R I5ERe~earchInformation .Senes on EcosystemsMay • August 20121IVol. 24 No.2
; Forest Trees and Vineswith Medicinal Properties
ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUREAUDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources
Cnliege 4031, Laguna
Executive Adviser : Dir. Marcial C. Amaro, [r.,CESO III
Team Leader : Dr. Leuvina M. Tandug
Asst. Team Leader and Editor : Mr. Eliseo M. Baltazar
Assistant Editors : Ms. Liberty E. AsisMs. Marla V. Cambay
Members : Dr. Elpidio F.RimandoDr. Rafael T. CadizMs. Maria P. Dayan
Production Coordinator : Mr. Francisco R. Cabrera
Computer Services : Mr. Nestor S. Leviste
Proofreading : Ms. Flora B. Palicpic
Layout Artist : Mr. Nestor S. Leviste
Printing : Mr. Celso A. Luna
Collating and Binding : Mr. Eduardo M. TolentinoMr. Renato R. Garcia
: Ms. Flora B. PalicpicCirculation
FOREWORD
This issue of RISE is intended to generate awareness andinterest on the benefits and importance of forest trees and forestvines which have medicinal contents.
Some of the important forest trees that could be tappedowing to their medicinal contents are:Alagau, Anonang, Banaba,Banato, Dita, etc. While Abuhab-baging, Baling-uai, Bayating,Bulakan and Dugtong-ahas are forest vines which have alsomedicinal value.
The information contained in this issue are intended forindividuals who rely on herbal medicine, especially on forest treesand forest vines. It can also be considered by entrepreneurs inthe herbal and medicinal industry in the country.
Lastly, we encourage peoples' organizations, localgovernment units, and farmers especially in the uplandcommunities to propagate forest trees and vines so that thesupply of raw materials will be available all the time. It will alsohelp replenish our degraded areas and ultimately sustain ourneeds for these medicinal trees and vine species.
RClAl C. AMARO,Director
, . ~ RIS
SPECIES
ALAGAU
ANONANG
BANABA
BANATO
BATINO
~'-_:' Table of Conte~tsPAGE
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23
4
6
BAYABAS
BINUNGA
DITA
KALINGAG
HAUILI
LANETI
MAGILIK
TEKLA
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ABUHAB-BAGING
BALING-UAI
BAYATING
BULAKAN
DUGTONG-AHAS
GLOSSARY OF TERMSII
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8
9
10
12
13
14
15
17
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242527
Medicinal Forest TreeSpecies
by
Rogelio Calinawan
RISE
Common Name : Alagau
Scientific name Premna Adorata Blanco
Family Verbenaceae
Description
It is a small, hairy tree, 3-8 m high. The leaves are ovateto broadly ovate with broad, rounded and somewhat heart-shaped base and pointed tip. Lower surface of the blade isdensely covered with soft hairs. Flowers are greenish-whiteor nearly white borne on terminal inflorescences. The fruit isfleshy, dark purple and rounded.
Distribution
It is endemic in the Philippines and commonly foundin thickets and secondary forests at low altitudes, sometimespurposely planted around dwellings.
Medicinal Uses
Leaf decoction loosens phlegm, for cough, TB andfacilitate urination, cures tympanities with coconut or sesame oilfor beri-beri, masticating the roots and swallowing the saliva isfor cardiac troubles. Decoction is sudorific and pectoral and issaid to be carminative.
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Common Name : Anonang
Scientific Name Cordia dichotoma Forest. F
Family Name Boraginaceae
Description
This tree grows from 5-10 m high, smooth and decidous.Leaves are alternate, ovate to oblong-ovate or elliptic-ovate withentire or somewhat undulate margins, pointed tip and pointed orsomewhat rounded or heart-shaped base. The yellowish-whiteflowers are stalkless and borne in lax inflorescences. The fruit(drupe) is yellowish white or pinkish, ovoid with rather scentypulp and a hard stone. Calyx in the fruit is broadly funnel-shapedenlarged and about 8 mm in diameter.
Distribution
It is found throughout the Philippines in secondary foreststhickets at low and medium altitudes.
Other Uses
This is equally important in commerce because it can bemade into ropes, the white gelatinous substance from the fruit ismade into glue, pulp can be eaten, leaves used as wrapper.
