This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Phikun Thong (Mimusops elengi) works primarily through its astringent and antibacterial properties. The bark and flowers contain high levels of tannins and flavonoids, which help tighten gum tissue and reduce inflammation. Studies suggest these active compounds inhibit the growth of oral pathogens like Streptococcus mutans, making it effective against dental caries and gum disease (Evidence Level C). Its traditional use as a mouthwash or tooth powder supports overall oral hygiene.
Can I take Mimusops elengi while pregnant?
No, Mimusops elengi is contraindicated during pregnancy and is considered unsafe. Traditional Ayurvedic and Thai texts advise against its use by expecting mothers. While specific clinical trials on human pregnancy are lacking, the herb's active compounds may stimulate uterine contractions or affect fetal development. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should avoid this herb entirely and consult a healthcare provider for safe alternatives.
What is the recommended dosage for Phikun Thong?
The standard adult dosage for Phikun Thong is 6 to 15 grams of dried bark or flower daily. This is typically prepared as a decoction or powder. For oral health issues like gum inflammation, a mouthwash prepared from the bark is common. Because standardized clinical trials are limited (Evidence Level C), users should follow traditional preparation guidelines or consult a qualified medical herbalist for personalized dosing.
Does Phikun Thong interact with prescription medications?
Currently, there are no well-documented severe drug interactions for Mimusops elengi in medical literature. However, because the herb possesses antipyretic and potential hypoglycemic properties, it could theoretically interact with antidiabetic drugs or other fever-reducing medications. Patients taking insulin or oral hypoglycemics should monitor their blood sugar closely. Always consult a physician before combining herbal supplements with prescription medications.
What are the benefits of Mimusops elengi for the brain?
In traditional Thai and Ayurvedic medicine, Mimusops elengi is classified as a brain tonic intended to improve memory and cognitive function. Preliminary research suggests that the flavonoids and saponins present in the plant may offer neuroprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress (Evidence Level C). While traditionally used to enhance mental clarity, more rigorous human clinical trials are needed to confirm these specific cognitive benefits.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Mimusops elengi, also known as Bakula, is an Indian native plant of the Sapotaceae family used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine for various disorders [PMID:36043759, PMID:23570006].
Background
Mimusops elengi is an evergreen medicinal tree native to India [PMID:23570006, PMID:38524624]. All parts of the plant, including the leaves, root, fruit, seed, bark, and flower, are utilized for medicinal purposes [PMID:23570006, PMID:40966541].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for wound healing, oral care, and the treatment of pain and inflammation [PMID:36043759, PMID:22891989, PMID:25701190].
Active compounds
Identified compounds include triterpenoid saponins (mimusopside A and B, mimusin) [PMID:8835461, PMID:9055450], myricitrin [PMID:37342005], aromatic glycosides (elengiosides A and B) [PMID:29236224], and polyphenols such as ascorbic acid, gallic acid, pyrogallol, and resorcinol [PMID:24759779]. Other constituents include alkaloids, glycosides, and flavonoids [PMID:34281099].
Mechanism of action
The plant exhibits antioxidant activity through radical scavenging (DPPH) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation [PMID:23569968]. Leaf extracts contain a gelatinolytic protease (MEGP) with plasmin-like action on blood clots [PMID:36043759]. Certain compounds show inhibitory activity against enzymes such as beta-glucuronidase [PMID:11858550], collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase [PMID:40966541], and HIV-1 integrase [PMID:24033292].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DWound Healing
Methanolic stem bark extract ointment showed significant wound contracting ability and closure time in mice models [PMID:22238490].
Evidence DInflammation and Pain
Ethanol bark extract (200 mg/kg) significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema and reduced acetic acid-induced writhing in animals [PMID:21218059].
Evidence DGastric Ulcers
Alcoholic extracts and fractions of the bark showed a reduction in ethanol-induced gastric ulceration in mice [PMID:14611897].
Evidence DUrolithiasis
Bark extracts demonstrated antiurolithiatic and antioxidant activity in ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in rats [PMID:21189910].
Evidence DLiver Damage
Methanol leaf extract and isolated myricitrin showed hepatoprotective effects against gamma-radiation-induced liver damage in rats [PMID:37342005].
