Vateria indica

Vateria indica, the white dammar,[2] is a species of tree in the family Dipterocarpaceae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats mountains in India. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is a large canopy or emergent tree frequent in tropical wet evergreen forests of the low and mid-elevations (below 1200 m).[3]

Vateria indica
Vateria indica illustration
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Genus: Vateria
Species:
V. indica
Binomial name
Vateria indica
Synonyms
  • Vateria malabarica Blume

Description
Vateria indica branch with flowers

Shape, trunk, and bark

Evergreen trees with cylindrical, straight boles, growing up to 40 m tall, occasionally up to 60 m.[4] In evergreen forests, the trees can grow to large girth, with an individual reaching up to 5.26 m in girth recorded in Kodagu.[5] The bark is smooth, grey with green and white blotches on the trunk[6] and a cream colored blaze.[4] On scarring, it exudes a white, aromatic resin. The tree has dense foliage in a oval or dome-like canopy. The young branchlets are nearly cylindrical and have stellate (star-shaped) hairs.

Leaves

The leaves, which are simple, alternate, and arranged in a spiral around the twigs, are leathery, about 8-27 x 4.5-10 cm in size, glabrous, elliptic-oblong, with a short pointed tip, rounded base, and entire margin.[4] The young leaf flush is a dark red or maroon, turning to pinkish red and green as the leaf matures. The petioles are 2 to 3.5 cm long, swollen at apex, and nearly glabrous, with narrow lateral stipules that fall off. The venation of the leaves comprises 13 to 20 pairs of secondary nerves, with closely parallel tertiary nerves at right angles to the secondaries.

Flower, fruit and seed

The inflorescence appears in axillary panicles densely clothed in stellate hairs. The flowers are white, fragrant, about 2 cm across, with 5 petals, about 40-50 stamens and yellow anthers,[7] with a columnar style that protrudes beyond the anthers.[8] The fruit is a 3-valved capsule, brown, and oblong or egg-shaped, about 6.4 x 3.8 cm in size. The base of the fruit has the persistent remains of the calyx with the 5 sepals curved back. The ovary is 3-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell,[9] but the fruit typically produces a single seed with large cotyledons.[4]

Taxonomy

Vateria malabarica Blume is a Synonym of Vateria indica L. The genus Vateria has three species with accepted names,[10] of which Vateria indica and Vateria macrocarpa occur in India and Vateria copallifera occurs in Sri Lanka. Vateria indica has smaller leaves (7-20 x 5–9 cm), shorter petiole (25–40 mm), and oblong fruit compared to Vateria macrocarpa that has larger leaves (14-40 x 6–20 cm), longer petiole (25–60 mm), and ovoid or oblong fruit with pointed, often curved tip.[7]

Studies indicate the species has a mitotic chromosome number of 2n=22.[11] Polymorphic microsatellite markers have been identified for Vateria indica and the species has an expected heterozygosity of 0.44 to 0.84.[12]

Common names

The species has a number of common names in local languages.[4][13]

Tamil: Dhupa maram தூப மரம், Painimaram பைனிமரம், Vellaikundrikam வெள்ளைகுன்றிகம், Vellaidamar வெள்ளை டமார், Vellai kungiliyam  வெள்ளை குங்கிலியம், turulakkam துருளக்கம், vellai kunkiliyam வெள்ளைக்குங்கிலியம்

Malayalam: കുന്തിരിക്കപ്പൈന്‍ Kuntirikkappayin, പയിനി Paini, വെള്ളപ്പൈന്‍ Vellappayin, Baine, Kunturukkam, Paenoe, Paine, Paini, Payan, Payani, Payin, Pandam, Pantam, Peini, Perumpayani, Perumpiney, Pine, Piny, Pyney, Telli, Thelli, Vella kunturukkum, Vellapayin, Vellakondricum, Velutta kunturukkam, ബൈനെ, കുന്തുരുക്കും, പൈനോയ്‌, പൈനെ, പൈനി, പയന്‍, പയിനി, പയിന്‍, പഞ്ഞം, പീനി, പെരുംപയിണി, പൈനെയ്‌, തെള്ളി, വെളള കുന്തിരി

