White Leadtree Shoots Must Be Cooked

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)

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

Sources

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

Narration transcript

Opening

White leadtree — ผักกระถิน, pak-kra-tin. It's a fast-growing legume tree, often planted as a living hedge, and its soft feathery shoot-tips and flat green pods double as a Thai vegetable. Those young shoots and pods are what you eat — cooked, and in modest amounts. Blanch them for salads and nam prik.

ยำยอดกระถิน (Yum Yod Kathin)

Yum yod kathin tosses blanched leadtree shoots with shrimp, minced pork, and a roasted-chili dressing, eaten with steamed jasmine rice.

หอยนางรมทรงเครื่อง (Hoi Nang Rom Song Khruang)

Hoi nang rom song khruang crowns fresh oysters with roasted chili paste, crispy shallots, and blanched leadtree shoots, with a garlic-chili dip on the side.

Nutrition summary

Cooked, these young shoots are a good source of calcium and vitamin C, and bring a real hit of iron and protein.

Protein

Protein contributes to the growth and maintenance of muscle, helps repair body tissues, and helps you feel full and satisfied.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A contributes to normal vision and helps maintain healthy skin and surface tissues.

Calcium

Calcium is needed to maintain normal bones and teeth, supports normal muscle and nerve function, and contributes to normal blood clotting.

Iron

Iron is part of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in your blood, and it supports normal energy metabolism.

Closing

The one rule with leadtree: cook the young shoots and pods, and keep portions small. Raw and by the plateful, their mimosine — a plant compound that can bring on hair loss, appetite loss, and thyroid trouble — builds up. Prune the tree tight into a low hedge and it keeps pushing out fresh shoots at arm's height. Follow Longevity Biome, and LIKE this video for regular updates.

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