Forest Trees and Vines with Medicinal Properties

R I5E
I
Vol. 24 No.2
Re~earchInformation .
Senes on Ecosystems
May • August 20121
; Forest Trees and Vines
with Medicinal Properties
ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Cnliege 4031, Laguna
FOREWORD
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. Asis
Ms. Marla V. Cambay
Members
: Dr. Elpidio F. Rimando
Dr. Rafael T. Cadiz
Ms. Maria P. Dayan
The information contained in this issue are intended for
individuals who rely on herbal medicine, especially on forest trees
and forest vines. It can also be considered by entrepreneurs in
the herbal and medicinal industry in the country.
Production Coordinator
: Mr. Francisco R. Cabrera
Computer Services
: Mr. Nestor S. Leviste
Proofreading
: Ms. Flora B. Palicpic
Lastly, we encourage peoples' organizations, local
government units, and farmers especially in the upland
communities to propagate forest trees and vines so that the
supply of raw materials will be available all the time. It will also
help replenish our degraded areas and ultimately sustain our
needs for these medicinal trees and vine species.
Layout Artist
: Mr. Nestor S. Leviste
Printing
: Mr. Celso A. Luna
Collating and Binding
: Mr. Eduardo M. Tolentino
Mr. Renato R. Garcia
Circulation
: Ms. Flora B. Palicpic
This issue of RISE is intended to generate awareness and
interest on the benefits and importance of forest trees and forest
vines which have medicinal contents.
Some of the important forest trees that could be tapped
owing 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 also
medicinal value.
RClAl C. AMARO,
Director
,
.
~
RIS
~'-_
:'
Table of Conte~ts
SPECIES
PAGE
ALAGAU
1
ANONANG
2
BANABA
3
BANATO
4
BATINO
6
BAYABAS
7
BINUNGA
8
DITA
9
KALINGAG
10
HAUILI
12
LANETI
13
MAGILIK
14
TEKLA
15
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
17
ABUHAB-BAGING
21
BALING-UAI
22
BAYATING
23
BULAKAN
24
DUGTONG-AHAS
25
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
27
II
RISE
Medicinal Forest Tree
Species
by
Rogelio Calinawan
: Alagau
Common Name
Common Name
: Anonang
Scientific name
Premna Adorata Blanco
Scientific Name
Cordia dichotoma Forest. F
Family
Verbenaceae
Family Name
Boraginaceae
Description
Description
It is a small, hairy tree, 3-8 m high. The leaves are ovate
to broadly ovate with broad, rounded and somewhat heartshaped base and pointed tip. Lower surface of the blade is
densely covered with soft hairs. Flowers are greenish-white
or nearly white borne on terminal inflorescences. The fruit is
fleshy, dark purple and rounded.
This tree grows from 5-10 m high, smooth and decidous.
Leaves are alternate, ovate to oblong-ovate or elliptic-ovate with
entire or somewhat undulate margins, pointed tip and pointed or
somewhat rounded or heart-shaped base. The yellowish-white
flowers are stalkless and borne in lax inflorescences. The fruit
(drupe) is yellowish white or pinkish, ovoid with rather scenty
pulp and a hard stone. Calyx in the fruit is broadly funnel-shaped
enlarged and about 8 mm in diameter.
Distribution
It is endemic in the Philippines and commonly found
in thickets and secondary forests at low altitudes, sometimes
purposely planted around dwellings.
Medicinal Uses
Leaf decoction loosens phlegm, for cough, TB and
facilitate urination, cures tympanities with coconut or sesame oil
for beri-beri, masticating the roots and swallowing the saliva is
for cardiac troubles. Decoction is sudorific and pectoral and is
said to be carminative.
1
Distribution
It is found throughout the Philippines in secondary forests
thickets at low and medium altitudes.
Other Uses
This is equally important in commerce because it can be
made into ropes, the white gelatinous substance from the fruit is
made into glue, pulp can be eaten, leaves used as wrapper.
.~
,I
,
\
a
Medicinal Uses
Destnbution
The fruit is used as laxative and pectoral, used in
gonorrhea, denulcent, expectorant the kernels are good remedy
for ringworm. Mucilage produced is highly esteemed in coughs
and diseases of the chest, uterus and urethra. The bark is used in
various modes of administration. Moistened, it is applied on boils
& tumors to hasten ripening. It is also a cure for headache and
stomach ache. Decoction is used as antidyspeptic, febrifuge,
tonic and astringent. In powder form, it is used as a cure for
ulcers in the mouth. Infusion is used as a gargle. Juice with
coconut milk relieves severe colicky pains. For fever use with
pronegrate kind.
This is chiefly found in secondary
medium altitudes.
forests at low and
Medicinal Uses
Infusion from the bark is febrifuge, stimulant, anti-diarrhea.
Decoction of the leaves and bark is used for diabetes, as a
diuretic and the seed was reported to have narcotic-properties.
The bark, flowers and leaves are used as purgative.
Common Name
Banaba
Scientific Name
Lagerstroemia speciosa (Linn.) pers.
Common Name
Banato
Family Name
Lytraceae
Scientific Name
Mallotus Philippinensis (Lan.) Nuell-arg
Description
Family Name
Euphorbiaceae
Banaba is a decidous tree growing from 5 to 20 m in
height. The bark is smooth, grey to cream-colored and peels off
in irregular flakes. Leaves are smooth, oblong to elliptic-ovate
and 12 to 25 cm long. Flowers are 6-parted, purplish-lilac or
nauve-pink, 5 to 7.5 cm across; borne in large capsule, obovoid
to ellipsoid, 2 to 3.5 cm long with a pale brown winged seed.
Description
The tree is 4 to 10 m in height with the branches, young
leaves and inflorescence covered with brown hairs. The leaves
are alternate, oblong-ovate with entire or toothed margins,
pointed apex and rounded base. There are 2 glands in the
4
3
~_~
_
upper surface of the leaf which is smooth, the lower surface is
somewhat glaucous and hairy with numerous small scattered
crimson glands. Numerous male flowers are borne in axillary,
solitary racemes.
Fruit is somewhat spherical, unarmed but
densely covered with red or crimson powder. It has 3 cells,
each containing a seed which is black or dark grey, rounded and
slightly flattened on 1 side.
Distribution
It is common in thickets and secondary growth forests at
low altitudes throughout the Philippines.
Common Name
Batino
Medicinal Uses
Scientific Name
Alstonia Macrophyl/a Wall.
The red glands of the fruit is antiherpetic and anthelmintic,
vermifuge, purgative and remove leprous eruptions. Leaves and
bark are used for poulticing cutaneous diseases and pounded
seeds are applied to wounds.
Family Name
: Apocynaceae
Description
It is a medium sized tree, leaves are in whorls of 3, oblongovate, pointed at both ends and shortstalked. The flowers are
small, yellowish-white and borne in short terminal cynes. Corolla
is tubular and lobed toward the top. The slender and very long
fruit is double follicle and pendant with small and very flat seeds
with deep-brown hairs especially along the edge,
Distribution
This is common in primary and secondary forests and
thickets 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 with
coconut oil is for sprains, bruises, and dislocated joints.
5
"
~
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 epilepsy
and chorea; tincture is rubbed into the spine of children suffering
from convulsions. Decocted flower bud is considered as effective
remedy for diarrhea and flow of blood. Fruit is astringent and has
a tendency to cause constipation, anthelmic, and aperient (ripe).
Common Name
Bayabas
Scientific Name
Psidium guajava Linn.
Family Name
Myrtaceae
Description
This is a hairy plant reaching a height of 8 m. The young
branches have 4-angled leaves which are opposite, oblong to
elliptic. The apex being pointed and the base is usually rounded.
Peducles are 1 to 3 flowered. White flower are solitary or 2-3
together. Fruit is rounded, ovoid, green but yellowish when ripe
and contains many seeds embedded in aromatic, pink, edible
pulp.
Distribution
Common Name
Binunga
Scientific Name
Macaranga tanarius (Linn.) Muel-ARG
Family Name
Euphorbiaceae
Description
It is found throughout the Philippines in all islands and
provinces and is usually very common in thickets and secondary
forests at low and medium altitudes, ascending to at least 1,500
m.
Medicinal Uses
The leaves of this plant are of great medicinal value. When
chewed they are said to be a remedy for toothache; decocted!
7
It is characterized as a small dioecious tree, which is
4-8 m high. Leaves are peltate, ovate to oblong-ovate, entire
or toothed margins, base is rounded on slender, branched
penducles which are shorter than the leaves. Female flowers
are found on panicled spikes or racemes. The capsules are 1020 mm in diameter, of 2-3 cocci and covered with pale waxy
glands with soft, scattered, spinelike processes.
Distribution
pointed at the base, qreen and shining on the upper surface and
white or grayish on the lower. Flowers are crowded, numerous
somewhat hairy, greenish-white and borne in cynes about 10
cm long. Fruit is made up of two slender, pendulous, cylindric
follicles with 2-4 mm long seeds with brown ciliate hairs on the
ends.