Kannada: ಬಿಳಿ ಡಾವರು Bili Daamaru, ಬಿಳಿ ಧೂಪ Bili Dhupa, ಧೂಪದ ಮರ Dhupada Mara, Bilagaggala, Dhupa mara, Gugli, Hugadamara, Rala, Velthapaini 

Telugu: తెల్లగుగ్గిలము tellaguggilamu

Marathi: चंद्रुस chandrusa

Odia: ମନ୍ଦଧୂପ mandadhupa, ସନ୍ଦରସ sandarasa

Sanskrit: सर्जकः sarjakah

English: Indian copal tree, Piney varnish tree, White dammar

Distribution and habitat

The species is endemic to the Western Ghats mountain range in India, in the southern and central region, from the Agasthyamalai Hills in the south to southern Maharashtra. It chiefly occurs in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.[3] The species occurs in evergreen forests from the coastal plains and foothills usually up to an elevation of about 760 m,[5] or to 800 m on the windward side of the Western Ghats in Karnataka.[6] Although it is more common in lower elevations, trees may be found up to an elevation of 1200 m.[5]

Outside forests, the tree is found as avenue trees along roadsides in some areas. In Karnataka, the species does not occur in Uttara Kannada district, but was introduced by the Sonda Kinds about 500 years ago and planted along the roadsides in Sirsi, Siddapur, and Yellapur towns.[6] It was planted extensively as an avenue tree in Dakshina Kannada and the Malabar and Travancore regions of Kerala.[5]

Climatic factors

Within its distributional range, Vateria indica occurs in areas with a mean annual rainfall of 2000 to 3000 mm and a mean annual temperature slightly over 27°C (range 16.7°C to 37.8°C). The number of rainy days varies from 118 to 130 with a mean annual humidity of 77-79% within the zone of distribution.[5]

Geology, soil, and topography

Vateria indica occurs in areas where the underlying rock is a gneissic complex, often laminated, which may be covered by laterite 9-10 m deep. The laterite may be in stages of disintegration from hard rock to fine gravel. Typically the trees occur in forests with a thick layer of humus on the surface. The trees are also found in lowland and plateau locations, but mostly occur along well-drained river banks and valleys in humid, moist forest tracts.[5] Valleys with deep sandy soil and high water table support Vateria indica dominated forests at lower elevations.[14] The trees also occur in Myristica swamp forests in Kerala[15] and Karnataka.[16]

Ecology

Vateria indica is bee-pollinated.[8]

In Myristica swamp forests in Kerala, they occur with other trees such as Myristica fatua var. magnifica and Syzygium travancoricum, understorey vegetation including Ochlandra bamboos, Pandanus screw pines, and species of aroids, Acanthaceae, and gingers.[15] In Myristica swamps of Karnataka, Vateria indica occurs in forests dominated by trees such as Gymnacranthera farquhariana, Myristica fatua var. magnifica, Mastixia arborea, the dipterocarp Hopea ponga, and the palm Pinanga dicksonii.[16]

Uses

Vateria indica wood has been used for making tea-chests, partitions, packing and cordite cases, coffins, boxes, planking, posts, floorings, ceilings, and cabinets, besides bobbins and shuttles in the textile industry, oars for sea-going vessels, and match-splints[3][9] Large amounts of Vateria indica timber were shipped from the Malabar region to Bombay to be sold as “Malabar White Pine” (Vellapiney),[9] with around 6200 tons of timber used per annum in the late 1960's.[17] The wood, after preservative treatment, was also used for railway sleepers.[9]

