ANY PEOPLE SEE THE RAFFLESIA OR THE MISTLETOE PLANT AS a symbot of parasitic plants. However, few of us have noticed the much smaller parasitic group of plants called Balanophora. Just like the rest of the nutrientsucking organisms that feed on green plants, Balanophora obtains water and nutrients from the host plant it is attached to. All Balanophora species act as parasites on the roots of the host plant although Balanophora itself has no true root system. Balanophora has an inconspicuous flowering stem that emerges from its underground tuber. lt has coloured scale leaves (not the usual green leaves we see on trees!) and tiny flowers. These flowers (very much like the Rafflesia) sometimes emit a strong smell to attract pollinators. One peculiar characteristic of Balanophora is the sexuality of the plant. Different species of Balanophora are either monoecious (which means BffiOPHORA: the hidden highland parasite with unexplored medicinal potential FEW OF US PAY ATTENTION TO THE SMALLER GROUP OF PARASITIC PLANTS CALLED BALANOPHORA. WORDS & IMAGES BY: CHEE BENG JtN & LAU KAH HOO 20 June 201 0 'diploid sexuality' or having male and female flowers on the same plant) or are dioecious (the male and female flowers are on different plants). For the monoecious species, the male flowers may be intermixed or in a zone below or above the female flowers. There are 1 5 species of Balanophora recorded so far spread across temperate and tropical Asia, throughout the Malesia region, the Pacific lslands, tropical Australia, Comoros, Madagascar and tropical Africa. ln Peninsular Malaysia, six species of Balanophora exist in the tropical forest. lts habitat ranges from the lowlands up to mountain areas above 1000m altitude. One of Malaysia's popular holiday spots Fraser's Hill is home to two different species of Balanophora. There, Balanophora fungosa subsp. indica (Arn.) B.Hansen thrives along one of its jungle tracks. The plant is found growing under pine trees on the ground at an Two female inflores(ences growing side by side. .I200-l 500 m. We have elevation of recorded the species in various stages of growth in the Fraser's Hill population. From the inflorescences, it is clearly seen that B. fungosa subsp. indica is a dioecious species. Around Asia, there are many reports of the use of Balanophora in traditional medicine. ln Chinese folk medicine, Balanophora is commonly known as " ffi dfi" ("She Gu"). "She-Gu" means "Stone-fungus" or "Stone-Mushroom", a term most probably derived from the observation of female or male flowers growing out from the stone-like Several shrinking male inflorescences which had passed their prime. : : Griff. (Balanophora fungosa indica) Some chemicals were , i while other chemical components demonstrated strong antioxidant subsp. reported . i can be derived and are worth exploring from our local Balanophora species. lt would be a breakthrough and benefit to discover new lead compounds. However, more research is needed to prove its safety and efficacy as wrong usage of the plant in raw form may be dangerous to one's health. From a conservation perspective, B. fungosa subsp. indica is placed under the 'Least concern' category in the lnternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list which means that the species is not erldangered or threatened. This is because it has a widespread distribution all over Malaysian montane forests that are not under logging threat. However, this does not mean that we should ignore the survival of this species in the forest. With its immense benefit in the pharmaceutical field, the Balanophora species is one parasitic friend that we should come to respect and treasure. {ts . underground tuber. ln Yunan province, , free radicals that are thought to play it is commonly used as a medicinal i an important role in the development tonic to stop bleeding. Also in China, of heart disease, cancer, aging, the entire B. harlandii Hook.f. plant , degenerative eye diseases, diabetes, and is used in activating blood circulation other health problems. to eliminate stasis, detumescence There were reports that B. tobiracola (lessening of swellings), haemorrhoids, ' Makino ("Kiiretsuchitorimochi" in uterine prolapse, and fall injuries. The Balanophoratubers are rich in a Japanese) contains useful phytochemicals . that show strong inhibitory activities wax-like substance, a food reserve for against certain digestive enzymes in the plants. ln Java, the locals used this i the treatment of diabetes . Balonophora substance as torches. ln Thailand, B. : japonica Makino is also reported to abbreviata Blume, locally called "Hohhave strong antioxidant properties. ra-tao-su-nak", has been used in the ' Balanophora elongata Blume conlains trad itional treatment of dermatological chemicals that were found to inhibit the problems, malignant diseases and i enzymatic reactions of HIV-l protease asthma. ln Mongolia, the root of in the human immunodeficiency virus. lt Balanophora is used as an aphrodisiac proves to be a promising lead chemical for women and is also believed to promote the secretion of semen in men. ' in the search of an AIDS cure. ' , Presently, there are no reports on It is also considered as a stimulant the use of Balanophora in traditional and tonic for the intestine. ln Vietnam, Acknowledgement: The authors treatments in local Malaysian folk Balanophora is classified under plants would like to thank Dr. Ruth Kiew for her editorial work and species used as a tonic for general wellbeing. identification of the Fraser's Hill Balanophora. more useful chemical compounds that The whole plant of B. fungosa J.R. & 6.Forst is used by some tribal groups in lndia and taken internally with honey to REFERENCES: cure piles. lt is also used together with Dai,2., wang, F., Wang, G.L. and Lin, R.C. 2006. Studies on chemical constituents of Balqnophora spicata Hansen, B. I 976. Balanophoraceae. Flora Malesiana ser I, 7: 783-805. other herbs in preparations that are used Jiang, 2.H., Tanaka, T., lwata, H., Sakamoto, 5. Hirose, Y. and Kouno, l. 2005. 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B. spicata Hayata and B. indica (Arn.) : . i . : i , i , ; : 1 Malaxian Naturalist