Cinnamomum parthenoxylon

Cinnamomum parthenoxylon is an evergreen tree in the genus Cinnamomum, 10–20 m (33–66 ft) tall. It is native to South and East Asia (Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam).[2] In Vietnam, the tree is considered Critically endangered.[1]

Cinnamomum parthenoxylon
Cinnamomum parthenoxylon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Laurales
Family: Lauraceae
Genus: Cinnamomum
Species:
C. parthenoxylon
Binomial name
Cinnamomum parthenoxylon

In English, C. parthenoxylon is known as Selasian wood,[3] saffrol laurel,[4] or Martaban camphor wood.[5] It has the outdated heterotypic synonym Laurus porrecta (Roxb.). The species name parthenoxylon derives from parthenos xylon (Greek: παρθενός ξύλον), meaning "virgin wood". The common name in Spanish is alcanforero amarillo[6] ("yellow camphor") and it is thought to be the tree known as Khmer: ម្រះព្រៅភ្នំ (mreah prew phnom).

Growth
Trunk and bark

The tree has gray to brown bark. Its leaves are glossy green ovals 7–10 cm long with a point at the end. Like many plants in the Lauraceae, the leaves give off a pleasant smell when crushed. The flowers appear in clusters and are green and very small. The fruits are blackish drupes.[7]

In Indonesia, the flowers of C. parthenoxylon symbolize love and connection between the living and the dead. Traditionally, in the Kudus Regency on the island of Java, the flowers were scattered on tombs by family members.[8]

Uses

The aromatic bark of the plant is used for flavoring, not unlike many other Cinnamomum species.[9]

The tree is of special concern, as it is being harvested at a high rate to obtain safrole, a precursor to the pesticide synergist piperonyl butoxide, the flavorant and fragrance piperonal, and the psychoactive drug MDMA. Much of this illicit harvesting is happening in the Cardamom Mountains and Botum Sakor National Park in Cambodia at the moment.[10][11] The documentary film "Forest of ecstasy" (Vanguard 2009) is investigating the issue on location.[12][13]

An extract from the bark has been shown in rats to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia.[14]

Conservation efforts

In 2004, the Cambodian government classified C. parthenoxylon as a rare species and prohibited any logging of this tree. In addition, the production, import, and export of safrole rich oils has been illegal in Cambodia since 2007.[10]

References
  1. de Kok, R. (2020). "Cinnamomum parthenoxylon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Xi-wen Li; Jie Li & Henk van der Werff. "Cinnamomum parthenoxylon". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  3. Schimmel (April 1911). Annual Report on Essential Oils, Synthetic Perfumes, &c. p. 43.
  4. Coster, B (1993). "Diskettes with commercial Woodnames". Tervuren Xylarium Wood Database. Hoofddorp, Holland. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  5. Kurz, Sulpice (1875). Preliminary report on the forest and other vegetation of Pegu. Calcutta: C.B. Lewis, Baptist Mission Press. pp. xcix. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
  6. Porcher, Michel H. (30 April 2007). "Sorting Cinnamomum names". The University of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
  7. Sánchez de Lorenzo-Cáceres, José Manuel. "Cinnamomum parthenoxylon". arbolesornamentales.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
  8. Hamdani, Sylviana (27 November 2009). "Five-Star Tradition at Le Meridien Hotel in Jakarta". The Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 4 December 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
  9. Uphof, Johannes Cornelis Theodorus (1968) [1959]. Dictionary of Economic Plants (second ed.). New York, NY: J. Cramer. p. 131. ISBN 9783904144711. OCLC 48693661.
  10. "Strengthening the response Against Exploitation of Forestry Resources through Organized Law Enforcement (SAFROLE)". United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  11. Campbell, Sam (30 August 2009). "Harvested to make Ecstasy, Cambodia's trees are felled one by one". GlobalPost. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  12. Adam Yamaguchi; Joanne Shen; Mike Horn Yasu Tsuji, eds. (29 October 2009). "Forest of Ecstasy". Vanguard. Season 3. Episode 3. Current TV. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011. (Episode is not available. Date: February 2014)
  13. Documentary film: Forest of Ecstasy Archived 2017-09-21 at the Wayback Machine Adam Yamaguchi (reporter). Vanguard 2009. Hosted by Cambodian Information Center
  14. Jia, Q; Liu X; Wu X; Wang R; Hu X; Li Y; Huang C. (August 2009). "Hypoglycemic activity of a polyphenolic oligomer-rich extract of Cinnamomum parthenoxylon bark in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats". Phytomedicine. 16 (8): 744–750. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2008.12.012. PMID 19464860. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
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