This species has often been misidentified in the literature as Croton sublyratus, a species endemic to the Nicobar and Andaman Islands[].

Common Name:

General Information

Croton stellatopilosus is a shrub or small tree growing up to 5 metres tall[]. The bole is about 8cm in diameter, branching from near the base[].
The plant is a popular traditional medicine in Thailand, where it is commonly harvested from the wild and also cultivated for medicinal use. The leaves are a rich source of the medicinal compound 'plaunotol', an acyclic diterpene that is an effective treatment for peptic ulcers. The plant is cultivated in order to supply this compound to the pharmaceutical industry[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Myanmar, Thailand.

Habitat

Rock crevices, in mixed bamboo forest and along roadsides at elevations up to 500 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Most Croton species are relatively indifferent to their habitat and can grow on a wide range of soils in both disturbed and undisturbed vegetation[].
A fast-growing species, seedlings can reach a height of 2 - 4 metres within 3 - 4 years[].
Croton stellatopilosus can be successfully propagated by shoot tip culture technique for rapid multiplication of superior plant material with higher plaunotol content[].
The plant can be successfully grafted onto the roots of Croton persimilis in order to obtain protection from root rot. No root rot was observed in the grafted plants during the year after grafting. In addition, grafting promoted the vegetative growth of Croton stellatopilosus and did not affect the plaunotol content of leaves[].
For commercial production, the plants are cut back to about 2 metres above ground; stems with few branches are thinned and branches with only a few buds cut back. During the growing season only the top part of branches with many leaves are lightly cut back. Heavy pruning is avoided to secure an increase in leaf yield and plaunotol content in the leaves of the next harvest. Following this system leaves can be harvested three times a year; at the early stage of vegetative growth, then again around 8 weeks and 20 weeks after the first harvest[]
In plantations of less than 2 years old, the use of Calopogonium mucunoides Desv. as a cover crop has been found to be effective methods of weed control[]
Through appropriate pruning the dry-weight yield of 7-year-old plants can be increased from 341g to 905g leaves and from 3.3g to 6.2g plaunotol, respectively. Plaunotol content is highest in young leaves. The annual production of a 1,200 ha plantation in Thailand was estimated at 1,700 tonnes of dried leaves[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The stem bark and leaves are used as an antidiarrhoeal and to normalize menstruation[]. The bark is also used for the treatment of indigestion[].
In Thai traditional medicine, the plant is commonly used in combination with Plauyai (Croton persimilis Müll.Arg.) for many purposes, including as as an antihelminthic agent, digestant, tranquilizer, as a treatment for stomach ache and as a dermatological agent for treating skin diseases[].

This species, and especially the leaves, is currently (2012) under active research in Thailand as the source of a drug to treat peptic ulcer, and to stop stomach bleeding[].

The flowers are applied as an anthelmintic[].

A considerable number of medicinally active compounds, including diterpenes, diterpene esters, diterpene lactones and furanoid terpenes have been isolated from various parts of the plant. Several of these have shown activity against peptic ulcers[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Scions can be successfully side-grafted onto rootstocks of Croton persimilis, a species not susceptible to root rot under comparable conditions[].

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