Review Article | Volume: 7, Issue: 2, February, 2017

Ulam herbs: A review on the medicinal properties of Anacardium occidentale and Barringtonia racemosa

Eric Wei Chiang Chan,  Shigeyuki Baba,  Hung Tuck Chan,  Mami Kainuma,  Tomomi Inoue,  Siu Kuin Wong   
Eric Wei Chiang Chan1, Shigeyuki Baba2, Hung Tuck Chan2, Mami Kainuma2, Tomomi Inoue3, Siu Kuin Wong4

1Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

2Secretariat, International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, c/o Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0129, Japan.

3Centre for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-0053, Japan.

4School of Science, Monash University Sunway, Petaling Jaya 46150, Selangor, Malaysia.

Open Access   

Published:  Feb 27, 2017

DOI: 10.7324/JAPS.2017.70235
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Abstract

In Southeast Asia, the young leaves of ulam herbs are consumed raw as condiment. The regular intake of ulam is believed to assist in preventing degenerative diseases, delaying aging and improving overall health. In this review, the current knowledge on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of two ulam herbs of Anacardium occidentale (cashew) and Barringtonia racemosa (putat) is updated with some description of their botany and uses. Flavonoids and phenolic acids are the major metabolites of leaves in both species. Leaves of A. occidentale possess antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-tyrosinase and anti-quorum sensing activities. Methyl gallate isolated from cashew leaves showed potent anti-quorum sensing properties. Other pharmacological properties of cashew leaves include cytotoxic, hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, anti-cholesterolemic, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-hypertensive, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. These bioactivities affirm that cashew leaves have medicinal values, and confer their traditional uses as food and medicine. For B. racemosa, only pharmacological properties of antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities have been reported in the leaves unlike other plant parts that have many more bioactivities. However, excessive consumption of these two ulam herbs may be detrimental to human health due to their toxic effects.


Keyword:     Ulam herbs cashew common putat phytochemistry pharmacology.

Citation:

Chan EWC, Baba S, Chan HT, Kainuma M, Inoue T, Wong SK. Ulam herbs: A review on the medicinal properties of Anacardium occidentale and Barringtonia racemosa. J App Pharm Sci, 2017; 7 (02): 241-247.

Copyright:The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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