Botanical Overview
Khasi Pine (Pinus kesiya) is a species in the Pinaceae family. The pine family (Pinaceae) includes coniferous trees with needle-like leaves arranged in bundles or spirally along the branches. They produce male and female cones and are wind-pollinated. The resin contains turpentine and other terpenes with traditional medicinal uses for respiratory conditions. Although comprehensive ethnobotanical records are limited, phytochemical studies have identified 7 compounds in this species, suggesting potential medicinal value.
General Description
Its range extends south and east from the Khasi Hills in the northeast Indian state of Meghalaya, to Burma, northern Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, southernmost China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. It is an important plantation species elsewhere in the world, including in southern Africa and South America. The common name “Khasi pine” is from the Khasi hills in India, and “Benguet pine” is from the landlocked province of Benguet in Luzon, Philippines, where it is the dominant species of the Luzon tropical pine forests (known as saleng in Ilocano). The Benguet pine is sometimes treated as a separate species, Pinus insularis; however, the current opinion is to treat this as conspecific with P. kesiya var. langbianensis. The city of Baguio is nicknamed “The City of Pines”, as it is noted for large stands of this tree.
Family Context
The Pinaceae family is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Notable medicinal members include:
- Longleaf Pine — 29 documented uses
- Chir Pine — 27 documented uses
- Silver-Fir — 20 documented uses
- Pinyon Pine — 15 documented uses
Geographic Distribution
Khasi Pine has been recorded in 10 countries and territories worldwide, including Brazil, China, Indonesia, India, Madagascar, and others.
Active Compounds
Phytochemical research has identified 7 compounds in this species, including a diverse array of phytochemical classes (see the Complete Chemical Inventory below for the full list).
The identified compounds include the following categories:
- Alkaloid: nitrogenous compounds with diverse pharmacological activities
- Tannin: astringent compounds that tighten tissues and resist infection
Research Status
Although this species has documented phytochemical constituents, its ethnobotanical and clinical documentation remains incomplete. Further ethnobotanical and pharmacological research may reveal additional therapeutic applications for this species.