Medicine Newbie: Pokok Kanser (anti-cancer plant)

Saturday 24 February 2018

Pokok Kanser (anti-cancer plant)

I visited a friend's house at Sri Gemilang in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

She had this plant which had thick waxy leaves, dark green fruits in clusters, and bright yellow flowers which smelled of a cross between nangka (jackfruit), magnolia (bunga magnolia or bunga telur) and bunga kenanga.

She said the leaves have anticancer properties. She didn't know its name. She called it Pokok Kanser (anti-cancer plant).

Thick waxy leaves and fragrant, bright yellow flower or hirva chafa

Thick waxy leaves and green fruits in cluster. The fruits will ripen and turn yellow, just like bananas do.

Scientific Name: Artabotrys hexapetalus
Family: Annonaceae
Common Name: Green champa, Hirava chafa
In Indian, it is called the Hirva chafa flower.
Description: A large woody rambler. Flowers are greenish yellow
Synonym: A. odoratissimus

Varieties:
Artabotrys odorattisimus (Hirwa chafa or Hirva chafa)
Artabotrys uncinatus
Artabotrys hexapetalus
Cananga odorata or Ylang Ylang (sweet myrrh)

Uses