Siamese rough bush

Streblus asper · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Sparse (87 studies) · ★★☆☆☆

Siamese rough bush, scientifically known as Streblus asper, is a versatile evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. Renowned in traditional medicine, its leaves, bark, and roots possess potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. It is frequently utilized to treat skin ailments, digestive issues, and various inflammatory conditions naturally.

Family
Moraceae
Native range
Asia-Temperate
Parts used
Leaf · Flower
Common names
Siamese Rough Bush
Scientific synonyms
Vanieria Crenata · Epicarpurus Asper · 13 more

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Streblus asper

Synonyms

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Rosales and placed in the family Moraceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by its membership in the genus Streblus.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Rosales
Family Moraceae
Genus Streblus

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical range across several distinct regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its distribution extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically covering the state of Assam. Additionally, the species is documented to grow within the borders of Bangladesh. These various locations highlight the diverse habitats where the plant naturally thrives.

Region Area
China China South-Central
China Hainan
China China Southeast
Indian Subcontinent Assam
Indian Subcontinent Bangladesh
Indian Subcontinent East Himalaya
Indian Subcontinent India
Indian Subcontinent Nepal
Indian Subcontinent Pakistan
Indian Subcontinent Sri Lanka

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Streblus asper is characterized by its specific distribution across varying altitudinal gradients, typically thriving in mid-range tropical or subtropical environments. This species is found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 200 m AMSL to a maximum of 950 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 575 m AMSL. This altitudinal profile suggests that the plant is well-adapted to specific thermal and moisture regimes associated with lowland to sub-montane forest ecosystems, where it occupies niche habitats defined by these topographical constraints.

Elevational range max:
950 m AMSL
Elevational range mean:
575 m AMSL
Elevational range min:
200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Streblus asper is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its natural ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody structures, specifically categorized under both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms depending on its developmental stage and environmental conditions. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage throughout the year to facilitate continuous metabolic activity. Through its perennial lifecycle and robust phanerophyte growth habit, the plant establishes a stable and enduring biological presence.

Deciduousness :
evergreen
Life form :
phanerophyte
Lifecycle :
perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Streblus asper is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber or a vine, and it exists as an independent species without parasitic tendencies. In terms of its physical stature, the plant typically reaches a height with a mean value of 13.5 m, although recorded maximum heights can reach up to 10 m depending on specific environmental conditions and growth stages.

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

Physiology

The physiology of Streblus asper is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and energy conversion efficiency. The plant's vegetative morphology, particularly regarding its leaf dimensions, reflects specific physiological growth patterns; the leaves exhibit a mean length of 4.25 cm, with sizes ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 6 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3.5 cm, maintaining a mean width of 2.75 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen availability rather than symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation to support its metabolic requirements.

Leaf length max:
6 cm
Leaf length mean:
4.25 cm
Leaf length min:
2.5 cm
Leaf width max:
3.5 cm
Leaf width mean:
2.75 cm
Leaf width min:
2 cm
Nitrogen fixer :
no
Photosynthetic pathway :
C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Streblus asper has 3 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, fruit.

Plant parts reported in Streblus asper
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Leaf 9 supporting sources ★★★★☆
Flower 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Fruit 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Leaf

  1. Pharmacognosy magazine
  2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
  3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
  4. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences
  5. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
View 4 additional sources
  1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
  2. Pharmaceutical biology
  3. Microbial pathogenesis
  4. Parasitology international

Flower

  1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

Fruit

  1. PeerJ

Chemicals

Streblus asper has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Strebloside, Fatty acids, triterpenoids, ACID, Betulin.

Chemicals reported in Streblus asper
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
(+)-Strebloside 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Fatty acids 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
triterpenoids 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
ACID 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Betulin 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Diterpene 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Flavonoid 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Flavonoids 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Glucostrebloside 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Glycosides 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

(+)-Strebloside

  1. Journal of natural products
  2. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

Fatty acids

  1. Pharmacognosy magazine
  2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

triterpenoids

  1. Pharmacognosy magazine
  2. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM

ACID

  1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Betulin

  1. Dr. Duke

Diterpene

  1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Flavonoid

  1. PeerJ

Flavonoids

  1. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM

Glucostrebloside

  1. Bioorganic chemistry

Glycosides

  1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Activities

Streblus asper has 16 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticarcinomic.

Activities reported in Streblus asper
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Antioxidant 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Cytotoxic 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
AntiHIV 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antibacterial 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Anticarcinomic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antidiabetic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antifeedant 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiflu 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiinflammatory 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antitumor 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antioxidant

  1. PeerJ
  2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
  3. Pharmaceutical biology

Cytotoxic

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

AntiHIV

  1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

  1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Anticarcinomic

  1. Dr. Duke

Antidiabetic

  1. PeerJ

Antifeedant

  1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

  1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

  1. Dr. Duke

Antitumor

  1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Streblus asper has 16 reported medicinal uses identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Plasmodium falciparum, Salmonella paratyphi, dental caries.

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Consensus
cancer Pharmacognosy magazine (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Alzheimer's disease Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Plasmodium falciparum Parasitology international (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Salmonella paratyphi Microbial pathogenesis (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
dental caries Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
dental plaque Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
diarrhea Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
dysentery Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
edema Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
elephantiasis Pharmacognosy magazine (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Preparations

Preparations Sources Consensus
SA extract Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
SA leaf extract Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Streblus asper leaf ethanolic extract Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Streblus asper leaf extract Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
aqueous Microbial pathogenesis (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
aqueous extracts Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
crude extracts Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
ethanolic leaf extracts Parasitology international (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
ethyl acetate Microbial pathogenesis (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
medicinal plant extracts Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