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Bamboo - Bambusa spinosa Roxb.
Botany
Stems are 10-25 meters high, 8-15 cm diameter, the basal parts surrounded by branched, inteerlaced and spiny branches. Leaves are 10-20 cm long, 1-2 cm wide. Rare flowering also occurs at the nodes. Panicles are large. Spikelets are slender, compressed and 2-3 cm long.
Stems are 10-25 meters high, 8-15 cm diameter, the basal parts surrounded by branched, inteerlaced and spiny branches. Leaves are 10-20 cm long, 1-2 cm wide. Rare flowering also occurs at the nodes. Panicles are large. Spikelets are slender, compressed and 2-3 cm long.
Distribution
At low and medium altitudes in settled areas throughout the Philippines.
Parts utilized:
Stems, roots, leaves.
Constituents and Properties
Emollient, diuretic and diaphoretic, emmenagogue, astringent.
Leaves are considered stimulant, aromatic, tonic, emmenagogue, anthelmintic and aphrodiasiac.
The bark is astringent and used in hemorrhoids, nausea and vomiting.
Leaves are rich in hydrocyanic and benzoic acids.
Uses
Folkloric
• Decoction of leaves as emmenagogue, to induce lochia after childbirth.
• Decoction (20 gms for 1 liter ofwater; 3 cups daily) of stems of young shoots applied externally for inflammed joints.
• Decoction of leaves used to stimulate menstruation; also used for intestinal worms.
• Poultice of young shoots used for dislodgement of worms from ulcers.
• Decoction of roots used for anuria.
• Decoction of shoots taken for respiratory ailments.
• Poultice of tender shoots used for cleaning wounds. Decoction or juice of leaves applied to wounds.
• Decoction of tender shoots used as abortifactient in the first month and in the last month, to induce labor, and to facilitate placental expulsion.
• In India, decoction of leaves used for diarrhea.
Livestock
• In India, for ethnoveterinary use, a handful of leaves once a day for two to three days.
Nutrition
The young shoots (labong) are edible as vegetables, the seasonal ingredient in atchara preparations.
Others
• Bambusa spinosa is the most commonly used specie of bamboo in the Philippines.
• Used in the building of bamboo houses, furniture and household utensils.
Availability
Cultivated or wildcrafted.
Aspharagus Ferm
Gen info
Genus Asparagus of the Liliaceae family is of medical importance because of its steroidal sapogenins used as precursors for many pharmacologically active steroids.
Botany
A slender, climbiing or ascending, branched perennial, with round, green and wiry stems, with very numerous slender branchlets that spread horizontally, forming triangular fernlike sprays. Leaves (cladodes) are setaceous, very slender, 3-5 mm long, ascending and spreading, 6 to 13 in a fascicle. Flowers are small and solitary at the ends of the branches with very short pedicels. Fruit is a purple and black ovoid berry.
Distribution
Cultivated for ornamental use.
Constituents and properties
• Study isolated furostanol glycosides from Asparagus plumosus leaves.
Uses
Oramental
The cuts sprays of the asparagus fern are ornamental favorites among florists for its beauty and lasting quality.
Folkloric
Not known in the Philippines for its medicinal application, but in Mexico a decoction of the branches are used for pulmonary infections.
Decoction of roots used as a diuretic.
In Tanzania, the Lobedu drink a cold infusion of leaves and stem for malaria.
Studies
• Phytochemicals / Glycosides: (1) A methanolic extract study of leaves of A plumosus yielded two new furostanol glycosides (2) Study yielded three spirostanol glycosides from the leaves.
Availability
Cultivated for ornmental use.
