Home / Regular Issue / JTAS Vol. 45 (3) Aug. 2022 / JTAS-2430-2022

 

Shorea macrophylla: Overview of Illipe Nut Producing Tree

Ivy Yee Yen Chew, Hung Hui Chung, Melinda Mei Lin Lau, Boon Siong Wee and Siong Fong Sim

Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, Volume 45, Issue 3, August 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjtas.45.3.08

Keywords: Dipterocarpaceae, Engkabang, illipe nut, Shorea macrophylla, timber

Published on: 8 August 2022

Shorea macrophylla is also named as ‘Engkabang’ (Iban), ‘Kawang’ (Brunei), and ‘Tengkawang’ (Indonesia). It belongs to the Dipterocarpaceae family and is categorised under the genus Shorea, which can be found in the tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia. It prefers wet habitats, such as in periodically flooded alluvium and riverbanks. The tree size of S. macrophylla is medium or large; however, some researchers in Kalimantan claim it is a small tree. The flowering and fruiting systems of most Dipterocarps, including S. macrophylla, are irregular, but there is a massive flowering event once every few years. Its genetic structure is characterised by moderate genetic diversity within species and populations, as well as high genetic differentiation within local populations. Shorea macrophylla, also known as the Light Red Meranti, is a suitable timber supply for light construction work. It produces illipe nuts that are widely used as cocoa butter replacer fat. Wildlife eats the ripe illipe nuts, which contain a high oil content with mostly beneficial unsaturated triglycerides. The fat extracted from the nut are suitable for cosmetic application as it provides a good moisturising effect. Future investigation into the illipe nuts’ composition and other potential uses should be carried out.

  • Adanan, I. C., Wasli, M. E., Perumal, M., & Ho, S. Y. (2020). Characterization of soil properties in relation to Shorea macrophylla growth performance under sandy soils at Sabal Forest Reserve, Sarawak, Malaysia. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 21(4), 1467–1475. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d210426

  • Appanah, S. (1993). Mass flowering of dipterocarp forests in the aseasonal tropics. Journal of Biosciences, 18(4), 457–474. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02703079

  • Ashton, P. S. (1982). Dipterocarpaceae. Flora Malesiana, 9(1), 237–552.

  • Ashton, P. S., Gan, Y. Y., & Robertson, F. W. (1984). Electrophoretic and morphological comparisons in ten rain forest species of Shorea (Dipterocarpaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 89(4), 293–304. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1984.tb02561.x

  • Chai, E. O. K. (1998). Aspects of a tree improvement programme for Shorea macrophylla (de Vriese) Ashton in Sarawak, Malaysia [Master’s thesis, University of Edinburgh]. GeoSciences PhD Thesis and Dissertation Collection. https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/1842/13343/Chai1998.Pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

  • Chandler, C. J., Heijden, G. M. F. V. D., Boyd, D. S., Cutler, M. E. J., Costa, H., Nilus, R., & Foody, G. M. (2021). Remote sensing liana infestation in an aseasonal tropical forest: Addressing mismatch in spatial units of analyses. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, 7(3), 397–410. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.197

  • Entri, D. A. (2013). Determination of Tor tambroides (empurau) growth rate using different feed system [Unpublished undergraduate’s thesis]. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

  • Gani, S. S. A., Basri, M., Rahman, M. B. A., Kassim, A., Rahman, R. N. Z. R. A., Salleh, A. B., & Ismail, Z. (2010). Characterization and effect on skin hydration of engkabang-based emulsions. Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, 74(6), 1188–1193. https://doi.org/10.1271/bbb.90915

  • Grubb, P. J. (1977). The maintenance of species-richness in plant communities: The importance of the regeneration niche. Biological Reviews, 52(1), 107–145. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.1977.tb01347.x

  • Harith, M. N., & Hassan, R. (2011). Blue-green algae and nutrient concentrations in two Tor tambroides aquaculture ponds differing in construction. Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation, 8, 51–61. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.4820.5440

  • Hotta, M. (1997). A taxonomic note of Shorea macrophylla group (Tengkawang) in West Kalimantan. Tropics, 7(1/2), 54–56. https://doi.org/10.3759/tropics.7.54

  • Illiyin, M. R. N., Marikkar, J. M. N., Shuhaimi, M., Mahiran, B., & Miskandar, M. S. (2013). A comparison of the thermo-physical behavior of Engkabang (Shorea macrophylla) seed fat - Canola oil blends and lard. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 90(10), 1485–1493. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-013-2307-z

  • Indriani, F., Siregar, U. J., Matra, D. D., & Siregar, I. Z. (2019). Ecological aspects and genetic diversity of Shorea balangeran in two forest types of Muara Kendawangan Nature Reserve, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas, 20(2), 482–488. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d200226

  • Ismaili, G., Rahim, K. K. A., & Ismaili, Z. (2016). Strength group of Engkabang jantong as fast growing indigenous species timber in Sarawak. Journal of Scientific Research and Development, 3(2), 28–32.

