Artocarpus lacucha

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{speciesbox

|image = Lakoocha tree.JPEG

|image_caption =

|genus = Artocarpus

|species = lacucha

|authority = Buch.-Ham.

|synonyms = * Artocarpus ficifolius W.T.Wang

• Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb.
• Artocarpus yunnanensis H.H.Hu
• Saccus lakoocha (Roxb.) Kuntze

}}

File:Monkey jack (Artocarpus lacucha) fruits.jpg

File:Artocarpus lacucha KR.JPG VDC, Nepal]]

Artocarpus lacucha, also known as monkey jack{{GRIN | accessdate=1 August 2014}} or monkey fruit, is a tropical evergreen tree species of the family Moraceae. It is distributed throughout the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.Pankaj Oudhia, Robert E. Paull. Monkey Jack Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb., Moraceae

p485-487.Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts - 2008, J. Janick and R. E. Paull - editors, CABI, Wallingford, United Kingdom The tree is valued for its wood; its fruit is edible and is believed to have medicinal value.[http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-405.html Lakoocha: A Multipurpose Tree of Warm Climate] In Northeastern Thailand, the wood is used to make pong lang, a local traditional instrument.{{Cite journal | doi=10.1186/1746-4269-7-33| title=Ethnobotanical investigation of 'wild' food plants used by rice farmers in Kalasin, Northeast Thailand| journal=Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine| volume=7| pages=33| year=2011| last1=Cruz-Garcia| first1=Gisella S.| last2=Price| first2=Lisa L.| pmid=22067578| pmc=3233498| doi-access=free}}

The stilbenoid oxyresveratrol can be isolated from the heartwood of Artocarpus lacucha{{Cite journal|pmid=19349726|year=2009|last1=Maneechai|first1=S|last2=Likhitwitayawuid|first2=K|last3=Sritularak|first3=B|last4=Palanuvej|first4=C|last5=Ruangrungsi|first5=N|last6=Sirisa-Ard|first6=P|title=Quantitative analysis of oxyresveratrol content in Artocarpus lakoocha and 'Puag-Haad'|volume=18|issue=3|pages=223–7|doi=10.1159/000204354|journal=Medical Principles and Practice|s2cid=29232919}} as well as in Puag Haad, the light brown powder obtained from the aqueous extract of the wood chips of A. lakoocha by boiling, then slow evaporation, followed by cooling. This traditional drug is effective against the intestinal fluke Haplorchis taichui{{cite journal|url=http://www.tm.mahidol.ac.th/seameo/2005_36_spp4/36sup4_112.pdf |pmid=16438193 |year=2005 |last1=Wongsawad |first1=C |last2=Wongsawad |first2=P |last3=Luangphai |first3=P |last4=Kumchoo |first4=K |title=In vitro effects of aqueous extract from Artocarpus takoocha Roxb on tegumental surface of Haplorchis taichui |volume=36 |pages=112–6 |journal=The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health |issue=Suppl 4 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202235650/http://www.tm.mahidol.ac.th/seameo/2005_36_spp4/36sup4_112.pdf |archivedate=2013-12-02 }} or against taeniasis.{{Cite journal|pmid=2738489|id= {{INIST|7273462}}|year=1989|last1=Charoenlarp|first1=P|last2=Radomyos|first2=P|last3=Bunnag|first3=D|title=The optimum dose of Puag-Haad in the treatment of taeniasis|volume=72|issue=2|pages=71–3|journal=Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet Thangphaet }}

This tree is mentioned in the Arthashastra.Arthashastra/Book XIII