Madhuca

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• moatree
• mowra-buttertree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vidoricum longifolium

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 Ericales, it is classified under the family Sapotaceae. Its scientific designation is finalized within the genus Madhuca, where it is known as Madhuca longifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across the diverse landscapes of the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing naturally within the borders of India, where it thrives in various habitats. The species also has a notable presence in the country of Bangladesh. Additionally, its geographical range extends into the hilly terrains of Nepal. Finally, this medicinal plant is also documented to occur in Sri Lanka.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Madhuca longifolia is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically as a tree with its buds protected above the soil surface. This life form is further categorized under the phanerophyte classification, reflecting its woody, upright growth habit. Throughout its seasonal cycles, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its physiological adaptation to environmental changes.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Madhuca longifolia is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, which can reach an average plant height of approximately 16 m. As a strictly terrestrial organism, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies, functioning instead as an independent plant rather than a parasite or an obligate/facultative epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting in its structure, lacking the climbing mechanisms associated with vines or lianas, and maintains a consistent woody constitution throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

16 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Madhuca longifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for most woody dicotyledonous trees, allowing the plant to fix carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle under standard environmental conditions. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, this species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules or biological mechanisms required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, instead relying on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Madhuca longifolia is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, with bats playing a primary role in the pollination process. The plant produces fleshy fruits, which serve as a key component of its reproductive strategy. The seeds produced are relatively substantial, exhibiting a mean seed mass of approximately 2.17 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 1 g to a maximum of 3.5 g. Furthermore, the seeds maintain a consistent volume throughout their development, with a recorded maximum, minimum, and mean volume of 2100 mm³.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

bat

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

3.5 g

Seed mass mean:

2.16658333325 g

Seed mass min:

1 g

Seed volume max:

2100 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Madhuca longifolia has 2 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 leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Molecular biology reports
2. Natural product research
3. Pharmacological reports : PR
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flower

1. Journal of food science and technology

Chemicals

Madhuca longifolia has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Myricitrin, ascorbic acid, quercetin, Bassiaic acid, Flavonoids.

Myricitrin

1. Molecular biology reports
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ascorbic acid

1. Journal of food science and technology
2. Cell biochemistry and biophysics

quercetin

1. Journal of food science and technology
2. Cell biochemistry and biophysics

Bassiaic acid

1. Cell biochemistry and biophysics

Flavonoids

1. RSC advances

Gallic acid

1. Journal of food science and technology

Hirsutrin

1. Natural product research

Isoorientin

1. Natural product research

Lupeol

1. Journal of AOAC International

RUTIN

1. Journal of food science and technology

Activities

Madhuca longifolia has 7 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antidepressant, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Galactagogue.

Anticancer

1. Molecular biology reports
2. RSC advances

Antidepressant

1. Journal of food science and technology

Antimicrobial

1. Cell biochemistry and biophysics

Antioxidant

1. RSC advances

Galactagogue

1. Journal of food science and technology

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of food science and technology

Tonic

1. Journal of food science and technology

Conditions

Madhuca longifolia has 14 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, Dental caries, Liver cancer, Streptococcus mutans, breast cancer.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Cell biochemistry and biophysics

Dental caries

1. Journal of dentistry (Tehran, Iran)

Liver cancer

1. RSC advances

Streptococcus mutans

1. Cureus

Breast cancer

1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

Dental caries

1. Cureus

Fever

1. Journal of food science and technology

Heart diseases

1. Journal of food science and technology

Hepatic cancer

1. RSC advances

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. RSC advances

Preparations

Madhuca longifolia has 10 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Madhuca longifolia embedded silver nanoparticles, Madhuca longifolia extract, Madhuca longifolia saponin, Methanolic Extract of Bark, ethanolic and methonolic leaf extract.

Madhuca longifolia embedded silver nanoparticles

1. RSC advances

Madhuca longifolia extract

1. RSC advances

Madhuca longifolia saponin

1. Journal of dentistry (Tehran, Iran)

Methanolic extract of bark

1. Journal of AOAC International

Ethanolic and methonolic leaf extract

1. Pharmacological reports : PR

Ethanolic leaf extracts

1. Pharmacological reports : PR

Leaf

1. Natural product research

Methanolic leaf extracts

1. Pharmacological reports : PR

Saponins

1. Journal of dentistry (Tehran, Iran)

Stem extract

1. Cureus