natural products
2. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
3. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
4. Current drug targets

Cytotoxic

1. Progress in the chemistry of organic natural products
2. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
3. Tropical biomedicine
4. Journal of natural products

Antibacterial

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Current drug targets

Antidiabetic

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antifungal

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Current drug targets

Antiproliferative

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
2. Current drug targets

Medicinal Uses

Eurycoma longifolia has 64 reported medicinal uses identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include fever, malaria, cancer, anxiety, aphrodisiac.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations