Health Benefits

Facts about St. Thomas Bean

Entada phaseoloides commonly named the box bean or St. Thomas’ bean first described by Linnaeus, with its current name described by Merrill. E. phaseoloides is a liana in the pea family, called Gugo, Balugo or Tamayan in the Philippines and Bàm bàm in Viet Nam. The plant is native to tropical Africa: Sierra Leone to Tanzania, Madagascar; tropical Asia: India to South China and Malaysia and tropical north Australia. It was probably introduced to Mexico. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Cali Bean, Calinut, Elephant creeper, Elva, Elva Climber, Garbee Bean, Gila Bean, Go-go Vine, Gogo, Mackay Bean, Matchbox Bean, Monkey Ladder Pod, Nicker Bean, Sea Bean, Sea Heart, St Thomas Bean and sword bean.

Plant Description

St Thomas bean is actually a large, woody, branched, evergreen climbing vine that grows about 100 m long and 18 cm in diameter. The plant usually grows in wide variety of habitats, ranging from freshwater swamp and inland from the mangrove up to montane forest where it flourishes in productive number and used by locals mainly for its medicinal and cosmetic properties. St Thomas bean is characterized by its relatively large appearance, with mature plants usually seen climbing large trees, with its thick tendrils surrounding the bark of the ‘host’ tree. It is notable for its thick, dark brown bark which is often harvested by locals for its cosmetic uses.

St Thomas Bean Facts

St. Thomas bean Quick Facts
Name: St. Thomas bean
Scientific Name: Entada phaseoloides
Origin Tropical Africa, tropical Asia and Malaysia and tropical north Australia
Colors Green when young turning to brown as they mature
Shapes Characteristic pods can grow very large, up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long and 130 mm (5.1 in) wide, somewhat curved, slightly constricted between the seeds
Taste Bitter, acrid
Health benefits Beneficial for rheumatic joint, muscle pains, respiratory ailments, hernia, gonorrhea, ulcers, headache, colic, constipation and fever
Name St. Thomas bean
Scientific Name Entada phaseoloides
Native Tropical Africa: Sierra Leone to Tanzania, Madagascar; tropical Asia: India to South China and Malaysia and tropical north Australia. It was probably introduced to Mexico
Common Names Cali Bean, Calinut, Elephant creeper, Elva, Elva Climber, Garbee Bean, Gila Bean, Go-go, Go-go Vine, Gogo, Mackay Bean, Matchbox Bean, Go-go, Monkey Ladder Pod, Nicker Bean, Sea Bean, Sea Heart, St Thomas Bean, sword bean
Name in Other Languages Assamese:  Bor gilla, Ghila, Gila lewa, Gilar lot
Bengali:  Gilagach, Gilla, Pangra
Brazil : Cipó-Da-Beira-Mar
Burmese:  Dobin, Nyin
Chinese: Kē téngzi (榼藤子), Guò jiāng long (過江龍), Ke Teng
Columbia : Bejuco Parta, Cobalonga, Habo, Ojo De Buey, Parta
English:  Cali bean, Elephant creeper, Elva climber, Gila bean, Gogo vine, Matchbox bean, Monkey ladder pod, St. Thomas bean, sword bean
French:  Entada de Formose, Coeur de la mer, Coeur de singe, Liane géante, Wawa
Garo: Chhui, Shuri, Sue Budu
German:   Pangraschote, Riesenhülse, Seeherzen, Seebohnen, Trockenblumen, Westindische Haselnuß, Westindische Haselstrauch
Hindi:  Barabi (भरबी), Chian
Indonesia : Bendoh, Gandu, Chariyu
Kannada:  Chappebelli, Doddakampi, Haleballi, Halle, Hallebilu, Hallekayiballi, Palleburu
Malay:  Akar belu, Akar beluru, Akar belerang, Akar kupang, Bendoh (Java), Gandu, Sentok, Sintok
Malayalam:  Ahakkatela, Anatata, Entada, Kakavalli, Kakkavalli, Makkanka, Paranta, Parin- Perunkakkavalli, Paranda, Paringakavalli, Paringakakavully, Perimkakuvalli, Perumkakkavalli, Vattavalli
Manipuri: Kangkhil
Marathi:   Garambi (गारंबी), Garbe, Girambi
Mexico : Alampepe
Oriya:  Giridi
Philippines : Tamayan, Balonos, Gogo, Bayogo, Kessing,
Kezzing, Dipai, Lipai, Lipay, Balugo, Gogong-Bakai, Gogong-Bakay,
Gugu, Gogo, Barugo, Barugu, Bayogo, Gogo, Balugo, Bayogo, Gogo, Gugo, Gugu
Portuguese:  Cipó-da-beira-mar
Russian:  Entada fasolevidnaia (Энтада фасолевидная),  Entada formozanskaia (Энтада формозанская)
Samoa : Tupe
Sanskrit:  Prthvika, Gilla
Spanish:  Alampepe, Bejuco parta, Cobalonga, Habo, Ojo de buey, Parta
Sri Lanka : Maha Puswel, Maha Pusvael
Sundanese:  Chariyu
Tagalog:  Gogo
Tamil:  Anaittellu, Camuttirappuliyan, Cillu, Irikki, Kirancakamirakkoti, Kirancakamiram, Nukkuki, Nukkukikkoti, Ottolakkoti, Ottolam, Perumancati, Peruntellu, Peyarttavakkoti, Peyarttavam, Sillu, Tel, Tellu, Tellukkoti, Viccali, Viccalittellu,
Yanaittellu
Telegu:  Gila tiga, Gilatige, Peddamadupu, Tandramanu, Tikativva
Thai : Maba, Kam Ton, Saba
Tonga : Pa’anga
Plant Growth Habit Large, woody, branched, evergreen climbing vine
Growing Climates Wide variety of habitats, ranging from freshwater swamp and inland from the mangrove up to montane forest
Plant Size 100 m long and 18 cm in diameter
Bark Dark brown and rough
Types
  • E. phaseoloides subsp. phaseoloides
  • E. phaseoloides subsp. tonkinensis
Stem Thick as a man’s arm, angled, and much twisted
Leaf Leaves 10–25 cm, on short petiole and tripinnate, the apical pair transformed into a long tendril. Pinnae stalked, usually 4 in number with oblong, elliptic or narrowly obovate, 2.5–5 cm long, coriaceous, glabrous, simple leaflets. Leaflets are somewhat elliptical, between 25 and 100 mm (0.98 and 3.94 in) long and 10 to 60 mm (0.39 to 2.36 in) wide
Flower Flowers are between 2–3.5 mm (0.079–0.138 in) long, yellowish white, either crowded in long slender spikes from the axils of the upper leaves or arranged in terminal panicles. It is slightly fragrant and has 5 toothed, campanulata calyxes
Fruit Shape & Size Characteristic pods can grow very large, up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long and 130 mm (5.1 in) wide, somewhat curved, slightly constricted between the seeds.
Fruit Color Green when young turning to brown as they mature
Seed Seeds are hard, and circular, with their sides flattened, about 5 centimeters across, and chocolate brown
Propagation By seeds or air-layering
Taste Bitter, acrid
Plant Parts Used Bark, seeds and vines
Precautions
  • The plant is poisonous.
  • The seeds and bark have been used in many countries as a fish poison.
  • It may cause conjunctivitis.