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Medicinal Uses
The fruit is used as laxative and pectoral, used ingonorrhea, denulcent, expectorant the kernels are good remedyfor ringworm. Mucilage produced is highly esteemed in coughsand diseases of the chest, uterus and urethra. The bark is used invarious modes of administration. Moistened, it is applied on boils& tumors to hasten ripening. It is also a cure for headache andstomach ache. Decoction is used as antidyspeptic, febrifuge,tonic and astringent. In powder form, it is used as a cure forulcers in the mouth. Infusion is used as a gargle. Juice withcoconut milk relieves severe colicky pains. For fever use withpronegrate kind.
Common Name Banaba
Scientific Name Lagerstroemia speciosa (Linn.) pers.
Family Name Lytraceae
Description
Banaba is a decidous tree growing from 5 to 20 m inheight. The bark is smooth, grey to cream-colored and peels offin irregular flakes. Leaves are smooth, oblong to elliptic-ovateand 12 to 25 cm long. Flowers are 6-parted, purplish-lilac ornauve-pink, 5 to 7.5 cm across; borne in large capsule, obovoidto ellipsoid, 2 to 3.5 cm long with a pale brown winged seed.
3
Destnbution
This is chiefly found in secondary forests at low andmedium altitudes.
Medicinal Uses
Infusion from the bark is febrifuge, stimulant, anti-diarrhea.Decoction of the leaves and bark is used for diabetes, as adiuretic and the seed was reported to have narcotic-properties.The bark, flowers and leaves are used as purgative.
Common Name Banato
Scientific Name Mallotus Philippinensis (Lan.) Nuell-arg
Family Name Euphorbiaceae
Description
The tree is 4 to 10 m in height with the branches, youngleaves and inflorescence covered with brown hairs. The leavesare alternate, oblong-ovate with entire or toothed margins,pointed apex and rounded base. There are 2 glands in the
4a ~_~ _
upper surface of the leaf which is smooth, the lower surface issomewhat glaucous and hairy with numerous small scatteredcrimson glands. Numerous male flowers are borne in axillary,solitary racemes. Fruit is somewhat spherical, unarmed butdensely covered with red or crimson powder. It has 3 cells,each containing a seed which is black or dark grey, rounded andslightly flattened on 1 side.
Distribution
It is common in thickets and secondary growth forests atlow altitudes throughout the Philippines.
Medicinal Uses
The red glands of the fruit is antiherpetic and anthelmintic,vermifuge, purgative and remove leprous eruptions. Leaves andbark are used for poulticing cutaneous diseases and poundedseeds are applied to wounds.
5 " ~
Common Name Batino
Scientific Name Alstonia Macrophyl/a Wall.
Family Name : Apocynaceae
Description
It is a medium sized tree, leaves are in whorls of 3, oblong-ovate, pointed at both ends and shortstalked. The flowers aresmall, yellowish-white and borne in short terminal cynes. Corollais tubular and lobed toward the top. The slender and very longfruit is double follicle and pendant with small and very flat seedswith deep-brown hairs especially along the edge,
Distribution
This is common in primary and secondary forests andthickets at low and medium altitudes throughout the Philippines.
Medicinal Uses
Root decoction is anti-hypertensive, and anticholeric tonic.Bark infusion, powder, decoction, tincture or wine is febrifuge,antidysentric, emmenagogue, or nenary. Poultice of leaves withcoconut oil is for sprains, bruises, and dislocated joints.
Common Name Bayabas
Psidium guajava Linn.Scientific Name
Family Name Myrtaceae
Description
This is a hairy plant reaching a height of 8 m. The youngbranches have 4-angled leaves which are opposite, oblong toelliptic. The apex being pointed and the base is usually rounded.Peducles are 1 to 3 flowered. White flower are solitary or 2-3together. Fruit is rounded, ovoid, green but yellowish when ripeand contains many seeds embedded in aromatic, pink, ediblepulp.
Distribution
It is found throughout the Philippines in all islands andprovinces and is usually very common in thickets and secondaryforests at low and medium altitudes, ascending to at least 1,500m.
Medicinal Uses
The leaves of this plant are of great medicinal value. Whenchewed they are said to be a remedy for toothache; decocted!
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-infused are used for cleaning ulcers, antipasmodic, febrifuge,for cerebral affections, nephritis, cachexia, astrigent, for itches,and used as vaginal and uterine wash especially in leucorrhoea.When pounded, they are applied for rheumatism, for epilepsyand chorea; tincture is rubbed into the spine of children sufferingfrom convulsions. Decocted flower bud is considered as effectiveremedy for diarrhea and flow of blood. Fruit is astringent and hasa tendency to cause constipation, anthelmic, and aperient (ripe).
