The Use of Synchrotron Light to Prove the Uniqueness of “Jaeng Suranaree”, the Specific Local Plant from Nakhon Ratchasima

         “Jaeng” is a plant that is spread around dry evergreen forests, mixed deciduous forests, dry dipterocarp forests, and limestone hills. The name in scientific term is Maerua siamensis (Kurz) Pax. The reason why it has “siam” in the name is to indicate that Thailand had discovered only one kind of Jaeng. Later, it was discovered by a team of researchers from Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG), Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) in collaboration with the Nakhon Ratchasima Agricultural Research and Development Center, Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University that Thailand also has another plant that has the same botanical characteristics as “Jaeng Siam”. We have discovered a new species of the world that is distributed only in the area of Sikhio District and Dan Khun Thot District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

         The new species of Jaeng has leaf morphology and appearance different from Jaeng Siam, but they have similar inflorescences and florets. This is an important morphological characteristic which indicates that they are plants of the same genus. Dr. Pratchaya Srisanga, a botanist from the Botanical Garden Organization and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Santi Watthana, botanist from SUT worked together to check the botanical name. They discovered the new species of the world in 2021 and named it in a botanical term as Maerea koratensis Srisanga & Watthana, and it is named in Thai as “Jaeng Suranaree” to remember Thao Suranaree and in honor of SUT. For the characteristics, Jaeng Suranaree is a semi-climbing shrub. It grows slowly in dry mixed forests. And is considered a local wild plant that is at risk of extinction.

         Nevertheless, scientists have proven the uniqueness of the Jaeng Suranaree seed by using infrared radiation from synchrotron light, analyzed with the SR IR microspectroscopy technique by comparing the Jaeng Suranaree seed to the Jaeng Siam seed. The samples of Jaeng Suranaree and Jaeng Siam were collected from Lat Buakhao Subdistrict, Sikhio District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The result shows that the Jaeng Suranaree seed has a higher amount of fat than Jaeng Siam. However, Jaeng Siam seed has higher protein and carbohydrates than Jaeng Suranaree.

         This basic information is the new knowledge that will help people to understand the basic information of Jaeng Suranaree. This will lead to in-depth studies, such as studies in other parts of Jaeng Suranaree including the study of various important active ingredients, such as determining the amount of total phenolic compounds and flavonoid compounds that are antioxidants or finding biologically active substances to develop into pharmaceuticals or cosmeceuticals, etc. It will further upgrade and develop Thai medicinal plants to have high added value.

Article by:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amornrat Molee, Director of the Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Suranaree University of Technology

Dr. Kanjana Thumanu, Beamline Scientist, Synchrotron Light Research Institute (Public Organization)

Complier: Corporate Communications Section, SLRI

Translation: International Relations Officer, User Service Section, SLRI