Medicinal Plants

Magnolia coco (Lour.) DC.

Cempaka Telur

Magnoliaceae

Location in the garden Main
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Magnolia coco (Cempaka Telur) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Magnolia coco (Cempaka Telur) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Magnolia coco (Cempaka Telur)

Summary

Cempaka telur (Magnolia coco) is a shrub or small tree up to 3 meters tall from the Magnoliaceae family that originates from South-Central China and Vietnam. Its fragrant flowers are commonly added to tea, while its essential oil becomes a perfume ingredient. In China, cempaka telur flower buds are traditionally used to relieve headaches and stomach ache.

Agroecology

Cempaka telur grows in low to high elevation areas. Cempaka telur requires fertile, well-drained loamy and sandy soil, preferring acidic to neutral soil (5.5-6.5). In hot tropical and lowland areas, it should receive partial shade, especially in the afternoon. In areas with cooler conditions, getting more sunlight will be fine. If the weather is too cold, cempaka telur leaves can turn brown and fall.

Morphology

  • Roots taproot.
  • Stem upright, cylindrical, grayish, and appears striated.
  • Leaves rough, elliptical (7-28 cm long and 2-9 cm wide), glossy green with a long leaf tip. Leaf margin somewhat wavy and slightly curved downward (revolute). There are 8-10 pairs of lateral veins on the leaf. Petiole 0.5-1 cm long and there is a stipule scar on the petiole.
  • Flowers appear terminally (at the stem tip), solitary, round-shaped (about 4 cm in diameter), white and fragrant. Each flower consists of 3 outer tepals and 6 inner tepals in two whorls, enclosing the stamens and ovary inside.
  • Fruit red in color.

Cultivation

Propagation generatively using seeds and vegetatively by stem cuttings and layering.

Chemical Content

Magnolol, honokiol, polyphenol compounds, lignan, coumarin, alkaloid, tannin, phenolic, saponin, terpenoid, 1,5-octadiene-3,7-diol; 3,7-dimethyl-(terpenediol I); 2,6-dimethyl-1,7-octadiene-3,6-diol; 3,5,5-trimethyl-4-(3-oxobutyl)-1-cyclohex-2-enone; 3,7-dimethyl-4-(2-methyl-1-propenyl)-2,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-1H-inden-1-ol, (S)-4,5,9,9-tetramethyl-2,4a,5,6,7,8,9,9a-octahydro-1H-1,5-cyclo-benzocycloheptene, and 3-(3-butynyl)-2-cycloocten-1-valerenol.

Benefits

Treats headaches and stomach ache, insomnia, vaginal discharge, productive cough, allergic conditions and asthma, inhibits bacteria causing dental caries and periodontal disease.

Local Names

Kembang telor, Cempaka gondok.

Traditional Recipes

The following recipes reflect traditional knowledge passed down through generations, not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or advice. Consult a healthcare provider before use.

Traditional recipe Asthma from Cempaka Telur

1. Asthma

  • Prepare cempaka telur bark and wash until clean.
  • Boil the bark until boiling.
  • Strain the decoction.
  • Drink while warm.
Traditional recipe Headache from Cempaka Telur

2. Headache

  • Wash cempaka telur flower buds until clean.
  • Boil with a glass of water until boiling.
  • Strain the decoction.
  • Drink while warm.

Reference Sources

  1. Stuartxchange. 2019. Philippine Medicinal Plants: Magnolia. http://stuartxchange.com/Magnolia.html. 04-10-2021.
  2. Royal Botanic Gardens. Plants of the World Online: Magnolia coco (Lour.) DC.. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:554663-1. 04-10-2021.
  3. Flora Fauna Web. 2020. Magnolia coco. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/3/0/3007. 04-10-2021. 
  4. Tazkiyah. 2019. Analisis Vegetasi di Arboretum Sumber Brantas Kecamatan Bumiaji Kota Batu. Skripsi. Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim. Malang. http://etheses.uin-malang.ac.id/15010/1/12620043.pdf. 04-10-2021.
  5. Learn2grow. 2021. MAGNOLIA coco. http://www.learn2grow.com/plants/magnolia-coco/. 04-10-2021.
  6. Iris. 2021. Magnolia Coco (Coconut Magnolia) Grow & Care Guide. https://www.rayagarden.com/garden-care/magnolia-coco-grow-care-for-coconut-magnolia.html. 04-10-2021.