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Kempas - Koompassia malaccensis Maing - Fabaceae [1]
Other names:
Impas (Sabah), Menggris (Sarawak) [1]
General information:
A very large tree up to 60 m tall with thick, plank-like buttresses [2]. The third commonest big tree in Peninsular Malaysia[2].
Distinguish botanical characteristics:
Leaf – compound, alternate, stalked leaflets – alternate[2]
Fruit – indehiscent, flat, oblong, thin, papery with broad wing, twisted lengthwise[2]
Stem bark – very smooth/finely, irregularly, closely fissured, dark grey or blackish to reddish-brown[3]
Fruit – indehiscent, flat, oblong, thin, papery with broad wing, twisted lengthwise[2]
Stem bark – very smooth/finely, irregularly, closely fissured, dark grey or blackish to reddish-brown[3]
Uses:
Medicinal use – decoction of stem bark – for treating dysentery[4]
Wood – used as firewood and for high quality charcoal[2]
Timber (kempas timber) – for heavy permanent structures, flooring[5]
Suitable for landscaping parks and gardens[2]
Wood – used as firewood and for high quality charcoal[2]
Timber (kempas timber) – for heavy permanent structures, flooring[5]
Suitable for landscaping parks and gardens[2]
Major/bioactive phytochemicals:
Stem bark – antimicrobial compounds against S. sobrinus and GTase inhibitors (associated with dental caries) – taxifolin, flavonol rhamnosides – neoastilbin, astilbin, isoastilbin[5]
Stem bark – Kompasinol A[4]
Stem bark – Kompasinol A[4]
References:
[1] https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/26966
[2] https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/9/2984
[3] https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Koompassia_malaccensis_(PROSEA)
[4] Kobayashi et al. (1996), Chem. Pharm. Bull. 44(12), 2249-2253.
[5] https://jwoodscience.springeropen.com/articles/10.1007/s10086-009-1026-4
SK & NMH, 2022
