Lakucha

Botanical Name : Artocarpus hirsutus Lam.

Family : Moraceae

Identification No.- SDACH/HG/177

Vernacular names :

Hindi name– Badhal, Barhar, Lakuch, Lakoochi, Lakoocha, Badahara, Barhal, Dahu, Dahua

English name- Monkey jack

Bengali name– Dephal, Dahu

Oriya Name – Lakoocha

Marathi name- Badhar, Kshudraphanas, Phala

Tamil name– Ilagusam, Irappala, Solaippakku, Tinippalavu

Urdu Name – Theitat

Malyalam name – Chimpa, Lakucham, Pulinjakka

Kannada name – Esuluhuli, Lakucha, Otehuli, Vatehuli

Synonyms-

लकुचः छुद्रपनसो लिकुचो डहुरित्यपि । आमं लकुचमुष्णञ्च गुरु विष्टम्भकृत्तथा ॥३०॥ मधुरञ्च तथाऽम्लञ्च दोषत्रितयरक्तकृत् । शुक्राग्निनाशनं वाऽपि नेत्रयोरहितं स्मृतम् ॥३१॥ सुपक्वं तत्तू मधुरमम्लं चानिलपित्तहृत् । कफवह्निकरं रुच्यं वृष्यं विष्टम्भकञ्च तत् ॥३२॥Bhav Prakash

Classification

Sushruta samhita – Phalavarga

Bhavaprakasha- Amraadiphala Varga

Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Aushadi Varga

Raja Nighantu – Prabhadradi Varga

Shodala Nighantu – Amradi Varga

Habitat & Distribution: Artocarpus lakoocha is found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore.

Morphology- Artocarpus lacucha is a deciduous tree growing up to 10-15 meters in height. Leaves are 12 – 30 cm long, alternate, lanceolate. Branches are covered with stiff yellowish velvety hairs. Fruits are subglobose, 6-12 cm long, 5-10 cm wide, velvety. Fruits are green when unripe. Ripe fruits are yellowish tinged with pink. Fresh fruit pulp is sweet and sour in taste.

Varieties: Artocarpus acuminatissimus Merr., Artocarpus fretessii Teysm. & Binn. ex Hassk. Artocarpus inconstantissimus (Miq.) Miq., Artocarpus lakoocha var. malayana King

Substitute/ Adulterant: Bark of similar looking plants.

Phytochemicals: The fruit extract of Artocarpus lakoocha contains flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, glycosides, alkaloids and steroids.

RaspanchakaRasa– Madhura, Amla, Kashya; Guna- Guru, Ruksha; Virya– Ushna; Vipaka– Amla, Prabhava- Vishtabambi, dosha shamakta– Tridosha kopaka

Karma– Vishtabambi, Rogaghnata– Agninashaka, raktpittakaraka, avriyshya, virechaka (purgative)

Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses

External:

1) Bark powder is used to heal wounds.

2) Heartwood extract powder is used as an effective skin whitening agent.

Internal:  

Seeds and milky latex used as purgative.

Part used: Fruit, seeds, bark

Dose: Bark/seed powder – 1-3 gm, juice – 5-10 ml

IUCN Status: Not mentioned

Research updates:

1) Anti-aging Activity A research study concluded that phyto oxyresveratrol (POV) extracted from Artocarpus lakoocha has significant anti-aging activity at a concentration of 25 µg/ml. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research February 2012; 11 (1): 69-74

2) Anti-microbial Activity – A study conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of A. lakoocha extract against oral pathogens by an in vitro method have concluded that the extract possesses significant antimicrobial properties that may be used for oral infectious diseases caused by certain oral pathogens associated with dental caries and periodontal diseases.

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