Plant atlas Short
White Leadtree Shoots Must Be Cooked
White Leadtree Shoots · ผักกระถิน · Leucaena leucocephala
White Leadtree Shoots — ผักกระถิน (phak-kra-thin) — Leucaena leucocephala.
White leadtree — phak-krah-tin. Its shoots turn up in Thai salads and dips, but raw they carry mimosine, a plant toxin you have to cook out first. The edible part is the young shoots and pods. In cell-culture studies, leucaena extract and mimosine showed anti-worm activity against C. elegans. Eat white leadtree only well-cooked and in small amounts. Cooked and in moderation, they are a protein-rich Thai green that also provides beta-carotene, calcium, and iron. For a leafy green, the shoots bring a notable amount of protein, which helps build and repair muscle and tissue and helps a small serving feel filling. Their green color comes with beta-carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A for normal vision and immune function. Calcium is the mineral bones and teeth are built from, and it also helps muscles contract and nerves send signals. Iron is what your blood uses to carry oxygen from your lungs out to the rest of your body. Yam Phak Krathin tosses blanched leadtree shoots with shrimp, minced pork, and a roasted-chili dressing. Hoi Nang Rom Song Khruang tops raw oysters with roasted chili paste, crispy shallots, and blanched leadtree shoots, finished with a garlic-chili drip. The young pods and shoots are good eating only when cooked. Raw and in quantity, mimosine can trigger hair loss, appetite loss, and thyroid trouble, so cook them thoroughly and serve small portions. The tree itself grows fast enough to double as a hedge. For more Thai plants and safe ways to cook them, follow Longevity Biome.
Yum Yod Kathin — ยำยอดกระถิน (yum-yod-ka-tin)
Hoi Nang Rom Song Khruang — หอยนางรมทรงเครื่อง (hoi-nang-rom-song-kruang)
Source: Widaad A, Zulkipli IN, Petalcorin MIR (2022). Anthelmintic effect of Leucaena leucocephala & mimosine in C. elegans. Molecules 27(6):1875. DOI:10.3390/molecules27061875. Toxicity: Hammond AC (1995) J Anim Sci, PMID 7665380
Educational content, not medical advice! Consult your doctor before changing diet or medication.
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Food and nutrients
Rich in: protein, beta-carotene, calcium, iron
Research context
Leucaena (mimosine) shows anti-worm activity in lab studies — but mimosine is toxic; eat only well-cooked / limited amounts — Molecules, 2022