Adelfa – Scientific name: Nerium Indicum Mil

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English: Oleander, Aldelfa ;

Tagalog: Aldelfa

Erect, smooth shrub, 1.5 to 3 meters high with a cream-colored sticky resinous juice. Leaves are in whorls of 3 or 4,
linear-lanceolate, 10-15 cm long, with numerous horizontal nerves. Flowers are showy, sweet-scented, single or
double, 4-5 cm in diameter, white, pink or red, borne in terminal inflorescence (cymes). Fruit is cylindrical, paired,
with deep linear striations, 15-20 cm long. Seeds are numerous and compressed, with a tuft of fine, shining, white,
silky hairs.

Application:
– Herpes zoster (skin): Crush leaves, mix with oil and apply on lesions. Do not apply on raw surface. Milky juice of
the plant is irritating. Caution: Not to be taken internally.
– Herpes simplex: Mix 1 cup of chopped leaves and bark with 2 tablespoons of oil. Apply to lesions 3 times daily.
– Ringworm: Chop a foot long branch and mix with 1 cup chopped fresh young leaves. Mix the juice with 5 drops of
fresh coconut oil. Apply 3 times daily.
– Snake bites: Pound 10 leaves and a piece of branch. Apply poultice to the wound.
– Root, locally and internally, used for abortion.
– Roots, made into paste with water, used for hemorrhoids.
– Roots and bark used externally for eczema, snake bites and as insecticide.
– Fresh leaves applied to tumors to hasten suppuration.

Constituents and properties

Glycoside, oleadrin; tannin; volatile oil, 0.25%.
Nerium oleander’s leaves contain two principles: neriin and oleandrin, glucosides with properties similar to digitalin.
The seeds contain phytosterin and l-strophnathin. The bark contains toxic glycosides: rosaginin and nerlin, volatile
oil, fixed oil.
Nerium odorum’s bark yielded two toxic bitter principlesneriodorin and neriodorein. Another toxic principle is karabin.
Both karabin and neriodorin are probably resins, rather than glucosides.

The pharmacologic actions of of neriin and oleandrin resemble those of digitalis glucosides. In human beings, toxicity
manifests as nausea, vomiting, colic, decreased appetite, dizziness, drowsiness, bradycardia and irregular heart
beats, pupillary dilation, and sometimes unconsciousness attributed to digitalis poisoning.

Alagaw – Scientific name: Premna Odorata Blanco

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Tagalog: Adiyo, Alagaw

Alagaw is a tree that is only found in the Philippines. It grows wild on Mt. Banahaw and in many other places in the
Philippines. For many years now, Alagaw has been considered a drug in the Philippines, being used to loosen
phlegm and relieve coughs. It is also claimed to benefit tuberculosis and headaches. Its other properties are
carminative, parasiticide, sudorific, and pectoral. Alagaw is one of the great medicinal herbs of the Philippines.

Anonas – Scientific name: Anona reticulata Linn

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English: Custard apple
Tagalog: Anonas

A tree growing to a height of 10 meters. Leaves are shiny, oblong to oiblong-lanceolate, up to 20 cm long, 2-5 cm
wide, pointed at the tips, with petioles 1 to 1.5 cm long. Flowers are greenish-yellow, fragrant, 2 to 2.5 cm long,
occurring in twos or threes on lateral peduncles. Fruit is large, heart-shaped, brownish-yellow, about 8 cm or more in
diameter, with pentagonal areoles on the outside. Skin is thin, covering a cream-colored juicy and sweet pulp.

Chemical constituents and characteristics

The bark yields an alkaloid of the aporphine type.
The bark and seeds are high in tannic acid.
The fresh leaves are antihelminthic internally and suppurant externally.
The bark is astringent and tonic.

Uses
Indigestion: Warm the leaves in open fire. Apply to stomach while still warm; use abdominal binder. Renew every 2
hours. Also used for babies and children.
The powdered bark used for dysentery and diarrhea.
Fruit is antihelminthic; the dried unripe fruit is astringent and used for diarrhea and as vermifuge.
The roots used for epilepsy.

Balimbing – Scientific name: Auerrhoa carambola L.

3 Replies
Tagalog: Balimbing

Vermifuge, laxative, refrigerant, antiscorbutic, febrifuge, sialogogue, antiphlogistic, stimulant, emmenagogue,

anodyne, emetic.

Uses:
Nutritional
Edible fruit is a source of iron (low in calcium) and vitamins B and C, oxalate and potassium.

Tea of boiled leaves used for aphthous stomatitis.

Crushed shoots or leaves used externally for headaches and ringworm.
Boiled flowers used to expel worms: 50 gms to a pint of boiling water; drunk in normal doses.

Herba Buena – Scientific name: Mentha Cordifolia Opiz

4 Replies
English: Marsh mint
Tagalog: Herba Buena

Herba Buena is cultivated throughout the Philippines, although it does well at higher altitudes. It is grown on Mt.
Banahaw. This mint is known as a remedy for weakness of the stomach and for diarrhea. It is valuable as an
antiseptic, and has been used in alcohol solutions for asthma.

Branched, strongly aromatic herb that stems up to 40 cm long with ascending terminal branches. Leaves are elliptic
to oblong-ovate, 1.5 to 2 cms long, short-petioled, toothed margins, rounded or blunt tipped. Hairy purplish to light
blue axillary flowers.

Medicinal Uses:

One of the oldest household remedies known.

Carminative, stimulant, aromatic, emmenagogue.
Crushed or bruised leaves for insect bites.
Decoction and infusion of leaves and stems used for fever, stomach aches, dysmenorrhea, and diuresis.
Pounded leaves for insect bites, fevers, toothaches, headaches.
For dizziness: Crushed fresh plants or leaves are sniffed.
Powdered dried plant as dentrifice.
Headaches: Crushed leaves are applied on the forehead and temples.
Toothaches: (1) Wet a small piece of cotten with juice expressed from crushed leaves; apply this impregnated
cotton bud to the tooth. (2) Boil 6 tbsp. of leaves in two glasses of water for 15 minutes; strain and cool. Divide the
decoction into 2 parts and take every 3 to 4 hours.
Flatulence: Boil 4 tbsp of chopped leaves in 1 cup water for five minutes; strain. Drink the decoction while lukewarm.
Facilitates expulsion of flatus.
Cough: Boil 6 tbsp of chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 mins; cool and strain. Divide the decoctioninto
three parts; take 1 part 3 times a day.
Arthritis: Warm fresh leaves over low flame; then pound. Apply pounded leaves while warm on the painful joints or
muscles.
Kamantigui – Scientific name: Impatens balsamina L.
1 Reply

English: Touch me not balsam

Tagalog: Kamantigui

An erect, succulent, branched herb , 1 m high or less.

 Leaves: glabrous or somewhat pubescent, 3 to 5 cm long, narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate acuminate,

deeply serrate, alternate, the petioles with basal glands as seen under a magnifying glass.

 Flowers: axillary, showy, 2 to 3 cm long, usually pink, but forms with white, red, purple, or variegated petals
are also found in cultivation. The sepal spur is long and slender. The stamens are 5, filaments short, broad,
anthers uniting. The ovary is 5-celled, the stigma, 5-toothed, the ovules many.

 Fruits: loculicidal capsules, pubescent and explosive when ripe. The seeds are small and rounded.

Distribution

 Widely cultivated for ornamental purposes, throughout the Philippines.

 Seed propagation.

Constituents
Leaves, sulfur and pectin; roots, peroxidase; seeds, oil and phenol.

Parts utilized

 Roots, stems, flowers, and seeds.

 Collect, then sun-dry.
Uses

 Snake bite, contusion, painful inflammation, carbuncles, dysmenorrhea, lumbago: use dried flowers, 3 to 6
gms or seed preparation, 3 to 7 gms or the entire plant, 9 to 15 gms, boil to decoction and drink.
 For external use on any bruise or painful area; crush fresh plant and poultice the affected parts of the body.

Kataka-taka – Scientific name: Kalanchoe pinnata

(Lam.) Pers.
12 Replies

English: Life plant

Tagalog: Kataka-taka

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.

Parts utilized
Entire plant. May be collected year round; preferably used fresh.
Medicinal Uses

 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.

Kugon – Scientific name: Imperata cylindrica L.Beauv.

7 Replies

English: Cogon grass

Tagalog: Kugon

An annual, erect, tufted grass, 30 to 80 cm high with a prominent underground stem. Rhizomes much extended,
equally noded and white. Stems solid, rather slender; nodes glabrous or bearded.

 Leaves: flat, linear-lanceolate, 20 to 50 cm long, and 5 to 9 mm wide.

 Flowers: in panicles, exserted, dense, subcylindric, white, 10 to 20 cm long, 5 to 15 cm in diameter, silvery-
silky. Callus hairs copious, about twice as long as the glumes. Spikelets 1- to 2-flowered, 2 to 4 mm long, in
pairs, its axis continuous. Stamens 1 or 2, anthers large.

