Maphuut

Garcinia dulcis · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Sparse (20 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆

Maphuut, scientifically known as Garcinia dulcis, is a versatile tropical fruit tree native to Southeast Asia. Renowned for its unique, tangy flavor, this plant offers significant medicinal value. Its various parts are traditionally utilized in herbal remedies to treat ailments, highlighting its importance in both gastronomy and traditional pharmacology.

Family
Clusiaceae
Native range
Asia-Tropical
Parts used
Fruit · Leaf
Common names
Claudie Mangosteen · Eggtree · 1 more
Scientific synonyms
Stalagmitis Javanensis · Stalagmitis Dulcis · 7 more

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Garcinia dulcis

Synonyms

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Malpighiales and falls under the family Clusiaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Garcinia.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Malpighiales
Family Clusiaceae
Genus Garcinia

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions of Asia. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be specifically found in the state of Assam. Its range extends into the Indo-China region, where it is native to the Andaman Islands. Furthermore, the species is well-established in the mainland territories of Cambodia and Laos. Finally, its presence is also recorded throughout Myanmar, completing its regional spread.

Region Area
Indian Subcontinent Assam
Indo-China Andaman Is.
Indo-China Cambodia
Indo-China Laos
Indo-China Myanmar
Indo-China Nicobar Is.
Indo-China Thailand
Indo-China Vietnam
Malesia Borneo
Malesia Jawa

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Garcinia dulcis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist and maintain its biological functions over many years. Throughout its growth stages, it exhibits an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains lush and functional across various seasons without the shedding of leaves typical of deciduous species.

Deciduousness :
evergreen
Lifecycle :
perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Garcinia dulcis is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a tree that can reach an average height of approximately 15 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant is an independent organism, lacking any parasitic lifestyle, and is classified as a self-supporting structure rather than a liana, vine, or other type of climber.

Aquatic :
terrestrial
Climber :
self-supporting
Epiphyte :
terrestrial
Growth form :
tree
Parasite :
independent
Plant height mean:
15 m
Woodiness :
woody

Physiology

The physiology of Garcinia dulcis is characterized by its specific metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism where carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the initial stage of the Calvin cycle, which is typical for most woody tropical species. Regarding its nitrogen metabolism, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :
no
Photosynthetic pathway :
C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Garcinia dulcis is centered around the development of its specialized fruit and seed structures. The plant produces fruits characterized by a specific texture, ranging from dry to fleshy in consistency. Within these fruits, the reproductive cycle relies on seeds that exhibit a highly consistent size profile. Quantitative analysis of the seeds reveals a precise volume, with a minimum, maximum, and mean value all measured at exactly 45 mm³. This uniformity in seed volume suggests a stable developmental process during the maturation of the fruit, ensuring that each seed contains the necessary resources for subsequent germination.

Fruit dryness :
fleshy
Seed volume max:
45 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Garcinia dulcis has 4 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, seed, stem.

Plant parts reported in Garcinia dulcis
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Fruit 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Leaf 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Seed 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Stem 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Fruit

  1. PeerJ
  2. Nutrients

Leaf

  1. Journal of natural products

Seed

  1. Natural product research

Stem

  1. The Journal of toxicological sciences

Chemicals

Garcinia dulcis has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Morelloflavone, 1,3,6-trihydroxy-2-(2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-7-methoxy-8-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)xanthone, Garcinol.

Chemicals reported in Garcinia dulcis
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
Morelloflavone 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
1,3,6-trihydroxy-2-(2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-7-methoxy-8-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)xanthone 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Garcinol 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Morelloflavone

  1. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology
  2. Biochimica et biophysica acta

1,3,6-trihydroxy-2-(2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-7-methoxy-8-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)xanthone

  1. Natural product research

Garcinol

  1. Nutrients

Activities

Garcinia dulcis has 3 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic.

Activities reported in Garcinia dulcis
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Antioxidant 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antibacterial 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antidiabetic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antioxidant

  1. PeerJ
  2. The Journal of toxicological sciences

Antibacterial

  1. Natural product research

Antidiabetic

  1. PeerJ

Conditions

Garcinia dulcis has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include anti-malarial, cough, parotitis, scurvy, sore throat.

Conditions investigated for Garcinia dulcis
Condition Supporting sources Consensus
Anti-malarial 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cough 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Parotitis 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Scurvy 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Sore throat 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Anti-malarial

  1. Natural product communications

Cough

  1. Natural product communications

Parotitis

  1. Natural product communications

Scurvy

  1. Natural product communications

Sore throat

  1. Natural product communications

Preparations

Garcinia dulcis has 6 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Garcinol Extracted from Garcinia dulcis, bark extract, garcinol isolated from Garcinia dulcis fruit, leaves, methanolic crude extracts.

Preparations reported for Garcinia dulcis
Preparation Supporting sources Consensus
Garcinol extracted from garcinia dulcis 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Bark extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Garcinol isolated from garcinia dulcis fruit 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Leaves 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Methanolic crude extracts 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Petroleum ether extract of stem bark 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Garcinol extracted from garcinia dulcis

  1. Nutrients

Bark extract

  1. The Journal of toxicological sciences

Garcinol isolated from garcinia dulcis fruit

  1. Nutrients

Leaves

  1. Journal of natural products

Methanolic crude extracts

  1. PeerJ

Petroleum ether extract of stem bark

  1. The Journal of toxicological sciences