Resin of Vateria indica, extracted by scratching the tree's bark, is called white dammar, also known as “Malabar fallow”, “dhupa fat”, “Indian Copal”, or “piney resin”. It is used as incense in India, for incense sticks,[18] and to manufacture candles and soaps.[3] From dried kernels, a fat called “piney tallow” was extracted, which was used to adulterate ghee, making candles and soaps, to treat chronic rheumatism, and for sizing cotton yarn in place of animal tallow.[9] The resin mixed with coconut oil makes an excellent varnish resembling copal.[9] The bark, resin, and leaves are used in Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani, and folk medicine[3][19][17] for the treatment of leprosy, eczema, rheumatism, diarrhoea, and ulcers.[19] Fine shavings of resin are administered internally to check diarrhoea.[9] Vateria indica oil, produced from the seeds, is refined to yield a fat used in confectionery and cosmetics.

Experimental assays

The bark extract may have potential for treatment of degenerative brain conditions. One study found that young amnesic mice subjected to pre-treatment with ethanol extract of Vateria indica bark gained neuro-protection and enhanced memory.[20] Several stilbenoids (bergenin, hopeaphenol, vaticanol B, vaticanol C, and ε‐viniferin) found in resins (ethanol extract from stem bark of Vateria indica) have been shown to have some in vitro anticancer activity against mouse sarcoma 180 cells by retarding tumor growth when administered in high doses (30 or 100 mg/kg body mass).[21] Experiments on rats also indicate significant reduction of obesity after administration of aqueous extract of stem bark.[22]

Chemical constituents

Stem bark

From the stem bark of Vateria indica, two novel stilbenoids, vateriaphenols A and B, have been isolated along with ten known stilbenoids and bergenin.[23] The stem bark also contains high phenol and flavonoid content. In one study, the stem bark yielded 670 mg/g and 310 mg/g total phenolic content in ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively, while the corresponding total flavonoid content was 74 mg/g and 62 mg/g.[24]

Leaves

The leaves have yielded two new resveratrol (5E24hydroxyphenylethenylbenzene1,3diol) derivatives, vateriaphenols D and E, along with six known resveratrol oligomers, a isocoumarin bergenin, and a benzophenone.[25] Another study isolated from the leaves a number of compounds: a novel resveratrol dimeric dimer having a C2-symmetric structure (vateriaphenol F), two new O-glucosides of resveratrol oligomers, vateriosides A (resveratrol dimer), vateriosides B (resveratrol tetramer), besides a new natural compound, and 33 known compounds including 26 resveratrol derivatives.[26]

Seeds
Main article: Vateria indica oil constituents

Vateria indica seeds have nearly 19% oil / fat content, with poly-saturated fatty acids like oleic acid (48%) and stearic acid (43%),[27] which has potential for conversion to biodiesel.[28] Optimal oil yield of 22.85% has been noted using the solvent extraction at a temperature of 66.6 °C, extraction time of 4.41 hour, and under a solvent to seed ratio of 1.353 ml/g.[29] Pure, white starch at about 30% yield has been isolated from defatted Vateria indica seed meals. [30]

Conservation

The species was previously listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because of over-exploitation for timber for the plywood industry, habitat loss, and other human activities.[31] A 2020 assessment has placed the species in the Vulnerable category.[32] According to the recent assessment, besides the timber exploitation and extensive habitat loss due to human activities in lowland areas, the species has very restricted seed dispersal, limiting regeneration. Market-driven and intensive harvest of the nuts in recent years is expected to further affect the remaining populations.[33]

  • Tree trunk and bark
  • Bark
  • Blotches on bark
  • Roots
  • Young tree
  • Young flush and mature leaves
  • Inflorescence
  • Inflorescence
  • Flower
  • Fruit
  • Cluster of seedlings
  • Germinating seed and seedling
  • Nursery-raised seedlings