Common Name Binunga
Scientific Name Macaranga tanarius (Linn.) Muel-ARG
Family Name Euphorbiaceae
Description
It is characterized as a small dioecious tree, which is4-8 m high. Leaves are peltate, ovate to oblong-ovate, entireor toothed margins, base is rounded on slender, branchedpenducles which are shorter than the leaves. Female flowersare found on panicled spikes or racemes. The capsules are 10-20 mm in diameter, of 2-3 cocci and covered with pale waxyglands with soft, scattered, spinelike processes.
Distribution pointed at the base, qreen and shining on the upper surface andwhite or grayish on the lower. Flowers are crowded, numeroussomewhat hairy, greenish-white and borne in cynes about 10cm long. Fruit is made up of two slender, pendulous, cylindricfollicles with 2-4 mm long seeds with brown ciliate hairs on theends.
It is commonly found in thickets and secondary forests atlow and medium altitudes throughout the Philippines.
Other Uses
The bark is used in making glue, food containers, and Distri butionbasi.
Medicinal UsesPrimary and secondary forests at low and medium
altitudes is the habitat of such species.
A decoction of it is used for dysentry, powdered root usedas emetic in fevers, decoction, is for haemoptysis.
Medicinal Uses
Bark decoction is a tonic, febrifuge, anticholeric, for chronicdiarrhea and dysentery, anthelmintic, alternative, antiperiodic,stomachache and enters into mixture for fever and diabetes,vermifuge and for coughs. Latex and powdered leaves as apoultice on boils, ulcers and rheumatic pains, mixed with oil forearache. Decoction of young leaves is used for beri-beri.
Common Name : Dita
Scientific Name : Astonia scholaris (L.)
Family Name : Apocynaceae
Description Common Name Kalingag
This is smooth and grows from 6-20 m high. The branchesare whorled. Its bark is dark grey and somewhat rough. Leavesare in whorls of 4-7, leathery, oblong-ovate, rounded at tip and
Scientific Name Cinnamomum mercadoi vidal
Family Name Lauraceae9
55
Description
A small tree with thick and aromatic bark. The leavesare smooth, opposite, pale green or subglaucous beneath, rigid,smooth, shining above, ovate-oblong or broadly lanceolate oroccasionally subeliptic, pointed at both ends and borne uponlong petioles. The blade is 3-plinerved. The erect inflorescencegrows from the uppermost leafaxils. Calyx is cane-scent andturbinate. Petals are smooth and narrowly ellipsoid.
Distribution
It is endemic in the Philippines and usually foun in forestat low and medium altitudes, sometimes ascending to 2,000 m.
Other Uses
Commercially, the strong sassafras odor and taste, makesa good ingredient for rootbeers.
Medicinal Uses
The bark taken internally helps digestion, used inflatulence, an expectorant, cures headaches and rheumatism.chewed for stomach troubles and in tuberculosis.
Common Name Hauili
Scientific Name Ficus hauili blanco
Family Name Moraceae
Asmall erect tree, 3-8 m high, smooth with the young shootmore or less hairy. Its leaves are smooth and shining, oblong-ovate to elliptic-ovate with the tip tapering to a rather sharp pointand the pointed receptacles are axillary, depress-glubose orturnate, obscurely ridged or angled and shortly peduncled.
Distribution
It is an endemic species in the Philippines an found inthickets at low and medium altitudes.
Medicinal Uses
Fresh leaves are used as sodurific, anti-rheumatic; andfor headache, roots as diuretic, in the form of decoction poulticein boils. Latex is used to cure certain varieties of herpes.
Common Name Laneti Common Name Magilik
Scientific Name Kitabalia blancoi (Rolfe) Merr. Scientific Name Premna cumingiana
Family Name : Apocynaceae Family Name Verbenaceae
Description Description
Distribution
This tree reaches a height of 8 m or more. The twigsand leaves are densely covered with yellowish-brown, coarse,shaggy hairs. Leaves are large, opposite, ovate or ovatelyoblong to subelliptic, borne broad, rounded or somewhat heart-shaped at the base composed of many small white flowers. Fruitis rounded, compressed and subtended by a cupular calyx.
A tree, 18-20 m high with opposite rather leathery, smoothshining, ovate leaves pointed at both ends. White or light greenflowers are showy occuring in axils of leaves singly or in pairs.Corolla tubes are narrow below and wide above and closed. Thefruit is a cylindric follicle.
