Dabai, Sibu OliveKeravei, Kumbayan, Kedongdong, Kurihang, Saluan

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 6 min read

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This article explains Dabai Scientific Classification in simple medical language.

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Start here Choose the right pathway for symptoms, reports, medicines, or urgent warning signs. Disease article roadmap Read this topic step by step: meaning, symptoms, warning signs, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and follow-up. Treatment planner Prepare questions about treatment choices, benefits, risks, side effects, and follow-up. Family & caregiver guide Organize symptoms, reports, medicines, questions, and follow-up safely. Nutrition & diet guide Prepare food, hydration, supplement, and medicine-timing questions safely. Prevention guide Organize risk factors, protective habits, screening, and warning signs. Recovery guide Prepare a safe plan for activity, rehabilitation, warning signs, and follow-up.

Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.

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Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.

Definition

Dabai is a plant that is found in the tropical rainforest of Sarawak. Fruits are white when they are still immature and turn to purplish pink and powdery black color when ripened. Seeds are subtriangular in shape with three chambers. It is found in undisturbed lowland forests up to 700 meters altitude mostly on ridges and hillsides. It is found on limestones and usually presents as a pre-disturbance remnant tree. It is known as black olive but technically, it is not an olive. The tree grows to the height of 21 meters and the furry leaves are thin and twigs are covered with golden brown. Fruits are oblong resembling the shape of olive and has thin and edible skin. The flesh is yellowish-white which wraps around three angled seeds.

Name	Dabai
Scientific Name	Canarium odontophyllum
Native	Borneo – the area of greatest diversity is located in Brunei Darussalam and the Brunei Bay region. In Sarawak dabai can be found along the riverbansk in Sibu, Kapit and Sarikei divisions. It is also found in Pahlawan and Sumatra.
Common/English Name	Dabai, Sibu Olive
Name in Other Languages	Borneo: Bundui-Bundui, Dabai (Sarawak), Dabu, Dabang, Dawai, Danau Majang, Kembayau (Brunei), Kembayau, Kembayu (Sabah),Defai (Punan Malinau, East Kalimantan), Bua Labai (Merap, East Kalimantan), Bua Pasan (Lundaye, East Kalimantan), Keravei (Kenyah Uma’, East Kalimantan), Kumbayan, Kedongdong, Kurihang, Saluan; Indonesian: Danau majang, Kurihang
Plant Growth Habit	Medium-sized, upright tree
Plant Size	36 m high with 86 cm trunk diameter
Flower	White-yellow, 10 mm across
Fruit shape & size	Oblong to ellipsoidal drupe, 35–40 mm long by 20–25 mm wide
Fruit color	Purplishblack
Flesh color	White or yellow
Fruit skin	Thin
Flavor/aroma	Fine
Fruit Taste	Rich mealy, oily

Dabai Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Canarium odontophyllum

Rank	Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)
Synonyms	Canarium beccarii Engl. in DC Canarium multifidum H.J. Lam Canarium palawanense Elm.

Plant description

Canarium odontophyllum is a medium-sized and upright tree that measures 36 meters high having 86 cm trunk diameter and a branched canopy at the top of the trunk. Leaves are thin, large, and finely pubescent, and pinnate. New leaves form in the color of red velvet or green. Branchlets and petioles have resinous ducts. The flower measures 10 mm across and is white-yellow. Male flower has six stamens and the female flower has six staminodes. Flowers are followed by fleshy and oblong to ellipsoidal drupe about 35–40 mm long by 20–25 mm wide. Fruits are white when immature which turns purplish-black when ripe having thin and edible skin. The flesh is 4-7 mm thick and white or yellow. Seed is large and has three angled points.

Health Benefits of Dabai

Act as antioxidant

Dabai lowers the signs of aging by reducing wrinkles and preserves the skin texture. It prevents skin from sun damage and lowers the chances of sunburn.

Lipid

It produces energy and protects vital organs such as kidneys, heart, spleen and liver.

Magnesium

Magnesium helps to lower the chances of coronary heart diseases. It is beneficial to the cardiovascular system. The sources of magnesium and potassium are associated with reducing blood pressure. Moreover, it treats diabetes, insomnia, migraines and depression.

Calcium

It promotes bone mass in both growing children and young adults. It can lower bone loss during aging. It prevents the chances of weight gain as it promotes more fat to be burned and less fat is stored.

Fatty acids

The diet with low content of fatty acids results in skin problems such as eczema, split nails, dandruff and brittle hair. It regulates blood pressure, liver function and immune responses and also support blood clotting and breaking down of cholesterol.

Culinary uses

It is used in various recipes such as fried rice, pizza, maki, mixed vegetables, mayonnaise, desserts, salad sauce, ice cream and chips.
Soak it in hot water for 10 minutes till it becomes soft and then consume with sugar or soy sauce in a meal.

References

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

Write when the problem started and how it changed.
Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
Basic physical examination by a clinician
CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

Rest, drink safe water, and observe symptoms carefully.
Keep a written note of symptoms, duration, temperature, medicines already taken, and allergy history.
Seek medical care quickly if symptoms are severe, worsening, or unusual for the patient.

OTC medicine safety

For mild pain or fever, ask a registered pharmacist or doctor before using common over-the-counter pain/fever medicines.
Do not combine multiple pain medicines without advice, especially if you have kidney disease, liver disease, stomach ulcer, asthma, pregnancy, or take blood thinners.
Do not give adult medicines to children unless a qualified clinician advises it.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

Severe symptoms, confusion, fainting, breathing difficulty, chest pain, severe dehydration, or sudden weakness need urgent medical care.

Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Doctor / qualified healthcare provider

Tests to discuss with doctor

Basic vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level if needed
Relevant blood, urine, imaging, or specialist tests only after clinical assessment

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
Which tests are really needed now?
Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Go to emergency care if you notice:

Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration

Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.

Step 1
Check danger signs first

If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.
Step 2
Record the symptom story

Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.
Step 3
Visit a qualified clinician

A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.
Step 4
Do only useful tests

Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.
Step 5
Follow up and return early if worse

If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips

Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

Internal learning pathway

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