Evidence DOral Infections
Safety & adverse effects
Aqueous fruit extract (200-600 mg/kg/day) caused reversible suppression of spermatogenesis and fertility in male mice, including degenerative changes in seminiferous tubules [PMID:27489141]. Ethyl acetate bark extract (up to 5000 mg/kg) did not produce signs of toxicity in mice gastric ulcer models [PMID:14611897].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is based on in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), demonstrating significant pharmacological potential in wound healing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, though human clinical trials are lacking.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 36043759 (2022) — Mimusops elengi (Bakula) Gelatinolytic Protease and its Plasmin-like Action on the Blood Clot. · Current protein & peptide science
3.PMID: 23570006 (2012) — Ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological review of Mimusops elengi Linn. · Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
4.PMID: 37342005 (2023) — Hepatoprotective role of myricitrin isolated from Mimusops elengi Linn. leaves extract on γ-radiation-induced liver damage in rats: Phyto-biochemical investigations. · Cell biochemistry and function
5.PMID: 35783046 (2022) — The complete chloroplast genome of Mimusops elengi (Sapotaceae: Sapoteae). · Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
Methanolic extracts showed antimicrobial efficacy against dental pathogens including S. aureus and S. pyogenes [PMID:26752840, PMID:25628685].
Evidence DTumors
Methanol leaf extract and alcoholic stem bark extracts demonstrated in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor activity against Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma in mice [PMID:22891989, PMID:25701190].
6.PMID: 37854917 (2023) — Evaluation of anti-microbial efficacy among Andrographis Paniculata and Mimusops Elengi on oral microflora: An Experimental in-vitro study. · Journal of oral and maxillofacial pathology : JOMFP
7.PMID: 21189910 (2010) — Antiurolithiatic and antioxidant activity of Mimusops elengi on ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in rats. · Indian journal of pharmacology
8.PMID: 23569968 (2012) — Antioxidant potential of phenolic extracts of Mimusops elengi. · Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
11.PMID: 35347673 (2022) — Mimusops elengi Flower-Mediated Green Silver Nanoparticles Control Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii. · Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
12.PMID: 22238490 (2011) — Investigation of wound healing activity of methanolic extract of stem bark of Mimusops elengi Linn. · African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
13.PMID: 21218059 (2010) — Antiinflammatory, Analgesic and Antipyretic Activities of Mimusops elengi Linn. · Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
14.PMID: 32127968 (2019) — Antimicrobial Activity of Hand Lotion of Flower Mimusops elengi. · Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences
15.PMID: 30982187 (2019) — Influence on the effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles as an additive with Mimusops elengi methyl ester in a CI engine. · Environmental science and pollution research international
16.PMID: 24759779 (2014) — Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Mimusops elengi seed extract mediated isotropic silver nanoparticles. · Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy
18.PMID: 22634884 (2012) — Characterization of the molluscicidal activity of Bauhinia variegata and Mimusops elengi plant extracts against the fasciola vector Lymnaea acuminata. · Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo
19.PMID: 14611897 (2003) — Study of Mimusops elengi bark in experimental gastric ulcers. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
20.PMID: 26752840 (2015) — Antibacterial efficacy of Azadirachta indica, Mimusops elengi and 2% CHX on multispecies dentinal biofilm. · Journal of conservative dentistry : JCD
21.PMID: 25628685 (2014) — Anticariogenic and Hemolytic Activity of Selected Seed Protein Extracts In vitro conditions. · Journal of dentistry (Tehran, Iran)
22.PMID: 38524624 (2024) — Impact of automobile exhaust on biochemical and genomorphic characteristics of Mimusops elengi L. growing along roadsides of Lahore city, Pakistan. · Heliyon
23.PMID: 34281099 (2021) — Investigating the Antioxidant and Cytocompatibility of Mimusops elengi Linn Extract over Human Gingival Fibroblast Cells. · International journal of environmental research and public health
24.PMID: 29236224 (2018) — Two new aromatic glycosides, elengiosides A and B, from the flowers of Mimusops elengi. · Journal of natural medicines
25.PMID: 37356683 (2023) — Computational analysis of the phytocompounds of Mimusops elengi against spike protein of SARS CoV2 - An Insilico model. · International journal of biological macromolecules
26.PMID: 40966541 (2025) — Comprehensive metabolomic profiling and anti-aging potential of mimusops elengi L. Fruits and leaves: integrating LC-triple TOF-MS, molecular networking, and in silico approaches. · Natural product research
27.PMID: 27489141 (2016) — Aqueous fruit extract of Mimusops elengi causes reversible suppression of spermatogenesis and fertility in male mice. · Andrologia
28.PMID: 8835462 (1996) — Saponins from three species of Mimusops. · Phytochemistry
29.PMID: 22891989 (2012) — Evaluation of antitumor activity of Mimusops elengi leaves on Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma-treated mice. · Journal of dietary supplements
30.PMID: 25701190 (2016) — Assessment of the in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo anti-tumor activity of the alcoholic stem bark extract/fractions of Mimusops elengi Linn. · Cytotechnology