Distribution
Widely distributed, in open, rather dry lands, throughout the Philippines, often forming extensive cogon grasslands
called cogonales. Difficult to eradicate because of persistent rhizomes.
For propagation, use the stoloniferous rhizome or the downy caryopsis (fruits) from a mature spike.
A prolific seed producer, when detached from stalks the seeds are carried by wind at long distances.
Parts used and preparation
Collect the underground portion, remove the roots, and clean.
Cut into pieces. Fry with a strong fire until the covering turns yellow, sprinkle with clean water and sun-dry.
The inflorescence may also be collected and sun-dried for use.

Characteristics and Pharmacological Effects

Sweet tasting.
Antifebrile, diuretic, restorative, hemostatic.

Medicinal uses:

 For hemoptysis, hematuria, and nose bleeding (epistaxis): a decoction of 30 to 60 gms of the herb.
 For urinary tract infections: drink a decoction of 80 to 120 gms of fresh rhizomes.
 Painful outgrowth at the tongue. Use 30 to 90 gms dried rhizome, or 60 to 120 gms of fresh rhizome in
decoction.
 Has also been used for diabetes, wound healing, arthritis.

Lagundi – Scientific name: Vitex negundo L.

3 Replies

English: Five-leaved Chaste tree

Tagalog: Lagundi

Lagundi is a common medicine shrub in the Philippines, and is found on Mt. Banahaw. The use of Lagundi for
medicinal purposes has a long history in the Philippines. Today, pharmaceutical companies sell it in capsule form at
drug stores. The root is reported to be tonic, febrifuge, and expectorant.

The root is also used in a great variety of diseases: dyspepsia, colic, rheumatism, worms, boils, and leprosy. The
flowers are used in diarrhea, cholera, fever, and diseases of the liver, and are also recommended as a cardiac tonic.
The seeds make a cooling medicine for skin diseases and leprosy, and for inflammation of the mouth. The leaves are
reported to be used for coughs and asthma.

Pandakaki-puti – Scientific name: Tabernaemontana

pandacaqui Poir.
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Tagalog: Pandakaki-puti

Erect, branched and smooth shrub, 1-3 meters high. Leaves are short-stalked, elliptic-lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, 5-
12 cms, narrowed at both ends. Inflorescence are axillary and terminal; the flowers are few. Calyx is green, ovoid,
and short. Corolla is white, slender-tubed, 1.7 cm long; limb is 2 to 2.5 cm in diameter, composed of five, spreading,
falcate, lanceolate lobes. Follicles are red, oblong, 2-4 cm long, and longitudinally ridged.

Distribution
Common in thickets at low altitudes.

Parts utilized
Leaves.

Medicinal uses:

 Eczema: Boil 3 cups of chopped leaves in one gallon of water for 10 minutes; add 2 gallons of hot water.Also,
fry the fresh leaves in oil and apply to itchy skins lesions for symptomatic relief.
 Wound healing: Leaf juice.
 Hot Foot Baths: A local immersion bath covering the feet, ankles and legs used for a variety of conditions: To
relieve head, chest and pelvic congestion; to stop nosebleeds; to relieve spasms and pains of feet and legs;
to induce sweating; to relieve menstrual cramps and headaches.
 Leaves applied as cataplasm on abdomen to hasten childbirth.
  Erectile dysfunction: Recent use as “herbal viagra.” Boil 15-25 leaves in 3 glasses of water for 10 minutes;
drink the decoction. (Note: Like many of the herbal medicines touted as “herbal viagra,” kampupot use is rural
folkloric with no known scientific or pharmacologic basis for its claim.)
 Decoction of root and bark used for a varitety of stomach and intestinal ailments.
 The white sap of the stem is applied to thorn injuries and to hasten the surfacing of the thorn fragment.

Pansit-pansitan – Scientific name: Peperomia pellucida

Linn.
13 Replies

Tagalog: Pansit-pansitan, Ulasimang bato, Ulasiman bato

An annual herb, shallow rooted, may reach 40 cm high, with succulent stems. Leaves are alternate, heart-shaped
and turgid, as transparent and smooth as candle wax. Tiny dotlike flowers scattered along solitary and leaf-opposed
stalk (spike); naked; maturing gradually from the base to the tip; turning brown when ripe. Propagation by seeds.
Numerous tiny seeds drop off when mature and grow easily in clumps and groups in damp areas.