It is commonly found in thickets and secondary forests at
low and medium altitudes throughout the Philippines.
Other Uses
The bark is used in making glue, food containers, and
Distri bution
basi.
Medicinal Uses
Primary and secondary forests
altitudes is the habitat of such species.
A decoction of it is used for dysentry, powdered root used
as emetic in fevers, decoction, is for haemoptysis.
Medicinal Uses
at low and medium
Bark decoction is a tonic, febrifuge, anticholeric, for chronic
diarrhea and dysentery, anthelmintic, alternative, antiperiodic,
stomachache and enters into mixture for fever and diabetes,
vermifuge and for coughs. Latex and powdered leaves as a
poultice on boils, ulcers and rheumatic pains, mixed with oil for
earache. Decoction of young leaves is used for beri-beri.
Common Name
: Dita
Scientific Name
: Astonia scholaris (L.)
Family Name
: Apocynaceae
Description
This is smooth and grows from 6-20 m high. The branches
are whorled. Its bark is dark grey and somewhat rough. Leaves
are in whorls of 4-7, leathery, oblong-ovate, rounded at tip and
9
55
Common Name
Kalingag
Scientific Name
Cinnamomum mercadoi vidal
Family Name
Lauraceae
Description
A small tree with thick and aromatic bark. The leaves
are smooth, opposite, pale green or subglaucous beneath, rigid,
smooth, shining above, ovate-oblong or broadly lanceolate or
occasionally subeliptic, pointed at both ends and borne upon
long petioles. The blade is 3-plinerved. The erect inflorescence
grows from the uppermost leafaxils.
Calyx is cane-scent and
turbinate. Petals are smooth and narrowly ellipsoid.
Distribution
It is endemic in the Philippines and usually foun in forest
at low and medium altitudes, sometimes ascending to 2,000 m.
Common Name
Hauili
Scientific Name
Ficus hauili blanco
Family Name
Moraceae
Other Uses
Commercially, the strong sassafras odor and taste, makes
a good ingredient for rootbeers.
Medicinal Uses
The bark taken internally helps digestion, used in
flatulence, an expectorant, cures headaches and rheumatism.
chewed for stomach troubles and in tuberculosis.
Asmall erect tree, 3-8 m high, smooth with the young shoot
more or less hairy. Its leaves are smooth and shining, oblongovate to elliptic-ovate with the tip tapering to a rather sharp point
and the pointed receptacles are axillary, depress-glubose or
turnate, obscurely ridged or angled and shortly peduncled.
Distribution
It is an endemic species in the Philippines an found in
thickets at low and medium altitudes.
Medicinal Uses
Fresh leaves are used as sodurific, anti-rheumatic; and
for headache, roots as diuretic, in the form of decoction poultice
in boils. Latex is used to cure certain varieties of herpes.
Common Name
Laneti
Scientific Name
Kitabalia blancoi (Rolfe) Merr.
Family Name
: Apocynaceae
Common Name
Magilik
Scientific Name
Premna cumingiana
Family Name
Verbenaceae
Description
Description
A tree, 18-20 m high with opposite rather leathery, smooth
shining, ovate leaves pointed at both ends. White or light green
flowers are showy occuring in axils of leaves singly or in pairs.
Corolla tubes are narrow below and wide above and closed. The
fruit is a cylindric follicle.
This tree reaches a height of 8 m or more. The twigs
and leaves are densely covered with yellowish-brown, coarse,
shaggy hairs. Leaves are large, opposite, ovate or ovately
oblong to subelliptic, borne broad, rounded or somewhat heartshaped at the base composed of many small white flowers. Fruit
is rounded, compressed and subtended by a cupular calyx.
Distribution
Distribution
This can be found in primary and secondary forests at low
and medium altitudes.
Chiefly found in secondary forests at low and medium
altitudes ascending to 1,000 m.
Medicinal and Other Uses
Medicinal Uses
Roots and leaves are used as fish-poisons.
used for headaches.
13 .
.
Leaves are
Infused leaves are employed as a diuretic and a remedy
for dropsy.
Other Uses
It is well known for its excellent wood for ship-building,
furniture-making and other fine work for fishing boat.
