Lunasia amara Blanco

Sanrego (Lunasia amara) is an upright tree up to 12 meters tall of the Rutaceae family, a rare plant native to Malesia and Australia, distributed from the Philippines to Papua New Guinea. Communities in Sulawesi traditionally know it as an aphrodisiac, while other ethnic groups use it as a broad herbal remedy. Sanrego is believed to be effective in addressing snake bites and skin disease.

This plant can be found in rainforests with good drainage, moist to somewhat dry thickets and rocky soil at elevations up to 900 m above sea level, temperature 23-28°C, relative humidity 85-99%.

• Stem upright, rarely branched, brown in color, the whole part covered with scaly trichomes.
• Leaves single opposite, single, clustered at the branch tip, inverted lance-shaped to round or conversely ovate to lance-shaped, serrated leaf edges with a tapering tip.
• Flowers pale yellow in color. Sepals and calyx ovate-shaped, emerging from axillary buds.
• Seeds ovate-shaped, dark brown to reddish-brown in color.

Propagated generatively (seed) as well as vegetatively (cuttings or air layering).

Lunacridine, lunidine, lunidodine, lunolone, kokusagine, skimmianine, hydroxylunacrine, hydroxylunine, lunasine, sesquiterpene, quinoline alkaloid, sesquiterpenes, furoquinolines.

Treats snake bites or rabid dog bites, stomach ache, skin disease, eye drop remedy, malaria, diabetes, addresses digestive problems, boosts men's vitality (aphrodisiac).

• Prepare fresh sanrego bark, wash thoroughly using running water, drain.
• Cut the bark into small pieces, arrange on a tray and cover with a dark-colored cloth. Dry in the sun for several days until completely dry.
• Grind into powder form.
• Store in a clean, closed container.

Known by local names Kemaitan (Java), Pamaitan (Madura), Pingsang (Sulawesi) or Makelun, Halaluna, Bungkus kusu (Maluku).