Gardenia - Gardenia jasminoides
| Botany · A glabrous, smooth branched shrub 1-2 m high. · Leaves: opposite, elliptic-ovate, 2-6 cm long, narrowed and pointed at both ends, shining and short peticled. Stipulate. · Flowers: large and very fragrant, occurring singly in the upper axil of the leaves. Calyx green, with funnel-shaped tube and about 1.5 cm long, 5-angled, or winged and divided into linear lobes about as long as the tube. Corolla usually double, white but soon turning yellowish and 5-8 cm wide. Stamens as many as the corolla lobes. Anthers linear, sessile. Ovary 1-celled, style stout, clavate, fusiform, or 2-cleft, ovules numerous on parietal placentae. · Fruits: ovoid or ellipsoid, 2.5 to 4.5 cm long, 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter, yellow, with 5 to 9 longitudinal ridges. Maturing about the month of November. Properties and constituents • Antiophthalmic, emollient, emetic, stimulant, diuretic, antiperiodic, cathartic, anthelmintic, alterative, antispasmodic, antiseptic, febrifuge. • Study of chemical constituents in fruits isolated nine compounds: imperatorin, isoimperatorin, crocetin, 5-hydroxy-7,3',4',5'-tetrainethoxyflavone, 2-methyl-3,5-dihydroxychromone, sudan III, geniposide, crocin and crocin-3. Distribution A common garden plant. Only the double-flowered form occurs in the Philippines. · Parts utilized: roots, leaves, fruits. · Collect fruits during August to October. · Roots: rinse, section into pieces, sun-dry. · Fruits: sun-dry after stemming. Uses Folkloric · Decoction of leaves and flowers used for dyspepsia, flatulences, nervous disorders and abdominal pains. · Decoction of bark (50-55 g) used for fevers. dysentery and abdominal pains. · Decoction of flowers used as wash for inflammed eyes. · Poultice of leaves for swollen breasts; may be mixed with vioileta and other herbs. · Jaundice, hepatitis · Fruit is antiseptic; used for tootaches, foul sores. · Cough, fever. · Bacillary dysentery. · Nephritic edema · Epistaxis, painful outgrowth at the tongue · Mastitis, furuncle · Lymph node tuberculosis · Dosage: use 30 to 60 gms dried roots, 60 to 120 gms dried fruits in decoction. Fruits may be pulverized and applied to regions with furuncle, sprains, lymph node tuberculosis with water or alcohol. • In China, extract used traditionally to treat diabetes. • In Oriental medicine, fruit has been used for inflammation, jaundice, headache, fever, liver disorders and hypertension. Studies • Antioxidant: Crocin is a water soluble carotenoid found in the fruits of gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) and seems to possess moderately strong antioxidant activity • Diabetes / Genipin: Study discovered "genipin" from the Gardenia extract. Genipin blocks the the UCP2 enzyme (uncoupling protein 2) that inhibits pancreatic insulin secretion. It suggests a potential for genipin-related compounds. • Antiangiogenic Activity: The n-butanol fraction of the ethanol extract of gardenia fruit was found to be most effective in the antiangiogenic assay. • Anti- Cerulein Pancreatitis Protective Activity: Study showed Gardenia jasminoides pretreatment ameliorated the severity of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. • Alzheimer's Disease / Amyloid Beta Peptide: The brains of Alzheimer's disease patients have large depositis of amyloid beta peptide known to increase free radical production in nerve cells leading to cell death. The study of extract of G jasminoides suggest it can reduce the cytotoxicity of amyloid beta peptide in PC 12 cells, possibly by reducing oxidative stress. • Immunosuppressive Iridoids: Study yielded a new iridoid, gardaloside and a new safranal-type monoterpene, jasminoside G, with 10 other known compounds from the fruits of G jasminoides. Four of the compounds showed significant inhibition of IL-2 secretion and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody co-stimulated activiation of human peripheral blood T cells. Availability Wild-crafted. Common garden plant. Cultivated for ornamental use. |
Achuete-Bixa orellana Linn.
Gen Info Next to caramel, annatto is the world's most important natural colorant yielding yello to red colors. There is global commercial production of the seed, estimated in 1990 at 10,000 tons per year; Brazil being the largest exported.
Botany
A tree reaching 4 to 6 meters. Leaves are entire, ovate, 8 to 20 cm long, 5 to 12 cm wide, with a broad and heart-shaped base, and a pointed tip. The flowers are white or pinkish, 4 to 6 cm diameter, 4 to 6 cm in diameter on terminal panicles. Capsules are ovoid or rounded, reddish brown, about 4 cm long and covered with long, slender and soft spines containing many small seeds covered with a dye-yielding red pulp.
Distribution
Pantropic; planted throughout the Philippines.
Chemical constituents and characteristics
The coloring matter in the seeds is bixin.
Seed contains a fatty oil with palmitin, a little stearin, and phytosterol.
Fine powder covering the seed is hemostatic and stomachic.
Root-bark is antiperiodic and antipyretic.
Diuretic and purgative.
Aphrodisiac and detoxifier.
Seeds are slightly astringent.
The pulp (annatto) surrounding the seeds is astringent and slightly purgative.
Study of carotenoid pigments in the seeds identified bixin, norbixin, ß-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and methyl bixin.
Parts utilized
Leaves, bark and seeds.