Medicinal Uses
Common Name
Tekla
Scientific Name
Tectona grandis (Linn.) F
Family Name
Verbenaceae
Decoction of the fresh and dried leaves is prescribed for
menstrual disorder, for hemorrhages, for haemoptysis, taken as
gargle for sore throat. A plaster of the powdered wood !or bilious
headache and for the dispersion of inflamatory swelling taken
internally for dyspepsia, a vermifuge paste is applied for swelling
of eyelids to strengthen the sight. It can be applied i~ acute
dermatitis, flowers and seeds are diuretic. Oil of the nuts IS used
for hair growth and soothes itches of the skin.
Description
Tekla is an erect, large, decidous tree growing up to 20
m or more in height. The branches are 4-angled. Elliptic or
obovate leaves are large, pointed at both ends, usually wedgeshaped at the base and entire at the margins. The upper surface
is rough but without hairs and the lower is densely covered with
grey or yellowish hairs. Numerous flowers are short stalked and
arranged in large terminal much branched panicles. Calyx is
small broad, bell-shaped and covered with steelate hairs, with
subequal and spreading lobes. Corolla is white and smooth with
subequal and spreading lobes. The fruit is somewhat rounded
and somewhat 4-lobed. The soft pericarp is densely clothed with
telted, stellate hairs.
This is planted in various parts of the Philippines,
archipelago and in other parts of Mindanao.
Sulu
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Anthelmintic
Antiherpetic
Febrifuge
a remedy for fever
Flatulence
gas formation in the alimentary canal
Haemoptysis
the spitting of blood or of blood stained sputum
from the larynx, tranchea, bronchi or lungs
Haemorrhages:
the scope of blood from its vessels
Infusion
the steeping of a substance in water for
obtaining its proximate principles
a whitish nucopurulent discharge from the
female genital canal
expels intestinal worms
drug for skin inflammation
Antispasmodic:
prevents or relieve muscular spasm or cramps
Astringent
shrinks tissues and prevents secretion of fluids
from wounds
Cachexia
a condition of general health
Chorea
a convulsive nervous disease with involuntary
and irregular jerking movements attended with
irritability and depression and with mental
impairment
Leucorrhoea
Nephritis
inflammation of the kidneys
solutions representing the water soluble
constituents of plants drugs prepared by boiling
the drug in water
Pectoral
pertaining to the chest
Phlegm
morbid or viscid mucus secreted in abnormally
large amount applied especially to much
mucus discharged through the mouth
Decoction
Dermatitis
an inflammation of the skin
Diuretic
helps the body dispose excessive water by
increasing the amount of urines produced
Poultice
soft usually hasten preparation spread on a
cloth applied to a sore or inflammation
Dropsy
edema; excessive accumulation of fluid in body
tissues
Purgative
causing evacuation from the intestine
Tympanites
inflammation of the middle ear
Stomachic
stimulates activity of the stomach
Vermifuge
expel worms
Epilepsy
Expectorant
17r~IE:]~~~~
chronic functional disease characterized by
brief convulsive seizures in which there is loss
of conciousness with a succession of tonic or
chloric convulsions
promote ejection of fluid from the lungs and
trachea
__
~"
,
,,<,',
,L"
,
Forest Vines with
Medicinal Properties
by
Rogelio Calinawan
Baling uai
20
Medicinal Uses
The bark is employed as an effective arrow poison
.
.,
,~.
Common Name
: Abuhab-baging
Scientific Name
: Strophantus Cumingii A. Dc
Common Name
Baling-uai
Family Name
: Apocynaceae
Scientific Name
Flagel/aria Indica Linn.
Family Name
Flagellariaceae
Description
A st~ut, smooth woody vine which when young is erect
and shrub-I~ke .. The leaves are elliptic-ovate, Slightly pointed at
the base with a short point at the tip. Terminal inflourescence
are smooth and few flowered. Calyx lobes are slender and 7-9
mm long. Corolla tube is white with lobes about 8 mm wide at
the base a.nd ¢on~in~e i.nto long slender, drooping tips. It has a
doubl~ follicled, distinctive fruit that is woody Oblong-ovoid and
co~tal~s nU':lerous elongated seeds terminating in a very long
projection with numerous long hairs.
Description
It is a needle-like plant climbing over softly trees by the
leaf-tendrils. The stem is nearly 2.5 cm thick towards the base,
terete and smooth. Sessile leaves are lanceolate from a rounded
base and terminate in a curled tendril and the apex. White
flowers are borne in clusters in shortly pedunculate, irregularly
laxly branched panicles.
Distribution
Distribution
It is endemic in the Philippines in thickets and forests
low and medium altitude.
.
~ ..
'
at
This is commonly found in secondary forest at low and
medium altitudes,
.~
22
Medicinal Uses
Medicinal Uses
Decoction of stem, leaves, rhizome and flowers considered
diuretic. The leaves are astrigent and vulnerary and are used for
making hairwash.
