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

1

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

21

2223

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.

1 ,I

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

17r~IE:]~~~~ __

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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