Basic Information
Species : Rhus chinensis Miller.
Local Name :
Synonym : R.chinensis Miller, R. javanica Thunberg non Linn.
Family : Anacardaceae
Habitat : Shrub or small tree up to 10 m, in dry forest slopes.915-2745 m.
Distribution : Distributed to temperate region.
Sikkim : Hee-gyathang, on the way to Tholung, Libing (Gangtok), Lingzya, Sakyong, Prekchu, Singhik Tung, Yuksom and Martam.
Out side : Darjeeling (West Bengal), Forest slopes, Pankhaban, Gorubathan, Kalimpong, Goke, Dudhay, Mink 300-1000m; Bhutan
Thimpu, Punakha Tongsa, Tashigang and Mongar; Sri Lanka, Myanmar. East to China, Korea, Japan.
Morphological information
An aromatic tree up to 10-15 m in height and 2 m in girth. Bark rough, dark or brown, deeply cleft; leaves aromatic, imparipinnate; leaflets 1-13 oblong or ovate, oblong, flowers white or yellowish green in large, broad panicles; drupes orbicular, 5mrn in diameter, tomentose, dark red. Densely covered with minute hairs.
Flowering : June-September
Fruiting : October-December
History
:
Parts : Fruit.
Status : Low risk
Phytochemistry
A dammarane type lactone containing 17α-side chain- rhuslactone- isolated from bark and its structure established by X-ray analysis (Chem. Commun. 1980. 909); gallic add, 7-hydroxy- 6-methoxycaumarin, ethyl gallate, 3, 7, 4-trihydroxyflavone and 3,7,3" 4-tetrahydroxyflavone isolated (Chung Tsao Yao 1980, 11, 196; Chem. Abstr. 1981, 94, 90116 K; Chung Tsao Yao 1981,12, 21; Chem. Abstr. 1981, 95, 103198m); pongapin, tetramethoxyflsetin, demeth-oxykanugin, ovalitenone and a dibenzoylmethane isolated from roots (Zhongcaoyao 1981, 12, 391; Chem. Abstr. 1982, 96, 196516 x); 1,2, 3, 4, 6 penta- 0- galloyi-β-D-glucose along with a homologous series of hexa, hepta, octa and undeca-galloyl glucosides isolated from gallotanin of Chinese plant (J. Chem. Soc. Perkin 1 1982, 2963).
Medicinal
Fruits edible and used
in treatment of dysentry. Juice from the tree is a vesicant. The
popular local vinegar is prepared by a long process of boiling
of fruits of this plant.
Traditional
A decoction of the fruits is given for dysentery, diarrhoea and indigestion. (Project Report, 2000).
Reference
1. Anonymous (1961). The Wealth of India (Vol.9). Publications and Information Director ate, CSIR, New Delhi. 20.
2. Anonymous (1992). The Useful Plants of India. Publications and Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi. 523-524.
3. Bhujel, R.B. (1996). Studies on the Dicotyledonous Flora of Darjeeling District. Unpublished Ph.D Thesis University of North Bengal. 228.
4. Grierson, A.J.C. & D.G. Long (1991). Flora of Bhutan (Vo.2, Part 1) Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. 55-56.
5. Progress Report of the Project "Studies on Medicinal Plants of Sikkim" (1998-2001). State Council of Science and Technology for Sikkim.