Socfindo Conservation

Mistletoe fig

Ficus deltoidea Jack

Moraceae

Location in our garden

Mistletoe fig 1Mistletoe fig 2Mistletoe fig 3

Overview

The mistletoe fig is indigenous to the Malay Archipelago and is found in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The plant has also been planted beyond its natural habitat. The plant has about 15 varieties with different morphological features. Ficus deltoidea var. angustifolia and Ficus deltoidea var. deltoidea, known as male and female plants respectively are the two most popular mistletoe fig varities. 

Vernacular Names

Tabat Barito (Indonesia), Mas Cotek, Telinga Beruk, or Serapat Angin (Malay), Sempit-Sempit and Agoluran (Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan)
 

Agroecology

Ficus deltoidea can be found in a variety of habitats such as sandy heath forests, bushy areas, peat-swamp, coastal, bogs, and riversides. Most varieties are found below 1200 m above sea level but some varieties are also found in higher altitudes. Most varieties grows below 1200 m altitude, but some varieties are also found at higher altitude. Some varieties live as epiphytes while others live as terrestrial plants, undershrubs, and trees. 

 

Morphology

  • Barks - whitish light grey bark.
  • Leaves - leaves dimension, shape, venation, waxy glands, and petiole length are varied. the leaves shape may be deltoid, elliptic, obovate, spathulate, or rhomboid. 
  • Flowers - inflorescence form syconium and pollinated by a specialized wasp from Agaonidae subfamily.
  • Fruits - small, spherical to round, yellow to orange-red in color, with thin and delicate skin

Cultivation

  • generative propagation through seed may occur but with a low germination percentage.
  • Vegetative propagation is preferable. 

Chemical Constituents

Shikimic acid, aliphatics, acyclic monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids.

Benefits

  • For centuries powdered roots and leaves have been used to treat wounds, rheumatism, sores, and other ailments for centuries in Malaysia,
  • The leaves decoction is used as an antidiabetic treatment, after-birth tonic, to treat menstrual cycle disorders and leucorrhoea.
  • In Indonesia, the entire plant is used as an aphrodisiac health tonic for women
  • The fruit is chewed to treat toothache, cold, and headache.

Simplisia

  • Siapkan daun tabat barito segar secukupnya, cuci bersih dengan air mengalir.
  • Keringkan dengan menggunakan oven (suhu 40 ºC selama 5 hari).
  • Setelah kering simpan dalam wadah tertutup.

Plant Parts Used

Mistletoe fig part 1
Mistletoe fig part 2
Mistletoe fig part 3

Traditional Recipes

1. Afrodisiak (obat kuat laki-laki)

1. 1. Afrodisiak (obat kuat laki-laki)

  • Cuci bersih 4-5 lembar daun tabat barito segar lalu seduh dengan 1 gelas air panas.
  • Minum ramuan seperti minum teh hangat, 1 kali sehari.
2. Keputihan

2. 2. Keputihan

  • Cuci bersih 15 g daun tabat barito segar.
  • Rebus dengan 3 gelas air hingga mendidih selama 15 menit lalu dinginkan dan saring.
  • Minum 2 kali sehari sama banyak.

Reference Sources

Bunawan, H., Amin, N.M., Bunawan, S.N., Baharum, S.N. and Mohd Noor, N., 2014. Ficus deltoidea Jack: a review on its phytochemical and pharmacological importance. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine2014.

Rosnah, J., Khandaker, M.M. and Boyce, A.N., 2015. Ficus deltoidea: Review on background and recent pharmacological potential. Journal of Agronomy14(4), p.310.