Distribution
An annual herb, favoring shady, damp and loose soil.
Often grows in groups in nooks in the garden and yard.
Conspicious in rocky parts of canals.

Parts utilized
Leaves and stems.

Nutritional value:
Leaves and stems may be eaten as vegetable.
In salads, the fresh plant has the crispness of carrot sticks and celery.
Medicinal Uses:
Infusion and decoction of leaves and stems are used for gout and arthritis.
Externally, as a facial rinse for complexion problems.
Pounded whole plant used as warm poultice for boils, pustules and pimples.

New uses
Belongs to the “preferred list” of Philippine medicinal plants, being studied for its use in the treatment of arthritis and
gout.
For arthritis: Leaves and stems of the fresh plant may be eaten as salad. Or, as an infusion, put a 20-cm plant in 2
glasses of boiling water; and 1/2 cup of this infusion is taken morning and evening.

Sabila – Scientific name: ALoe barbadensis Mill

2 Replies

English: Aloe vera

Tagalog: Sabila

Aloe, genus of succulent plants with more than 150 species, most native to southern Africa. They usually have short
stems, fleshy, tapering leaves crowded in rosettes at the end of the stem, and red or yellow tubular flowers in dense
clusters. Species vary in height from several centimetres to more than 9 m (30 ft); they are widely cultivated as
garden and tub plants in warmer regions. Several species are commercially important as the source of the bitter-
tasting aloes used in medicine.

Scientific classification: Aloes belong to the family Liliaceae.

Medicinal use:

 Juice of fleshy leaves is usually mixed with gogo by Filipino women and used to prevent falling of fair or as a
cure for baldness.
 Use for dandruff.
 Juice from leaves mixed with wine used to preserve the hair
  Burns and scalds: Use ointment made by mixing equal amounts of powdered aloe and coconut oil.
 Juice from leaves mixed with milk used for dysentery and pains of the kidney.
 Fresh juice expressed from the leaves is spread on skin burns, scalds, scrapes, sunburn and wounds.
 In small doses, considered stomachic tonic; in large doses, as purgative.
 Used for wound healing.
 For conjunctivitis, leaf juice is applied to the outer eyelid.
 In the Philippines, leaves used to poultice edema associated with beriberi.
 In small doses, used as a tonic; in larger doses, as aperient; and in still larger doses, drastically so; it is also
used as emmenagogue and cholagogue.
 Used for sprains, sore throat.
 In Costa Rica, the mucilaginous pulp of leaves is used as purgative.
 For contusions or local edema, bruised fresh leaves are applied as poultice over affected areas.
 In the Arabian peninsula, used for diabetes.
 Juice mixed with coconut milk used for dysentery and kidney pains.
 For bruises, equal parts of juice and alcohol are applied to affected areas.
 For hemorrhoids, cuticle from leaves used as suppository for hemorrhoids.
 In India and the Antilles the alcoholic tincture of inspissated juice is used for bruises, contusions and
ecchymoses.
 For alopecia and falling hair, remove the spines, cut leaves and rub directly on the scalp. The juice of fresh
leave may be mixed with gugo and used as a shampoo.
 Used in combination with licorice roots to treat eczema and psoriasis.
 For burns and scalds, an ointment is prepared by mixing 2 drams of powdered aloe with 2 drams.
 Also used for herpes simplex sores, tendinitis, dandruff, menstrual cramps, acne, stomatitis, varicose veins,
warts, hemorrhoids.

Takip-kohol – Scientific name: Centella asiatica L.

8 Replies

English: Indian hydocotyle

Tagalog: Takip-kohol
  A prostrate, creeping sparingly hairy or nearly smooth herb. The stems rooting at the nodes.
 Leaves: rounded to reniform, 2 to 5 cm wide, horizontal, more or less cupped, rounded at the tip, and kidney-
shaped or heart-shaped at the base, palmately veined, scalloped margins, the rounded lobes often
overlapping. Petioles erect, 3 to 20 cm and long.
 Flowers: petals dark-purple, ovate, and about 1 long. Peduncles occur in pairs or threes, less than 1 cm long
and usually bear 3 sessile flowers. Flowering October to May.
 Fruits: minute, ovoid, white or green, and reticulate, each with 9 subsimilar longitudinal ridges
 5 carpels, cylindric compressed, about 2.5 mm long, white or green, reticulate. Ovary inferior. Stamens 5,
epigynous.

Distribution
Found in gardens; open, damp grasslands on rice paddy banks and streams throughout the Philippines.

Parts utilized

 Entire plant.
 Gather drug material anytime of the year.

