Parkia speciosa
Bitter bean
Parkia speciosa, commonly known as bitter bean or petai, is a tropical legume native to Southeast Asia. Renowned for its pungent aroma and unique flavor, this plant is a dietary staple in many cultures. Beyond its culinary uses, it offers significant nutritional value and various traditional medicinal properties.
- Scientific name: Parkia speciosa
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
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 placed in the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Parkia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Parkia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Parkia speciosa, is widely recognized across various regions under several common names. In Chinese-speaking communities, it is referred to as 臭豆 in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans, zh-cn), Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), Cantonese (zh-hk), and in Singapore (zh-sg).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 臭豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 臭豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 臭豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 臭豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 臭豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 臭豆 | Wikidata |
| jv | Peté | Wikidata |
| pl | parkia wspaniała | Wikidata |
| su | Peuteuy | Wikidata |
| ru | Паркия красивая | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions in Southeast Asia. Within the Indo-China region, its presence is specifically noted in Thailand. Moving into the Malesia zone, it can be found throughout the island of Borneo. Its habitat also extends to Jawa and the Malay Peninsula. Finally, the species is distributed across the Philippine archipelago.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indo-China | Thailand | WCVP |
| Malesia | Borneo | WCVP |
| Malesia | Jawa | WCVP |
| Malesia | Malaya | WCVP |
| Malesia | Philippines | WCVP |
| Malesia | Sumatera | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as bitter bean or petai, utilizes various components for its medicinal and nutritional value. The most widely recognized part is the seeds, which are harvested from mature fruit and are known for their distinct pungent aroma and therapeutic properties. These seeds are contained within long, green, flattened pods that serve as the primary vessel for the edible kernels. Additionally, the roots of the Parkia speciosa are often utilized in traditional medicine, where they are processed to extract compounds believed to assist in treating various ailments.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pods | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Parkia speciosa has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,2,4-trithiolane, Se, acetaldehyde, ethanol, hydrogen sulphide.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1,2,4-trithiolane | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Se | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acetaldehyde | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hydrogen sulphide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lectin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stigmasterol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Parkia speciosa has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihypertensive, Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Parkia speciosa has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hypertension, conjunctivitis, cough, diarrhea, measles.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| hypertension | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| conjunctivitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cough | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| measles | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wounds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |