Wood The wood of
H. arboreum is commonly used to make handicrafts, tools, and, in Polynesia, frames for swim
goggles. Due to its availability,
H. arboreum is used as
firewood, and has become rare in some areas as a result.
Leaves In the Marshall Islands, corpses are washed in water soaked with the leaves of the tree heliotrope to mask smells. The leaves are used as a spice on some islands, and can also be eaten raw as a salad. In Kiribati, oil from the leaves is used to make deodorant.
Medicinal Octopus bush is used in many Pacific islands as a traditional medicine to treat
ciguatera fish poisoning, which is caused by powerful
ciguatoxins produced by microscopic
Gambierdiscus algae. Scientists from the Institute of Research for Development (IRD) and the Louis Malarde Institute in French Polynesia and Pasteur Institute in New Caledonia are researching the plant chemistry and believe that senescent leaves contain
rosmarinic acid and derivatives, which are known for its
antiviral,
antibacterial,
antioxidant, and
anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers think that rosmarinic acid removes the ciguatoxins from their sites of action, as well as being an anti-inflammatory agent.
Coastal protection The preferred growing conditions of
H. arboreum are in the littoral zone. It thrives in sandy barren soil with high drainage. It is capable of withstanding sea spray, and can grow in heavy winds. The tree is also a drought resistant variety, allowing it to survive the subtropical dry season of the South Pacific. These factors, plus the roots of
H. arboreum taking hold in the sand, help stabilize the shore, mitigating coastal erosion. ==References==