Constituents
Bitter principle, vellarin; pectic acid.
Chemical analysis of the plant shows the presence of vallarine, high vitamin B content in the leaves and roots, and a
miscellany of other constituents such as carbohydrates, resins, proteins, ash, alkali, alkaline salts, phosphates, and
tannins.

Medicinal uses

 Infectious hepatitis, measles, respiratory tract infections – colds, tonsillitis, laryngopharyngitis, bronchitis.
 Fresh material: 60 to 260 gms, dried material: 30 to 60 gms: Take in form of decoction.
 Counterirritant: Pound fresh leaves, mix with vaseline or oil and apply over affected area as poultice.

Tuba Bakod – Scientific name: L., Euphorbiaceae ;

Jatropha curcas
10 Replies
English: Barbados nut, bubble bush, physic nut, purging nut;
Tagalog: Tuba Bakod

Physic nut is a drought resistant shrub that grows up to 20′ tall under favorable condition with spreading branches.
There are male – and female plant of Jatropha curcas. The black thin shelled seeds are considered toxic; they
contain the toxalbumin curcin and this make them fatally toxic.

Roasting the seeds seems to kill the toxin. However, they also contain a high percentage of clean oil used for
candles, soap and bio-diesel production. The fruit contains 2 or 3 large black, oily seeds.

Physic nut has insecticidal – and fungicidal properties. It has yellow-green flowers and large (pale) green leaves.

It is a drought resistant shrub with a smooth gray bark.

Barbados nut has latex that contains an alkaloid (jatrophine) which shows anticancerous properties.
Caution is advised when using physic nut!
When irrigated it procedure seeds during the whole year.
The seeds contain 37% of this non edible oil.

In traditional medicine, the leaves of this plant are used against stomachache, diagnosed in children: boiled leaves
for conditions of the gums and throat; tea of the leaves for stoppage of urine, constipation, backache and
inflammation of ovaries.

Yacon – Scientific name: Polymnia sanchifolia

40 Replies
English: Yacon
Tagalog: Yakon

There is now a new root crop that goes by the unusual name yacon. Recognized as a health food, it is also known as
the apple of the earth because although it is grown underground like any other root crop, its fruit resembles an apple
or a pear. Also, unlike regular root crops whose carbohydrate content eventually turns to starch, then sugar, when
ingested, the yacon stores carbohydrates in the form of inulin and not starch. High in inulin, it serves as a sucrose-
free food for diabetics.

The yacon is also low in calories, thus making it a good, nutritious diet food. While a sweet potato contains 125
calories, a potato 77 calories and a taro 60 calories per 100grams, the yacon has only 54 calories. It contains
carbohydrates (oligo-fuctans),which pass through the digestive tract unmetabolized, so that it is perfect for those who
suffer from obesity. Add to this the fact that the yacon purifies the blood and whose high-fiber content assists in
digestion.

ORIGINS…

The yacon is believed to be a lost crop of the Incas. A little known plant of the Andes, it grows wild in Colombia,
Ecuador and Peru. It also grows at medium altitudes in South America. In the warm, temperate Andian Valleys, it can
be found at altitudes up to 3,200 meters. It can be cultivated worldwide, and in the Philippines, it is grown 100%
organically.

The absence of harmful chemicals and insecticides makes it even healthier. A herbaceous plant with dark green
celery like leaves, it has hairy aerial stems that reach up to 2 meters in height as well as small, daisy-like yellow or
orange flowers that a repacked close together at the top of the plants. Yacon tubers are irregularly spindle to round
and can vary considerably in shape, size and sweetness.

NUTRITIOUS FOOD

The yacon, which is a member of the sunflower family, is grown primarily for its edible roots. While it looks like sweet
potatoes or yam on the outside with its brownish, sandy skin, inside, the yacon looks more like a juicy fruit such as
the apple and the pear. Just peel off the skin, wash it, slice it up into pieces, and eat it raw. It feels just like a pear or
an apple to the bite, with a crunch accompanying small bursts of juice.

The yacon can also be boiled or sauteed in oil. Having all the characteristics of a health food that aids in the
maintenance of good health, the yacon contains potassium, magnesium, calcium, Vitamins A, B1, B2 and C,
phosphorus, niacin, iron, carotene, protein, lipids, cellulose, glucide and fiber.

MEDICINAL VALUES

More than just being a valuable health food, the yacon has also been discovered to have medicinal values. The tuber
can be used as medicine. Simply preserve it for 10 days so that it reaches its full level of sweetness, and then peel it,
slice into thin cuts and eat it raw. Its leaves also have medicinal properties. Do the leaves naturally in the shade, then
cut into suitable sizes and boil in water to make a cleansing tea. The recommended daily intake of the yacon tea is 2
cups daily. Because the inulin content of the yacon is 60 to 70%, it helps control the blood glucose and keep it at a
normal level. So those who are eating the tuber will notice initial results within 7 to 10 days, while those who drink its
tea can expect initial health benefits in as short as 4 to 5 days. Above all else, the yacon is delicious!

Kulasi
Lumnitzera racemosa Willd.
WHITE FLOWERED MANGROVE
Lan li

Scientific names Common names

Combretum alternifolium Wight & Am. Agnaya (Sbl.)
Funckia karakandel Dennst. Kulasi (Tag.)
Laguncularia rosea Gaudich. Solasi (Tag.)
Lumnitzera racemosa Willd. Tabau (P. Bis., Tag.)
Lumnitzera rosea (Gaudich.) C. Presl White-flowered mangrove (Engl.)
Petaloma alba Blanco
Petaloma albiflora Zipp. ex Span.
Petaloma alternifolia Roxb.
Problastes cuneifolia Reinw.
Solasi is a common name shared by (1) Luminitzera racemosa, Kulasi, and (2) Ocimum basilicum, solasi, and and
phonetically with (3) Ocimum sanctum, sulasi.
Lumnitzera racemosa Willd. is an accepted name. The Plant List

Other vernacular names

CHINESE: Lan li.
SINGHALESE: Bariya, Beriya.
TAMIL: Tipparathai.
TELUGU: Thanduga, Kadavi, Kadivi, Than.
Botany
Kulasi is a tree reaching a height of 18
meters, flowering when 1 meter high or
less. Air-roots are few in number.
Leaves are fleshy, green, shining,
narrowly obovate, 2.5 to 7 centimeters
long, with rounded and notched tip and
pointed base. Flowers are bright
scarlet, about 8 millimeters long. Calyx
is oblong-cylindric, green, 5 to 6
millimeters long, and short-toothed.
Petals are white, oblong, about 4
millimeters long. Stamens are 10, as
long as the petals. Fruit is green,
woody, oblong, 1.5 to 2 centimeters
long, and crowned by persistent calyx-
rim, containing a single seed.

Distribution
- In beach swamps and along tidal
streams in Rizal, Bataan and Quezon
Provinces; and in Mindoro, Panay, Negros, Cebu and Mindanao.
- Also occurs in India through Malaya to Australia and Polynesia.

Constituents
- Bark contains 15-19 % tannin; the leaves and wood contain smaller quantities.
- Studies have yielded a long-chain rubber like polyisoprenoid alcohol from the leaves,
flavonoids and long chain fatty acids and low molecular weight carbohydrates.
- Study reported friedeline, ß-amyrin, taraxerol, betulin, ß-sitosterol, and triacontanol.
- Crude methanolic extract and fractions yielded flavonoids, quercetin and myricetin as main
active components, together with quercitrin, quercetin-3O-hexoside, kaempferol 4'-methyl
ether, kaempferol-3,4'dimetheyl ether, and bi-isorhamnetic and myricetin-7O-methylether(3-
8")quercetin-2O-rhamnoside. (see study below) (2)
- Study isolated a new aromatic ester, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propyl-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-
propionate, together with known triterpenoids, friedelin, betulin, and betulinic acid. (5)
- Phytochemical screening of EtOAc fraction of MeOH extract of leaves isolated 8
compounds: a new cyclic compound together with seven known compounds viz. 3,4-
dihydroxy benzoic acid, 3, 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester, Loliolide, Quercetin-3-
O-(2''-O-galloyl)-rhamnopyranoside, Myricetin 3-O-(2''-O-galloyl)-rhamnopyranoside,
Sophoretin, Lyoniresinol. (see study below) (14)
- Phytochemical screening of aqueous extract of leaves yielded phenols, flavonoids,
alkaloids, terpenoids, sterols, tannins, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, saponins, and
quinones, with an absence of proteins and amino acids. (see study below) (17)
- Study of n-BuOH fraction of L. racemosa isolated one new flavonoid glycoside, myrcetin 3-
O-methyl gluccuronate (1), one new phenolic glycoside, lumniracemoside (2), and one new
alipathic alcohol glycoside, n-hexanol 1-O-rutinoside (3), along with seven known compounds
(4-10). (see study below (19)
- Phytochemical analysis of stem extracts in different solvents yielded alkaloids, flavonoids,
glycosides, phenols, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, tannins, and anthraquinones. (see study
below) (20)

Properties
- Studies have suggested antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective,
antihypertensive , antiplasmodial, phytoremediative, antiangiogenic, anti-inflammatory
properties.

Parts used
Stem.

Uses
Folkloric
- Fluid substance made from incisions in the stem, mixed with coconut oil, used as anti-
herpetic and as cure of itches.
- Elsewhere, used for treatment of diabetes.
Others
- Wood: Used for piles, poles, house posts, ties, paving blocks, bridges, ship planks, decks,
handles and cabinetry.
- Fuel: Wood used as fuel for its caloric value.
- Tanning: Bark used for tanning.

Studies
• Antihypertensive / Corilagin and Chebulinic Acids: Study investigated the
antihypertensive activity of eleven hydrolyzable tannins from the leaves of LR. Corilagin and
chebulinic acid were identified as the major active substances. (1)
• Antibacterial / Phenolics: Study investigated phenolics and antimicrobial activity of L
racemosa against fungi, virus and pathogenic bacteria. The crude methanolic extract and n-
butanol fraction exhibited significant bacterial activity against all the bacterial tested, without
activity against fungi and virus. Myricetin showed the most potent activity against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa with marked activity against others. (see constituents above) (2)
• Punicalagin / Orthostatic Hypotension Reversal: Punicalagin, an active principle isolated
from the leaves of L racemosa reversed the fall in arterial blood pressure in conscious Wistar
rats with orthostatic hypotension induced by hexamethonium. It was found less effective in
prazosin-induced orthostatic hypotension. The effect is probably from a direct release of NE
(norepinephrine) from the noradrenergic nerve terminals by punicalagin. (3)
• Hepatoprotective / Antioxidant / Leaves: Leaf extract of Lumnitzera racemosa was
evaluated for hepatoprotective and in vitro antioxidant activity in CCl4-treated rats. Results
showed a hepatoprotective effect attributed to the presence of phenolic groups, terpenoids
and alkaloids and in vitro antioxidant properties. (4)
• Wastewater Treatment: Study evaluated three mangrove species, i.e., Lumnitzera
racemosa, Avicennia marina and Rhizophora stylosa for use in wetland wastewater
treatment systems. Lumnitzera was found to increase salinity. It also performed well on total
nitrogen removal efficiency testing, and fair on phosphorus removal. (7)
• Antibacterial: Study investigated the antibacterial activity of crude aqueous and ethanol
extracts of mature leaves, tender leaves, bark and shoot of various mangrove species
against clinical isolates of Shigella sp., Pseudomonas sp., and antibiotic resistant bacteria,
Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus sp. Luminitzera racemosa showed the most significant
antibacterial activity. (8)
• Antioxidant / Leaves and Stems: Study investigated the antiradical and reducing power
activities of methanol extract of leaves and stems of Lumnitzera racemosa. Results showed
better antioxidant activity by DPPH and reducing power assay in leaves than stems.
Scavenging activity in leaves was 23.31 µg/mL while stems showed 111.5 µg/mL compared
to ascorbic acid at 14.98 µg/mL. (10 )
• Cytotoxicity / Antioxidant / Leaves: A methanol extract, Ch2Cl2 and n-BuOH fractions
exhibited potent antioxidant activity. Isolated compounds exerted potent cytotoxicity in HL-60
cells, with IC50 values of 0.15 ±0.29 and 0.60 ±0.16 µM. Study of cytotoxic mechanisms
included measurement of time-dependent changes in apoptotic markers and downregulation
of p-ERK1/2, p-AKT, and c-Myc levels. (11)
• Antimicrobial / Leaves: Study evaluated the antimicrobial activities of various leaf extracts
of Lumnitzera littorea against six human pathogenic microbes. Results showed antimicrobial
activity with increasing concentration. The n-hexane extract was the most effective. (12)
• Anticancer: Study evaluated the in vitro anticancer activity of crude methanol extracts of
four selected mangrove plants viz. Brugiera gymnorrhea, Aegiceras corniculatum, Aegialitis
rotundifolia, and Lumnitzera racemosa against HepG2 cell line using MTT assay. All four
extracts showed anticancer activity. L. racemosa showed an IC50 of 195.1. (13)
• Hepatoprotective / Acetaminophen Induced Toxicity / Antioxidant /
Leaves: Phytochemical screening of EtOAc fraction of MeOH extract of leaves isolated 8