Distribution
This can be found in primary and secondary forests at lowand medium altitudes. Chiefly found in secondary forests at low and medium
altitudes ascending to 1,000 m.Medicinal and Other Uses
Medicinal UsesRoots and leaves are used as fish-poisons. Leaves are
used for headaches.
13 .Infused leaves are employed as a diuretic and a remedy
for dropsy.
.
Common Name Tekla
Scientific Name Tectona grandis (Linn.) F
Family Name Verbenaceae
Description
Tekla is an erect, large, decidous tree growing up to 20m or more in height. The branches are 4-angled. Elliptic orobovate leaves are large, pointed at both ends, usually wedge-shaped at the base and entire at the margins. The upper surfaceis rough but without hairs and the lower is densely covered withgrey or yellowish hairs. Numerous flowers are short stalked andarranged in large terminal much branched panicles. Calyx issmall broad, bell-shaped and covered with steelate hairs, withsubequal and spreading lobes. Corolla is white and smooth withsubequal and spreading lobes. The fruit is somewhat roundedand somewhat 4-lobed. The soft pericarp is densely clothed withtelted, stellate hairs.
This is planted in various parts of the Philippines, Suluarchipelago and in other parts of Mindanao.
Other Uses
It is well known for its excellent wood for ship-building,furniture-making and other fine work for fishing boat.
Medicinal Uses
Decoction of the fresh and dried leaves is prescribed formenstrual disorder, for hemorrhages, for haemoptysis, taken asgargle for sore throat. A plaster of the powdered wood !or biliousheadache and for the dispersion of inflamatory swelling takeninternally for dyspepsia, a vermifuge paste is applied for swellingof eyelids to strengthen the sight. It can be applied i~ acutedermatitis, flowers and seeds are diuretic. Oil of the nuts IS usedfor hair growth and soothes itches of the skin.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Anthelmintic
Antiherpetic
expels intestinal worms
drug for skin inflammation
Antispasmodic: prevents or relieve muscular spasm or cramps
Astringent
Cachexia
Chorea
Decoction
Dermatitis
Diuretic
Dropsy
Epilepsy
shrinks tissues and prevents secretion of fluidsfrom wounds
a condition of general health
a convulsive nervous disease with involuntaryand irregular jerking movements attended withirritability and depression and with mentalimpairment
solutions representing the water solubleconstituents of plants drugs prepared by boilingthe drug in water
an inflammation of the skin
helps the body dispose excessive water byincreasing the amount of urines produced
edema; excessive accumulation of fluid in bodytissues
chronic functional disease characterized bybrief convulsive seizures in which there is lossof conciousness with a succession of tonic orchloric convulsions
Expectorant promote ejection of fluid from the lungs andtrachea
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Febrifuge
Flatulence
Haemoptysis
a remedy for fever
gas formation in the alimentary canal
the spitting of blood or of blood stained sputumfrom the larynx, tranchea, bronchi or lungs
Haemorrhages: the scope of blood from its vessels
Infusion
Leucorrhoea
Nephritis
Pectoral
Phlegm
Poultice
Purgative
Tympanites
Stomachic
Vermifuge
the steeping of a substance in water forobtaining its proximate principles
a whitish nucopurulent discharge from thefemale genital canal
inflammation of the kidneys
pertaining to the chest
morbid or viscid mucus secreted in abnormallylarge amount applied especially to muchmucus discharged through the mouth
soft usually hasten preparation spread on acloth applied to a sore or inflammation
causing evacuation from the intestine
inflammation of the middle ear
stimulates activity of the stomach
expel worms
~" , ,,
Forest Vines withMedicinal Properties
by
Rogelio Calinawan
Baling uai
20
Common Name : Abuhab-baging
Scientific Name : Strophantus Cumingii A. Dc
Family Name : Apocynaceae
Description
A st~ut, smooth woody vine which when young is erectand shrub-I~ke .. The leaves are elliptic-ovate, Slightly pointed atthe base with a short point at the tip. Terminal inflourescenceare smooth and few flowered. Calyx lobes are slender and 7-9mm long. Corolla tube is white with lobes about 8 mm wide atthe base a.nd ¢on~in~e i.nto long slender, drooping tips. It has adoubl~ follicled, distinctive fruit that is woody Oblong-ovoid andco~tal~s nU':lerous elongated seeds terminating in a very longprojection with numerous long hairs.
