Microcos tomentosa Sm.

Jeluak (Microcos tomentosa) is a small tree or shrub up to 20 meters tall from the Malvaceae family distributed from Myanmar to the Philippines. Its fibrous bark is used to make rope and tool handles, while its ripe fruit can be eaten. Jeluak is traditionally used to treat cough, canker sores, and diarrhea in several countries including Indonesia.

The habitat of jeluak in Java and Malaysia is very commonly found in mixed dipterocarp forests (generally found in secondary forest), at elevations from sea level up to 600 m asl. In addition, it can also be found growing in former logging areas and former landslide areas.

• Roots a taproot.
• Stem straight, often branching from below and grooved. Outer bark smooth, slightly scaly, dark gray to brown, while the inner bark is reddish brown, sandy-textured, fibrous. Twigs somewhat striated, pale brown to dark brown, densely covered with hairs when young, and hairless when older.
• Leaves simple, alternate, blade oblong, obovate or sometimes elliptic, base rounded, tip tapering, margin toothed, upper surface hairless or rarely covered with hairs, lower surface with star-shaped hairs, base with three prominent veins, young leaves pink or dark brown to pale brown, becoming green with age. There are 3 prominent basal veins, secondary veins 5-7 pairs, tertiary veins reticulate. Stipules linear. Petiole (5-)6-10(-12) mm, 1-2(-2.5) mm thick, brown, apex not swollen, densely covered with hairs. Not exuding sap.
• Flowers with 5 oblong petals, yellow, densely covered with hairs at the base on the outside and hairless toward the tip. Sepals obovate, densely covered with hairs on both sides. Stamens with filaments about 2-5 mm long, sparsely covered with hairs at the base and hairless toward the tip, anthers 0.2-0.3 mm in diameter. Ovary 3-locular, ellipsoid or ovoid, 0.8-1.3 mm in diameter, densely covered with hairs. Style 3-3.5 mm long, covered with hairs at the base and hairless toward the tip. Inflorescence a panicle, terminal or axillary.
• Fruit subglobose or obovoid, curved-striated, small, hairy, green.

Propagation is generative through seed.

Triterpenoids, steroids, sesquiterpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, friedelin, 3-friedelinol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, syringaldehyde, E-ferulaldehyde, scopoletin, oleanolic acid, 3-O-trans-ferulyl-2,23-dihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid, and 6-O-hexadecanoyl-D-glucosyl-sitosterol.

Treats cough, canker sores, jaundice, herpes simplex and herpes zoster, inflammation, respiratory disorders, fever, diarrhea, and removes toxins from the body. Has antioxidant, antibacterial, antidiarrheal, antipyretic, and cytotoxic activity

• Prepare jeluak root, wash clean with running water then drain.
• Dry under the sun or with an oven at 40°C until the moisture content reaches 10%.
• Store in a clean, airtight place.

Talok (Sumatra Selatan), Kepadan dan Kepodan (Riau), Kemayan (Kalimantan Barat), Deluak (Lampung), Kupare laut (Sulawesi).