  • Kamarudin, M. S., Bami, M. L., Arshad, A., Saad, C. R., & Ebrahimi, M. (2017). Preliminary study of the performance of crude illipe oil (Shorea macrophylla) as a dietary lipid source for riverine cyprinid Tor tambroides. Fisheries Science, 84(2), 385–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-017-1160-7

  • Kanzaki, M., Watanabe, M., Kuwahara, J., Kendawang, J. J., Lee, H. S., Serizawa, S., & Yamakura, T. (1996). Genetic structure of Shorea macrophylla in Sarawak, Malaysia. Tropics, 6(1/2), 153–160. https://doi.org/10.3759/tropics.6.153

  • Kenzo, T., Ichie, T., Ozawa, T., Kashimura, S., Hattori, D., Irino, K. O., Kendawang, J. J., Sakurai, K., & Ninomiya, I. (2007). Leaf physiological and morphological responses of seven dipterocarp seedlings to degraded forest environments in Sarawak, Malaysia: A case study of forest rehabilitation practice. Tropics, 17(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3759/tropics.17.1

  • Lee, H. S., Itoh, A., Kanzaki, M., & Yamakura, T. (1997). Height growth of Engkabang Jantong, Shorea macrophylla (De Vr.) Ashton, in a plantation forest in Sarawak. Tropics, 7(1/2), 67–80. https://doi.org/10.3759/tropics.7.67

  • Leysia, C. (2012). Assessing soil characteristic under reforestation of indigenous tree species: A case study at Sampadi Forest Reserve , Lundu [Master’s thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak]. UNIMAS Institutional Repository. https://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/10140/

  • Lo, Y. N. (1985). Root initiation of Shorea macrophylla cuttings: Effects of node position, growth regulators and misting regime. Forest Ecology and Management, 12(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-1127(85)90135-5

  • Mathiesen, U. B. (1994). Borneo illipe, a fat product from different Shorea spp. (Dipterocarpaceae). Economic Botany, 48(3), 231–242. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02862321

  • Moura, C. C. D. M., Brambach, F., Bado, K. J. H., Krutovsky, K. V., Kreft, H., Tjitrosoedirdjo, S. S., Siregar, I. Z., & Gailing, O. (2019). Integrating DNA barcoding and traditional taxonomy for the identification of dipterocarps in remnant lowland forests of Sumatra. Plants, 8(11). 461. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8110461

  • Nawar, N. H. H. B. M. (2012). Importance of topography and soil physical properties on the growth of Shorea macrophylla under reforestation at Sampadi Forest Reserve [Unpublished undergraduate’s thesis]. University Malaysia Sarawak.

  • Nesaretnam, K., & Ali, A. R. M. (1992). Engkabang (Illipe) - An excellent component for cocoa butter equivalent fat. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 60(1), 15–20. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2740600104

  • Ng, K. K. S., Ang, K. C., & Lee, S. L. (2002). Mating system in a planted population of Shorea macrophylla (Dipterocarpaceae). Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 14(1), 145–149.

  • Norazlin, M. H., Mahiran, B., Puziah, H., & Salwa, A. G. S. (2015). Improved properties of lipstick formulation with engkabang fats. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutics, 9(2), 125–128. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-8398.154712

  • Nurtjahjaningsih, I. L. G., Widyatmoko, A. Y. P. B. C., Sulistyawati, P., & Rimbawanto, A. (2012). Screening penanda mikrosatelit Shorea curtisii terhadap jenis-jenis Shorea penghasil Tengkawang [Screening of microsatellite primers of Shorea curtisii for Shorea spp. producing Tengkawang oil]. Jurnal Pemuliaan Tanaman Hutan, 6(1), 49-56. https://doi.org/10.20886/jpth.2012.6.1.49-56

  • Perumal, M., Wasli, M. E., & Ho, S. Y. (2019). Influences of inorganic and organic fertilizers to morphological quality attributes of Shorea macrophylla seedlings in a tropical nursery. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 20(8), 2110–2118. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d200803

  • Perumal, M., Wasli, M. E., & Ho, S. Y. (2021). Outplanting performance of the bornean tropical indigenous species Shorea macrophylla (de Vriese) P. S. Ashton in relation to seedling age. International Journal of Forestry Research, 2021, 8859205. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8859205

  • Perumal, M., Wasli, M. E., Sani, H., & Ho, S. Y. (2013). Morphological and physicochemical properties of the soil planted with Shorea macrophylla at Sampadi Forest Reserve, Sarawak. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315116754_Morphological_and_Physicochemical_Properties_of_the_Soil_Planted_with_Shorea_macrophylla_at_Sampadi_Forest_Reserve_Sarawak

  • Perumal, M., Wasli, M. E., Ying, H. S., Lat, J., & Sani, H. (2015). Soil morphological and physicochemical properties at reforestation sites after enrichment planting of Shorea macrophylla in Sampadi Forest Reserve, Sarawak, Malaysia. Borneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology, 5(2), 28-43. https://doi.org/10.33736/bjrst.220.2015

  • Rahman, N. F. A., Basri, M., Rahman, M. B. A., Rahman, R. N. Z. R. A., & Salleh, A. B. (2011). High yield lipase-catalyzed synthesis of Engkabang fat esters for the cosmetic industry. Bioresource Technology, 102(3), 2168–2176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.10.034

  • Rahman, N. F. A., & Basri, M. (2013). Interactive effects of impeller speed and substrate molar ratio on synthesis of Engkabang fat esters. International Journal of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Sciences, 1(3), 528–530.

