Polyscias fruticosa

Polyscias fruticosa, or Ming aralia, is a perennial plant, dicot evergreen shrub or dwarf tree, native to India.

[1] The Ming aralia is widely cultivated in several countries of Southeast Asia and the tropical islands of the Pacific region.

The family Araliaceae, to which the genus Polyscias, including Ming aralia, belongs, gives rise to a multitude of trees or shrubs that contain gum and resin ducts.

Araliaceae is known as the ginseng family, which is where the traits of the Ming Aralia spice and medical herb originate.

In experiments with rodents, root extract of Polyscias fruticosa (Vietnamese= Dinh lang) has been demonstrated to extend life span[3] and improve cognitive function[4]

Polyscias guilfoylei and Polyscias fruticosa
In Thailand , Polyscias fruticosa is called lep khrut (lit. " Garuda claws"). It can be eaten raw, together with a spicy dip, or it can be boiled in curries. [ 2 ]