| Gen
info
Canarium belongs to
the family Burseraceae with 75 known genera and about 550 species.
Of the canarium species, there are
75 known and nine of which are found in the Philippines, with at least
four of econimic importance: Canarium ovatum
(Pili),
C. indicum, C. album, and C. luzonicum (Sahing,Manila
elemi).
Resin called elemi is obtained from
members of the family Bursecraceae, particularly Canarium, Dacryodes,
and Protium. As with other resins grouped as balsams, elemis are more
viscous than oleoresins, semisolid, and very fragrant. Its soft and
malleable nature comes from its liquid sesquiterpenes.The resin is primarily
from volatile sesquiterpenes and non-volatile triterpenes.
Although "elemi" used to be generically applied to a large
number of oleoresins, it is now used to describe Manila elemi, from
Canarium luzonicum, one of the best known and single largest source
of the world's supply of elemi. Manila elemi is a soft and fragrant
oleoresin, oily, paie yellow to greenish, of honey consistency, balsamic
in odor and bitter tasting.
Elemi has properties and uses similar
to Frankincense; ergo, also referred to as "Poor Man's Frankincense."
source
France has been the largest single
market, followed by Germany, and increasingly by Japan.
Botany
A large tree reaching
a height of more than 30 meters, the trunk a meter or more. Leaves are
alternate, pinnate, and about 30 cm long, commonly with three opposite
pairs and a terminal leaflet. The leaflets are smooth, oblong-ovate,m
12-20 cm long, 3-7 cm wide, smooth and shiny on both sides, pointed
at the apex, rounded or obtusely pointed at the base. Flowers are clustered
and borne on large compounded inflorescences. Fruit is ovoid, 4-5 cm
long, 2-2.5 cm wide, smooth, with a single seed.
Distribution
Primary forests at low
and medium altitudes
Parts utilized
Fruit and sap
Constituents
and properties
• Oleoresin (Manila
Elemi), d-alpha-phellandrene, dipentene, sesquiterpine alchol, elemicin,
trimethyl homogallic aldehyde, trimethyl homogallic acid, d-limonene,
terpene, terpinolene, pinene.
• Rubifacient and antirheumatic.
• Considered antiseptic, antispasmodic, antibacterial, fungicidal
and insecticidal.
• Study on the composition of Manila elemi oil from the distillation
of elemi gum yielded 39 compounds constituting 99.2% of the oil with
limonene, the most abundant at 56%.
Uses
Folkloric
Arthritis and rheumatism
- Apply oleoresin over affected parts.
Boils, abscesses, and furuncles - Apply oleoresin over affected area
to induce swelling to come a point.
Used for burns and sores.
For fevers and chills, the tree bark is struck with a bolo or sharp
instrument to induce the sap to bleed. The tree sap is allowed to hardened
overnight and a corn-sized drop is taken with water.
The tree bark is commonly used for postpartum baths, one of many ingredients
in a decoction (balat ng buboy, palad ng buli, dahon ng payang-payang,
galamay amo, and three pieces of batong buhay).
In plaster, heated and applied to the chest to stop secvere coughing.
Others
• Anti-lice: Marketed
as Lysout, a natural anti-lice foaming gel composed of: Echinacea purpurea
10%, Canarium luzonicum gum oil 2%.
• Used to scent soaps and cosmetics.
Studies
Genotoxicity: In a 1985 review, of 138 medicinal plant preparations used in the Philippines, 12 exhibited detectable genotoxicity, including Canarium luzonicum.
Availability
Commercial and wild-crafted.
Elemi oil in the cybermarket.
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