Distribution
It is endemic in the Philippines in thickets and forests atlow and medium altitude. .
~ ..'
Medicinal Uses
The bark is employed as an effective arrow poison ..,,~.
Common Name Baling-uai
Scientific Name Flagel/aria Indica Linn.
Family Name Flagellariaceae
Description
It is a needle-like plant climbing over softly trees by theleaf-tendrils. The stem is nearly 2.5 cm thick towards the base,terete and smooth. Sessile leaves are lanceolate from a roundedbase and terminate in a curled tendril and the apex. Whiteflowers are borne in clusters in shortly pedunculate, irregularlylaxly branched panicles.
Distribution
This is commonly found in secondary forest at low andmedium altitudes,
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Medicinal Uses
Decoction of stem, leaves, rhizome and flowers considereddiuretic. The leaves are astrigent and vulnerary and are used formaking hairwash.
Common Name Bayating
Scientific Name Tinomiscium philippinense die/s.
Family Name Menispernaceae
Description
This is stout, woody vine with grey bark and milky sap.Its leaves are thin, ovate, smooth except beneath with a broadrounded base and pointed tip on long petioles. Yellow flowersare fragrant, occuring in considerable number on long, slenderdrooping branches that grow in clusters in the stems.
Distribution
An endemic plant in some Luzon and Mindanao provincesin forests at low and medium altitudes.
Medicinal Uses
The fruit is used as a fish poison. Milky sap diluted inwater is used as an eyewash.
Common Name Bulakan
Scientific Name Ipomea digitata linn.
Family Name Convolvulaceae
Description
It is a smooth large perennial climber rising from stoutsomewhat fleshy roots. Leaves are rounded in outline and heart-shaped at the base on long petioles. There are 3-5 flowers onthe stalk within the axil of the leaf. Corolla is pink, purple broadlybell-shaped and smooth. Capsules are ovoid and 1 cm long orless. .
Distribution
Common in thickets along the seashores and streams atlow altitudes.
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Medicinal Uses
The root is very useful in various modes of administration.When infused, it is purgative, tonic, alternative, aphrodisiac anddemulgent powdered. It is a galactagogue, chologogue, promotesobesity and moderate menstrual discharge, and restorative.
Common Name Dugtong-Ahas
Scientific Name Parameria /aevigata
Family Name : Apocynaceae
Description
A woody vine with oblong or ovate lanceolate leaves, 7-10cm long and pointed at both ends. White flowers are fairly smalland clustered. The fruit is very long and slender, smooth muchna~rowed between the seeds which are about a cm long, sharplypointed at one end and crowned at the other with numerous whitehairs.
Distribution
It is found in thickets and open forests at low and mediumaltitudes.
Medicinal Uses
Macerated bark in oil is an efficacious vulnerary,cicatrizant and internally used to cure tuberculosis. Decoctionof it, however, is taken to make the uterus shrink after childbirth,for dysentery and wounds, leaf and flower infusion is taken as anemmenagogue to facilitate menstruation.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Alternative
Aphrodisiac
Cholagogue
Cicatrizant
Corolla
Denulgent
: a substance which alters a condition by agradual change toward restoration of health
: stimulates sexual desire
: increases the flow of bile
: causes formation of scar tissues, healing ofwounds
: petals of a flower
: soothing medicines; provides a protectivecoating membrane
Emmenagogue: an agent that provides menstruation
Galactagogue : promotes secretion of milk
Lanceolate
Panicle
Vulnerary
: lance-shaped
: an open or branched inflorescence
: used in the healing of wounds
REFERENCES
Inventory of Medicinal Plants Resources at a SecondaryDipterocarp Forest Catchment in the Angat Watersheds(Terminal Report) S. Baconguis, et al. 1984
Baconguis, Santiago R., Dalmacio, Nimfa C., Siapno, FloritaE., Panot, Ignacio A., Inventory of Medicinal Plant Resourcesat a Secondary Dipterocarp Forest Catchment in the AngatWatersheds (Terminal Report)
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RISEVol. 24 No.2May -August2012
Research Information Series on Ecosystems, popularlyknown as RISE, is a compilation of the most recentand relevant information to provide technical supportto major programs of the DENR particularly onreforestation, rehabilitation of degraded areas, uplanddevelopment and coastal zone management.
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The official citation is :Ecosystems Research and Development BureauForest Tree and Vines Species with Medicinal PropertiesVol. 24 No.2Research Information Series on EcosystemsERDB, College 4031, Laguna
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