Leaves

Leaves are 10–25 cm, on short petiole and tripinnate, the apical pair is transformed into a long tendril. Pinnae stalked, usually 4 in number with oblong, elliptic or narrowly obovate, 2.5–5 cm long, coriaceous, glabrous, simple leaflets. Leaflet are somewhat elliptical, between 25 and 100 mm (0.98 and 3.94 in) long and 10 to 60 mm (0.39 to 2.36 in) wide. Spikes are 15–25 cm, solitary or arranged in a panicle, villous with pubescent bracts.

Flowers

Flowers are between 2–3.5 mm (0.079–0.138 in) long, yellowish white, either crowded in long slender spikes from the axils of the upper leaves or arranged in terminal panicles. It is slightly fragrant and has 5 toothed, campanulata calyxes. Stamens are white, slightly longer than corolla. Ovary is glabrous with a filiform style.

Fruits

Fertile flowers are followed by characteristic pods that can grow very large, up to 2 m (6 ft. 7 in) long and 130 mm (5.1 in) wide, somewhat curved, slightly restricted between the seeds. Each pod consists of between 10 and 20 reddish brown seeds that are circular, hard and lens-shaped with their sides flattened and about 40 to 60 mm (1.6 to 2.4 in) in diameter.  These chocolate-brown hued seeds are used by locals medicinally. As with a wide variety of other folkloric herbs, every part of the St Thomas bean may be used therapeutically, with each constituent part possessing its own medicinal value and curative property.

Health benefits of St. Thomas Bean

These are some of the popular health benefits of using St. Thomas bean

1. Anti-cancer

Saponin extracted from Entada phaseoloides seeds can efficiently protect cell membrane and prevent cell aging, dilate blood vessels, lower blood pressure and blood sugar, improve liver cell protein and DNA synthesis, and most importantly it can considerably prevent the growth of cervical cancer.

2. Prevents Bleeding

Powdered St. Thomas bean seeds are taken with congee to stop bleeding caused by hemorrhoids. Entada phaseoloides seed and honey locust seed are roasted and powdered; the powder is taken with warm wine to treat gastrointestinal bleeding.

Traditional uses and benefits of St. Thomas bean

Culinary Uses

Other Facts

References:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=502304#null

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Entada+phaseoloides

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ENPH#

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entada_phaseoloides

https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=411955

https://bie.ala.org.au/species/http://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2914070

https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3281753

http://www.stuartxchange.org/Gogo.html

https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Entada_phaseoloides

http://en.hortipedia.com/wiki/Entada_phaseoloides

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/ild-39042

https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/ENTPH

78%
78%
Awesome

Comments

comments