Malunggay is the best vegetable
in the world. It contains all the vitamins, minerals, most amino acids and
anti-oxidants that we need every day.
• Malunggay studies show chemopreventive
potential against cancer
• Contains the anti-oxidant enzyme, glutathione (Bharali et al, 2003)
Malungay is a tree found throughout the Philippines, including Mt.
Banahaw. It is a common vegetable found in the market. They are a rich source
of calcium and iron. The leaves are purgative, and diuretic.
- As high as 9 m; has a soft, white wood and corky, gummy bark. Root
has the taste of horseradish. Each compound leaf contains 3-9 very thin
leaflets dispersed on a compound (3 times pinnate) stalk. Flowers white and
fragrant, producing long, pendulous, 9-ribbed pods. 3-angled winged seeds.
- Introduced from Malaya or some other part of tropical Asia in
prehistoric times. Grown throughout the Philippines in settled areas as a
backyard vegetable and as a border plant. Drought resistant and grows in
practically all kinds of well-drained soils. Conserves water by shedding leaves
during dry season.
- Propagation by seeds and stem cuttings.
Properties
- Galactagogue, rubefacient, antiscorbutic, diuretic, stimulant,
purgative.
Distribution
-Grown throughout the Philippines as a vegetable or border plant.
Parts utilized
-Flowers, leaves, young pods
Constituents
-Ben oil, 36% – palmitic, stearic, myristic, oleic, and behenic acids,
phytosterin; two alkaloids the mixture of which has the same action as
epinephrine.
Commercial Use
-Oil, known as ben oil, extracted from flowers can be used as
illuminant, ointment base, and absorbent in the enfleurage process of
extracting volatile oils from flowers. The oil, applied locally, has also been
helpful for arthritic pains, rheumatic and gouty joints.
-Nutritional
-Flowers, leaves and pods eaten as a vegetable.
-Source of calcium, iron, phosphorus and vitamins.
Medicinal Use
-Young leaves increases the flow of milk. Pods for intestinal
parasitism.
-Constipation: Leaves and fruit
-Decoction of boiled roots used to wash sores and ulcers.
-Decoction of the bark used for excitement, restlessness.
-Pounded roots used as poultice for inflammatory swelling.
-Juice of roots is used for otalgia.
-Decoction of roots is use as gargle for hoarseness and sore throat.
-Boiled leaves used to help increase lactation.
-Seeds for hypertension, gout, asthma, hiccups, and as a diuretic.
-Rheumatic complaints: Decoction of seeds; or, powdered roasted seeds
applied to affected area.
-Juice of the root with milk used for asthma, hiccups, gout, lumbago.
-Poultice of leaves applied for glandular
swelling.