References
  1. Dhyani, A.; Barstow, M. (2020). "Vateria indica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  2. "Vateria indica". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  3. International), Megan Barstow (Botanic Gardens Conservation; Dhyani, Anurag (2019-04-25). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vateria indica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2020-1.rlts.t33029a115932674.en. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  4. "Vateria indica - DIPTEROCARPACEAE". www.biotik.org. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  5. Troup, R.S. (1921). The Silviculture of Indian Trees - Volume I: Dilleniaceae to Leguminosae (Papilionaceae). 1. London: Oxford University Press.
  6. Neginhal, S.G. (2004). Forest Trees of South India. Bengaluru: Published by author. p. 42. ISBN 9788190142014.
  7. Sasidharan, N. (2004). Biodiversity Documentation for Kerala Part 6: Flowering Plants. Peechi.: Kerala Forest Research Institute.
  8. Ashton, Peter S. (1988-11-01). "Dipterocarp biology as a window to the understanding of tropical forest structure". Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 19 (1): 347–370. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.19.110188.002023. ISSN 0066-4162.
  9. Joshi, H.B., ed. (1980). Troup's The Silviculture of Indian Trees - Volume II: Dipertocarpaceae (Revised and Enlarged ed.). Delhi: The Controller of Publications. pp. 416–423.
  10. "Vateria L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  11. Mane, Rohit Nivas; Gholave, Avinash Ramchandra; Yadav, Shrirang Ramchandra (2020-06-25). "Karyomorphology of a Critically Endangered Species Vateria indica L. (Dipterocarpaceae) from India". Cytologia. 85 (2): 123–126. doi:10.1508/cytologia.85.123. ISSN 0011-4545.
  12. Ismail, Sascha A.; Buser, Andres; Shaanker, R. Uma; Ravikanth, G.; Ghazoul, Jaboury; Kettle, Chris J. (June 2013). "Development of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the critically endangered and endemic Indian dipterocarp, Vateria indica L. (Dipterocarpaceae)". Conservation Genetics Resources. 5 (2): 465–467. doi:10.3929/ethz-b-000066081. ISSN 1877-7252.
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  15. Roby, T. J.; Jose, Joyce; Nair, P. Vijayakumaran (2014-06-13). "Checklist of Flora of Myristica Swamps - A Critically Endangered Fresh Water Ecosystem of Southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India". Indian Forester. 140 (6): 608–616. ISSN 2321-094X.
  16. Bhat, P.R.; Kaveriappa, K.M. (2009). "Ecological studies on Myristica swamp forests of Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, India" (PDF). Tropical Ecology. 50: 329–337.
  17. Venkatesh, K.R.H.; Sushrutha, C.K. (2010). "Flora of concern endangered medicinal plants - Part I Vateria indica Linn, Dipterocarpaceae - a review". International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy. 1: 1–7.
  18. Niveditha, T.P.; Indupriya, J.; Vinohar, V.; sathish, B.N.; Prakash, N.A. (2012). "Value addition of Dhup (Vateria indica and Canarium strictum): a case study of making Agarbatti". MFP News. 22 (1): 4–6.
  19. Jeyakumar, S.; Ayyappan, N.; Muthuramkumar, S.; Kaniappan, R. (2014). "S, Jeyakumar & Narayanan, Ayyappan & Sankaralingam, Muthuramkumar & Rajarathinam, Kaniappan. Diversity and distribution of ethno-medicinal tree species from central Western Ghats". Journal of Basic and Applied Biology. 8: 72–79.
  20. Alshabi, Ali Mohamed; Shaikh, Ibrahim Ahmed; Savant, Chetan (2020-04-09). "Nootropic and neuroprotective effects of ethanol extract of Vateria indica L bark on scopolamine-induced cognitive deficit in mice". Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 19 (3): 587–594. doi:10.4314/tjpr.v19i3.19. ISSN 1596-9827.
