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.
Raspanchaka– Rasa– 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.