  • Redhwan, A. I., & Komilus, C. F. (2021). Mahseers in Malaysia: A review on feed for Tor tambroides (Empurau) cultured in captivity. https://conference.upm.edu.my/PSAF2021

  • Riska., & Manurung, T. F. (2018). Morfologi vegetative jenis pohon Tengkawang (Shorea spp.) di Desa Mensiau Kecamatan Batang Lupar Kabupaten Kapuas Hulu [The vegetative morphology of Tengkawang tree species (Shorea spp.) in Mensiau Village, Batang Lupar Subdistrict, Kapuas Hulu Regency]. Jurnal Tengkawang, 8(2), 110–121. https://doi.org/10.26418/jt.v8i2.31077

  • Rosdayanti, H., Siregar, U. J., & Siregar, I. Z. (2019). Karakter penciri morfologi daun Meranti (Shorea spp.) pada area Budidaya Ex-Situ KHDTK Haurbentes [Leaf morphology traits of Shorea spp. in Ex-Situ KHDTK Haurbentes]. Media Konservasi, 24(2), 207–215. https://doi.org/10.29244/medkon.24.2.207-215

  • Roslan, N. I. M., Marikkar, J. M. N., Manaf, Y. N., Mustafa, S., & Miskandar, M. S. (2019). Effect of enzymatic transesterification using Mucor miehei lipase on physicochemical properties of Engkabang (Shorea macrophylla) fat-canola oil blends. International Food Research Journal, 26(5), 1427–1435.

  • Sidi, M. B., Wasli, M. E., Polly, E., Nahrawi, H., Elias, H., & Omar, D. (2021). Short communication : Incidence of insect pest on planted Shorea macrophylla at reforestation sites in Gunung Apeng National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia. Biodiversitas, 22(11), 5162–5168. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d221154

  • Sulistyawati, P., & Widyatmoko, A. (2018). Hubungan kekerabatan Shorea gysbertsiana dengan tiga jenis Shorea penghasil Tengkawang lainnya berdasarkan penanda RAPD. [Genetic relationship of Shorea gysbertsiana with other three Shorea species producing Tengkawang based on RAPD marker]. Jurnal Pemuliaan Tanaman Hutan, 12(2), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.20886/jpth.2018.12.2.85-94

  • Tompsett, P. B. (1998). Seed physiology. In A. Simmathiri & J. M. Turnbull (Eds.), A review of Dipterocarps. Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). https://doi.org/10.17528/cifor/000463

  • Tsumura, Y., Kado, T., Yoshida, K., Abe, H., Ohtani, M., Taguchi, Y., Fukue, Y., Tani, N., Ueno, S., Yoshimura, K., Kamiya, K., Harada, K., Takeuchi, Y., Diway, B., Finkeldey, R., Na’iem, M., Indrioko, S., Ng, K. K. S., Muhammad, N., & Lee, S. L. (2011). Molecular database for classifying Shorea species (Dipterocarpaceae) and techniques for checking the legitimacy of timber and wood products. Journal of Plant Research, 124(1), 35–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-010-0348-z

  • Utomo, S., Uchiyama, K., Ueno, S., & Matsumoto, A. (2018). Effects of Pleistocene climate change on genetic structure and diversity of Shorea macrophylla in Kalimantan Rainforest. Tree Genetics and Genomes, 14, 44. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-018-1261-1

  • Windyarini, E., & Hasnah, T. M. (2015). Identifikasi dan evaluasi pertumbuhan semai jenis-jenis Shorea penghasil Tengkawang [Identification and evaluation of the growth of seedlings of Tengkawang-producing Shorea species]. Jurnal Wasian, 2(1), 32–40. https://doi.org/10.20886/jwas.v2i1.868

  • Wong, S. L. (2009). Comparison of physical and strength properties for different age group of Shorea macrophylla [Unpublished undergraduate’s thesis]. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

  • Yanty, N. A. M., Marikkar, J. M. N., & Shuhaimi, M. (2013). Effect of fractional crystallization on composition and thermal properties of engkabang (Shorea macrophylla) seed fat and cocoa butter. Grasas y Aceites, 64(5), 546–553. https://doi.org/10.3989/gya.023213

  • Yunanta, R. R. K., Lukmandaru, G., & Fernandes, A. (2014). Sifat kimia dari kayu Shorea retusa, Shorea macroptera, dan Shorea macrophylla [Chemical properties of Shorea retusa, Shorea macroptera, and Shorea macrophylla]. Jurnal Penelitian Dipterokarpa, 8(1), 15-24. https://doi.org/10.20886/jped.2014.8.1.15-24

ISSN 1511-3701

e-ISSN 2231-8542

Article ID

JTAS-2430-2022

Download Full Article PDF

Share this article

Recent Articles