Socfindo Conservation

Fukien tea

Ehretia microphylla Lam.

Boraginaceae

Location in our garden

Fukien tea 1Fukien tea 2Fukien tea 3

Overview

Fukien tea is a tropical shrub originating in the Fujian province of China and other parts of Southeast Asia. It has also become a popular ornamental plant cultivated as hedges in lowland areas. This plant is very popular for bonsai in China, but not in Japan.

Vernacular Names

Tsaang gubat (Philippines), Ji ji shu (Chinese), Kujipana (India), Bute (Kannada), Khoi cheen (Thailand), Kim li[ee]n (Vietnamese).

Agroecology

This plant can grow in tropical or sub-tropical regions. It prefers full sunlight to partial shade, with moderate water. In the Indian tropical moist deciduous forest, Fukien tea grows in red sandy soils with temperatures 23-25 °C, and rainfalls of 2,000-2,400 mm.

Morphology

  • Stem - erect, very branched.
  • Leaves - in clusters on short branches, obovate to oblong-obovate, 3 to 6 cm long, entire or somewhat toothed or lobed near the apex and pointed at the base, short stalked and rough on the upper surface.
  • Flowers - white, small, axillary, solitary, 2 or 4 on a common stalk, borne in inflorescences shorter than the leaves. Calyx lobes are green, somewhat hairy, and linear, about 5 to 6 mm long. Corolla is white, 5 mm long, and divided into oblong lobes.
  • Fruits - is a drupe, rounded, yellow when ripe, 4 to 5 mm in diameter, fleshy, with a 4-seeded stone, fleshy on the outer part, and stony inside.

Cultivation

  • Propagated generatively by seeds
  • Propagated vegetatively by cuttings. Preferably of top shoots or young leafy shoots. The roots will develop slowly over a period of 1-2 months.

Chemical Constituents

Alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, and saponins, triterpenes (α-amyrin, ß-amyrin, and baurenol).

Benefits

Its reported pharmacological activities include analgesic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antispasmodic and anti-mutagenic.

Simplisia

  • Pilih daun hokianti yang bagus dan segar, lakukan sortasi basah (memisahkan kotoran).
  • Cuci bersih daun hokianti kemudian tiriskan.
  • Keringkan di bawah sinar matahari atau dengan alat pengering.
  • Setelah kering, kemas dalam wadah kedap udara dan simpan di tempat yang bersih dan memiliki ventilasi yang baik.

Plant Parts Used

Fukien tea part 1
Fukien tea part 2
Fukien tea part 3

Traditional Recipes

1. Diare

1. 1. Diare

  • Rebus 8 lembar daun hokianti dengan 2 gelas air selama 15 menit.
  • Saring ramuan lalu dinginkan. Gunakan ¼  bagian setiap 2-3 jam.
2. Diabetes

2. 2. Diabetes

  • Iris-iris 50 g daun hokianti lalu tambahkan 100 ml air.
  • Gunakan blender untuk mencampur kedua bahan hingga mendapat 120 ml ekstrak jus
  • Minum 1-2 kali dalam sehari.

Reference Sources

  • Starr, F., Starr, K., Loope, L. (2003). Carmona retusa. Plants of Hawaii.
  • Flora of India. (2020). Fukien Tea. http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Fukien%20Tea.html