Artocarpus lacucha

Artocarpus lacucha
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Artocarpus
Species:
A. lacucha
Binomial name
Artocarpus lacucha
Synonyms
  • Artocarpus ficifolius W.T.Wang
  • Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb.
  • Artocarpus yunnanensis H.H.Hu
  • Saccus lakoocha (Roxb.) Kuntze

Artocarpus lacucha, also known as monkey jack or monkey fruit, is a tropical evergreen tree species of the family Moraceae. It is distributed throughout the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The tree is valued for its wood; its fruit is edible and is believed to have medicinal value. In Northeastern Thailand, the wood is used to make pong lang, a local traditional instrument.

The stilbenoid oxyresveratrol can be isolated from the heartwood of Artocarpus lacucha 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 or against taeniasis.

This tree is mentioned in the Arthashastra.