Uses
Folkloric
· For small burns: Wash the leaves with soap and water. Boil 10 leaves in 5 glasses of water; cool. Soak the burn area for 10 minues, once a day.
· The pulp of the seeds, immediately applied to burns, prevents blistering and scarring.
· The seeds, ground and boiled, also used for burns.
· Fresh seeds when moistened produce a reddish colored juice that is applied to red rashes.
· The seeds are used as antidote for cassava and J. urcas poisoning.
· The achuete dye used with lime for the treatment of erysipelas.
· Also used for wound healing, regulation of heavy menses, and thinning hair.
· The leaf, bruised with the head of a "walis-tingting" (broom made from frond ribs of the coconut leaves), mixed with warm coconut oil is applied on the forehead for headaches.
· An infusion of the leaves used as purgative.
· Poultice of leaves are diuretic and used for treatment of gonorrhea.
· Leaves for snake bites
· Decoction of leaves for nausea and vomiting.
• In traditional Peruvian medicine, used to treat heartburn and stomach distress caused by spicy foods; also, as a vaginal antiseptic and cicatrizant.
• In West Indian folk medicine, used for diabetes mellitus.
• In Guatemala used for treatment of gonorrhea.
Others
· The main product from B. orellana is an organic dye present in the seed coat called "annatto," lipid-soluble and widely used in the food industry for its red to orange-yellow colours (cheese, butter, oils, margarine, ice-cream, pastries). Next to caramel, it is the world's second most important food colorant.Besides providing an attractive color to meat and other dishes, it also imparts a subtle and distinctive flavour. In the cosmetic industry it finds use in hair, nail and soap products, and also in the many of the household products – floor wax, shoe polish, russet leather, wood stains.
• Female aphrodisiac in the Amazonia.
Studies
• Antimicrobial / Antifungal: (1) The study screened plants extracts - including Bixa orellana – for antimicrobial activity and MIC. B orellana showed low MIC against against E coli and a better MIC against B cereus. Results showed that Bixa orellana, Justicia secunda and Piper pulchrum could be potential sources of new antimicrobial agents. (2) Study of organic extract of BO showed to possess a narrow spectrum of antimicrobial activity, effective only against Gram+ bacteria used in the study.
• Antibacterial / Antioxidant / Antidiarrheal / Neuropharmacolic / Anticonvulsant/ Gastrointestinal Motility Effect: Preliminary pharmacologic studies on the methanol extracts of BO leaves showed statistical decrease in locomotor activity, anticonvulsant effect, analgesic and antidiarrheal effect and a delay i gastrointestinal motility. It also showed radical scavenging properties and antibacterial activity against agents of diarrhea and dysentery.
• Hypoglycemic / Antidiabetic: (1) Study of BO oil seed suspension of the red seed coat showed it to be a potent hypoglycemic agent. Extract study showed hypoglycemia in both normal and streptozotocin diabetic dogs. (2) Annatto extract was found to decrease blood glucose in fasting normoglycemic and streptozocin-induced diabetic dogs. The activity was attributed to the stimulation of peripheral utilization of glucose.
• Milk-based pigment: Study showed B orellana seeds can be used as a pigment in making milk-based paint.
• Anti-Gonorrheal: In a study of 46 plants popularly used in Guatemala for the treatment of gonorrhea, B orellana bark was one of the most active plants that inhibited strains of freshly isolated N gonorrhea.
• Antibacterial / Anti-Staphylococcal Activity: Study showed crude ethanolic extracts from leaves of B orellana and bark of Alstonia macrophylla showed potential antibacterial effect against S aureus.
• Aldose Reductase Inhibition: Study of hot water extracts of B orellana, C morifolim and I batatas showed potent inhibitory activity towards lens aldose reductase. Phytochemicals yielded isoscutellarein from B orellana as its potent inhibitor.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Small scale local cultivation for condiment and food colorant.
Worldwide production of annatto seeds for commercial and home use.
ANGELICA - Bryophyllum pinnatum
Botany
A rapid growing juicy herb. Leaves are thick, fleshy and simple or compound in pairs on reddish stems.
Plantlets grow along the notches of the leaf margins which can develop while still attached to the plant or when detached, a fascinating characteristic that earns its name.
Flowers are about 5 cm long, nodding, dangling and bell-shaped, greenish or yellowish, reddish by the stems.
Distribution
Easily propagated and widely distributed in the Philippines, found in thickets and open places. Also cultivated, flowering from December to March. Probably of prehistoric introduction.