The fruit is used as a fish poison.
water is used as an eyewash.
Common Name
Bulakan
Common Name
Bayating
Scientific Name
Ipomea digitata linn.
Scientific Name
Tinomiscium philippinense die/s.
Family Name
Convolvulaceae
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 broad
rounded base and pointed tip on long petioles. Yellow flowers
are fragrant, occuring in considerable number on long, slender
drooping branches that grow in clusters in the stems.
Milky sap diluted in
Description
It is a smooth large perennial climber rising from stout
somewhat fleshy roots. Leaves are rounded in outline and heartshaped at the base on long petioles. There are 3-5 flowers on
the stalk within the axil of the leaf. Corolla is pink, purple broadly
bell-shaped and smooth. Capsules are ovoid and 1 cm long or
less.
.
Distribution
Distribution
An endemic plant in some Luzon and Mindanao provinces
in forests at low and medium altitudes.
Common in thickets along the seashores and streams at
low altitudes.
Medicinal Uses
Medicinal Uses
The root is very useful in various modes of administration.
When infused, it is purgative, tonic, alternative, aphrodisiac and
demulgent powdered. It is a galactagogue, chologogue, promotes
obesity 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, 7-10
cm long and pointed at both ends. White flowers are fairly small
and clustered. The fruit is very long and slender, smooth much
na~rowed between the seeds which are about a cm long, sharply
pointed at one end and crowned at the other with numerous white
hairs.
Distribution
It is found in thickets and open forests at low and medium
altitudes.
Macerated bark in oil is an efficacious vulnerary,
cicatrizant and internally used to cure tuberculosis.
Decoction
of it, however, is taken to make the uterus shrink after childbirth,
for dysentery and wounds, leaf and flower infusion is taken as an
emmenagogue to facilitate menstruation.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
REFERENCES
Alternative
: a substance which alters a condition by a
gradual change toward restoration of health
Aphrodisiac
: stimulates sexual desire
Cholagogue
: increases the flow of bile
Cicatrizant
: causes formation of scar tissues, healing of
wounds
Corolla
: petals of a flower
Denulgent
: soothing medicines; provides a protective
coating membrane
Emmenagogue:
Inventory of Medicinal Plants Resources at a Secondary
Dipterocarp Forest Catchment in the Angat Watersheds
(Terminal Report) S. Baconguis, et al. 1984
Baconguis, Santiago R., Dalmacio, Nimfa C., Siapno, Florita
E., Panot, Ignacio A., Inventory of Medicinal Plant Resources
at a Secondary Dipterocarp Forest Catchment in the Angat
Watersheds (Terminal Report)
an agent that provides menstruation
Galactagogue
: promotes secretion of milk
Lanceolate
: lance-shaped
Panicle
: an open or branched inflorescence
Vulnerary
: used in the healing of wounds
L
RISE
Vol. 24 No.2
May -August
2012
Research Information Series on Ecosystems, popularly
known as RISE, is a compilation of the most recent
and relevant information to provide technical support
to major programs of the DENR particularly on
reforestation, rehabilitation of degraded areas, upland
development and coastal zone management.
For comments and suggestions, please contact
The Director
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
College, Laguna 4031
Tel Nos. (049) 536-2229; 536-2269; 536-3221;
536-3628; Fax No. (049) 536-2850
REMINDER TO OUR DEAR READERS
Iro properly update our mailing list, we request y~u to provide
us with new information on your present address, If necessary.
Please inform ERDB through the:
IThe Director
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
College, Laguna 4031
.
Ire I Nos. (049) 536-2229; 536-2269; 536-3221; 536-3628,
Fax No. (049) 536-2850
This publication should not be reproduced without written
permission from the ERDB Director.
RISE issues can be translated into regional dialects by
DENR Regional Research Offices provided that proper
acknowledgement of source be made on the back cover.
The official citation is :
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
Forest Tree and Vines Species with Medicinal Properties
Vol. 24 No.2
Research Information Series on Ecosystems
ERDB, College 4031, Laguna
For copies, please contact:
The Circulation Officer, Technology Development Division
ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVElOPEMENT BUREAU
College 4031, laguna
Tel. Nos. 536-2229; 536-2269; 536-3221
FAX No. (049) 536-2850
Entered as Second Class Mail Permit No. 2012-14
at the College Post Office, College, Laguna 4031
If undelivered, please return to;
RISE
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
College 4031, Laguna
SECOND-CLASS MAIL