  21. Mishima, S; Matsumoto, K; Futamura, Y; Araki, Y; Ito, T; Tanaka, T; Iinuma, M; Nozawa, Y; Akao, Y (2003). "Antitumor effect of stilbenoids from Vateria indica against allografted sarcoma S-180 in animal model". Journal of Experimental Therapeutics & Oncology. 3 (5): 283–88. doi:10.1111/j.1533-869x.2003.01102.x. PMID 14696625.
  22. Alva, Shanal Smitha; Joshi, Himanshu; Gururaja, M. P; Shama, K Prasanna; D'souza, Ullas P (2018). "Anti-Obesity Activity of Vateria indica linn. Stem Bark in Rats". Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 11 (12): 5238. doi:10.5958/0974-360X.2018.00955.1. ISSN 0974-3618.
  23. Ito, Tetsuro; Tanaka, Toshiyuki; Iinuma, Munekazu; Nakaya, Ken-ichi; Takahashi, Yoshikazu; Sawa, Ryuichi; Naganawa, Hiroshi; Chelladurai, Veliah (February 2003). "Two new oligostilbenes with dihydrobenzofuran from the stem bark of Vateria indica". Tetrahedron. 59 (8): 1255–1264. doi:10.1016/S0040-4020(03)00024-3.
  24. "Determination of Phenol and flavonoid content from Vateria indica (Linn)". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  25. Ito, Tetsuro; Abe, Naohito; Masuda, Yuichi; Nasu, Minori; Oyama, Masayoshi; Sawa, Ryuichi; Takahashi, Yoshikazu; Iinuma, Munekazu (January 2009). "Two Novel Resveratrol Derivatives from the Leaves of Vateria indica". Helvetica Chimica Acta. 92 (1): 195–208. doi:10.1002/hlca.200800048.
  26. Ito, Tetsuro; Masuda, Yuichi; Abe, Naohito; Oyama, Masayoshi; Sawa, Ryuichi; Takahashi, Yoshikazu; Chelladurai, Veliah; Iinuma, Munekazu (2010). "Chemical Constituents in the Leaves of Vateria indica". Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 58 (10): 1369–1378. doi:10.1248/cpb.58.1369. ISSN 0009-2363. PMID 20930407.
  27. Sridhar, R.; Lakshminarayana, G.; Kaimal, T. N. B. (October 1991). "Modification of selected indian vegetable fats into cocoa butter substitutes by lipase-catalyzed ester interchange". Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 68 (10): 726–730. doi:10.1007/BF02662160. S2CID 83652931.
  28. Rao, Gangadhara; Kumar, G. N.; Herbert, Mervin (2019-10-03). "Effect of injection pressure on the performance and emission characteristics of the CI engine using Vateria indica biodiesel". International Journal of Ambient Energy. 40 (7): 758–767. doi:10.1080/01430750.2017.1421575. ISSN 0143-0750. S2CID 134423703.
  29. Gowda, Sushanth H.; Dmello, Joel; B., Pavana Kumara; Raju, K. (2019). "Optimization of oil extraction from vateria indica seeds by solvent extraction process using response surface method". AIP Conference Proceedings. Karnataka, India. 2080 (1): 030011. Bibcode:2019AIPC.2080c0011G. doi:10.1063/1.5092914.
  30. Tharanathan, R. N.; Reddy, G. Changala; Muralikrishna, G. (1990). "Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Starches from Sal (Shorea robusta) and Dhupa (Vateria indica) Seeds". Starch - Stärke. 42 (7): 247–251. doi:10.1002/star.19900420702. ISSN 1521-379X.
  31. Ashton, P. (1998-01-01). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Vateria indica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
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  33. Sinu, Palatty Allesh; Shivanna, K. R. (2016-12-01). "Factors Affecting Recruitment of a Critically-Endangered Dipterocarp Species, Vateria indica in the Western Ghats, India". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences. 86 (4): 857–862. doi:10.1007/s40011-015-0535-8. ISSN 2250-1746. S2CID 29812036.
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