Chemical constituents and properties
• Phytochemical evalutation of leaf extract yielded bryophyllum A, B and C, a potent cytotoxic bufadienolide orthoacetate.
• Bufadienolide has been reported to be poisonous with digitalis-toxicity type cardiac effects (slowing of heart rate, heart blocks and potentially fatal ventricular arryhthmias.
• Bryophillin A, a bufadienolide compound, has shown anti-tumor promoting activity.
Parts utilized
Entire plant. May be collected year round; preferably used fresh.
Uses
Folkloric
Pounded fresh material is applied as a poultice for a variety of conditions: Sprains, eczema, infections, burns; carbuncle and erysipelas. Usually not taken internally.
For boils, the whole leaf is pressed by hand, to and fro, until it becomes moist with the leaf extract. A small opening is made in the middle of the leaf which is then placed on the boil with hole over the pointing of the abscess.
Studies
• Depressant: Neuropharmacological Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Bryophyllum Pinnatum in Mice: Study revealed CNS depressant activity of the aqueous leaf extract that could be due to the presence of bufadienolide.
• Antinociceptive / Anti-inflammatory / Hypoglycemic: Leaf extract study of BP on animals showed it to possess antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic properties probably due to the flavonoid, polyphenol and triterpenoid contents.
• Antiulcer: Results of methanolic extract study in rats showed that BP possessed potent antiulcer properties. Leaf extract showed significant reduction in incidence of ulceration in indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in a dose-dependent manner.
• Tocolytic / Pre-term labor: (1) Study characterized the tocolytic activity of Bp in vitro vs the betamimetic, fenoterol. Results confirmed its tocolytic activity and justifies further clinical studies. (2) Intravenous tocolysis with Bryophyllum pinnatum is better tolerated than beta-agonist application.
• Analgesic: The study concludes that the aqueous extract of BP has strong analgesic potency comparable in a times- and dose-dependent manner to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
• Antileishmanial: The antileishmanial activity assessment of unusual flavonoids from Kalanchoe pinnata: Quercetin from K pinnata has demonstrated to be a potent antileshmanial flavonoid. Another study yielded unusual flavonoids with antileishmanial effect.
• Cytotoxic: A study isolated a potent cytotoxic bufadienolide orthoacetate and identified as bersaldegenin 1,3, 5-orthoacetate.
• Antimicrobial: Extract of leaves showed activity against all test organisms except for Candida albicans. Of all the extracts of Bp, themethanol extract was the most active with marked antibacterial activities against control strain of S aureus, E faecalis, B subtilis and P aeruginosa.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
American Agave - Agave americana
Botany
A tropical plant with about 300 species. The leaves are fibrous, growing upward from the ground forming a massive rosette. Both sides of the leaves are smooth, with prickly edges and a thorny tips. The plant produces a flower stalk in about ten years, and dies after the fruit ripens. (Insert)
Distribution
In thickets at low and medium altitudes.
Constituents and properties
Considered antiseptic, epurative, diuretic and laxative.
Studies suggest antibacterial, antiinflammatory properties.
Study isolated two new spirostanol glycosides: agamenoside A and B.
Study yielded a new steroidal saponin: a bisdesmosidic spirostanol saponin.
Uses
Folkloric
For cleansing the blood, a cup daily of an infusion of two grams of finely chopped leaves in each cup of water.
Infusion of the leaves used as disinfectant and tonic for falling hair.
Sap of leaves used internally for wound healing and inflammations.
Infusion of the plant with honey to soothe irritation of the eyes.
Decoction of leaves also used as wash for general eye problems.
Powdered plant used for anemia, kidney diseases and liver problems.
Studies
• Antibacterial: Study yielded tetratriacontanol, tetratriacontyl hexadecanoate and a new 2-tritriacontylchromone; two of them exhibited significant antibacterial activity.
• Antiinflammatory: Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extracts and steroidal sapogenins of Agave americana. Extracts showed good antiinflammatory activity.
• Cytotoxic activity: A new steroidal saponin from the leaves of Agave americana: Study isolated a new bisdesmosidic spirostanol saponin along with three known saponins. Hecogenin tetraglycoside showed cytotoxic activity against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells.
Caution !
• Contact Dermatitis
- The sap of Agave americana contains calcium oxalate crystals, acrid oils, saponins, among other compounds. Despite the known irritants, dermatitis is only rarely reported. (Source)
- A report of 12 cases of contact dermatitis secondary to intentional exposure in soldiers seeking sick leave. (Source)
Availability
Wildcrafted.
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