Litsea cubeba - (Lour.)Pers.

Edible Parts: Fruit  Root  Oil
Edible Uses: Oil  Tea  Condiment

The fragrant flowers are eaten or used as a flavouring for tea[301 , 310 , 317 ]. The fruits are eaten as a vegetable side dish, and are a common substitute for cubeb pepper (Piper cubeba)[301 , 310 , 317 ]. The fruit, bark and leaves are often used by the Karen people of N. Thailand as a curry ingredient in a dish called 'Kaeng Nuea'[931 ]. The roots are cooked as a flavouring in foods[301 ].

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiphlogistic  Expectorant  Parasiticide

Antiphlogistic, expectorant[147]. The root, stem, leaves and fruits are all used as medicine for eliminating windevil and dispelling the cold in the body, allaying swelling and pain[266]. The fruit is used as medicine is known as 'Bi Cheng Qie'[266].

Essential  Oil  Wood  Parasiticide  Shelterbelt  Pioneer  Cosmetic  Furniture

Agroforestry Uses: Grown as a shade tree in plantations[317 ]. It is planted as a wind-break in tea plantations[310 ]. A fast-growing pioneer species, usually gregarious in open areas, is found along the edge of tropical rain forests and the edges of both lower and upper montane forests[931 ]. It can be used at the early stages in reforestation projects, and would make a good choice when establishing a woodland garden[K ]. The tree is planted as a pioneer species in northern Thailand in reforestation projects to restore native woodland - it is planted in degraded woodland and open areas in a mix with various other species that all have the ability to grow fast; produce dense, weed-suppressing crowns; and attract seed-dispersing wildlife, particularly birds and bats[998 ]. Other Uses: The flowers, leaves, and fruit walls are all sources of essential oils[266 , 317 ]. These oils are processed for citral and are also used for their fragrance and medicinal properties[266 , 317 ]. Citral is used for the production of ionones and formerly vitamin A and in essences for cosmetics, foodstuffs and tobacco products[310 ]. Because of its pleasant citrus-like smell and taste it is a modifier for lemon and lime flavours and a general freshener in fruit flavours[310 ] The main essential oil, known as 'may-chang oil' is obtained from the fruit[310 ]. (Though one report says it is obtained from the flowers[317 ].) This oil is used in perfumery and is also the main source of citral, for which it is commercially cultivated[310 ]. In perfumery, may chang oil is used as an alternative for verbena oil and lemongrass oil in colognes, household sprays, soaps and air-fresheners[310 ]. An extract of the fruit is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a perfume[1243 ]. The essential oil obtained from the fruit is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a masking agent and perfume[1243 ]. An extract of the leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antioxidant[1243 ]. The seed contains a fatty oil, from which lauric acid and capric acid are produced[310 ]. The wood is used for general furniture-making and construction[266 ].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Scented Plants