compounds. Compound 8 showed high hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen and
compound 1 showed moderate activity compared to glycyrrhizin as positive control using
HepG2 cell line. Compounds 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 showed highest DPPH radical scavenging
activity. (see constituents above) (14) Study of an n-BuOH fraction of L. racemosa isolated
10 compounds: one new flavonoid glycoside, one new phenolic glycoside, one new alipathic
alcohol glycoside, along with seven known compounds. Compound 7 showed the highest
hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity using human HepG2
cells. Almost all of the compounds showed stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity
compared with standard Trolox. (19)
• Antiplasmodial / Leaves: A study evaluated the ethanolic extracts of 10 mangrove plants
for in vitro antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falcifarum. The
bark extract of R. mucronata (62.18 µg/ml) and leaf extract of L. racemosa (110.93 µg/ml)
showed minimum level of IC50 values at significant (p<0.05) levels. (15)
• Antioxidant / Cytotoxicity / Leaves: Study of methanolic extract of mangrove L. racemosa
leaves yielded 36 compounds. The methanolic extract, CH2Cl2 and n-BuOH fractions
exhibited potent antioxidant activity with Trolox equivalent values of 24.94±0.59, 28.34±0.20,
and 27.09±3.37, respectively. The isolated compounds also exhibited dose dependent
cytotoxic effects, with compounds 1 and 14 showing most potent cytotoxicity in HL-60 cells
with IC50 of 0.15±0.29 and 0.60±0.16, respectively. (16)
• Antioxidant / Anticancer / Anticoagulant / Leaves: Study evaluated the phytochemical
composition, antioxidant, anticancer, and anticoagulant activities of aqueous extracts of roots
of Acanthus ilicifolius and Lumnitzera racemosa leaves. The leaf extract of L. racemosa
showed good antioxidant power as evidenced by an efficient DPPH free radical scavenging,
with a lower IC50 of 38.89 µg/ml, in fair proximity to standard ascorbic acid at 21.71 µg/ml. In
cytotoxic efficacy testing against HepG2 cancer cell line using MTT assay, L. racemosa
showed an IC50 value of 26.05 µg/ml. On anticoagulant testing, the extracts also showed
slight prolongation of coagulation times, suggesting inhibition of the common pathway,
 although not as effective as Heparin. (see constituents above) (17)
• Racelactone / Antiangiogenic / Anti-Inflammatory / Leaves and Twigs: Study of
methanolic extract of leaves and twigs isolated one new neolignan, racelactone A (1), along
with seven known compounds (2-8). Compound 1 exhibited antiangiogenic effect by
suppressing tube formation. Compounds 1, 4, and 5 showed significant anti-inflammatory
effects with IC50s of 4.95 ± 0.89, 1.95 ± 0.40, and 2.57 ± 0.23 µM, respectively. (18)
• Antibacterial Against Drug Sensitive and Multiple Drug Resistant Bacterial Strains /
Stem: Study evaluated the antibacterial activity of L. racemosa stem extract against clinically
important drug resistant strains (S. aureus, B. subtilis, B. cereus, E. coli, and K. pneumonia)
and drug sensitive strains (B. subtilis, E. aerogenes, and P. aeruginosa). All crude extracts
showed antibacterial activity against drug resistant and drug sensitive test cultures, varying
from one extract to another in terms of zone of inhibition. ZOI was compared with standard
broad spectrum antibiotic Gentamycin. (see constituents above) (20)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Dawag
Toddalia asiatica (Linn.) Lam.
WILD ORANGE TREE
Xi jiao
Scientific names Common names
Aralia labordei H.Lév Atangen (Ig.)
Cranzia aculeata (Sm.) Oken Bugkau, bugkaw (Ig.)
Cranzia asiatica (L.) Kuntze Bukau (Ig.)
Cranzia nitida Kuntze Dawag (Tag.)
Limonia oligandra Dalzell Unresolved Dauag (Tag.)
Paullinia asiatica Linn. Guiot, guyot (Ig.)
Scopolia aculeata Sm. Kaboat (Tagb.)
Toddalia aculeata Pers. Palina (Bon.)
Toddalia angustifolia Lam. Subit (Ig.)
Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. Orange climber (Engl.)
Toddalia floribunda Wall. Wild orange tree (Engl.)
Toddalia nitida Lam.
Toddalia rubricaulis Roem. & Schult.
Toddalia tonkinensis Guillaumin
Dauag or Dawag is a shared common name for: (1) Halubagat-baging, Capparis horrida (2) Sapnit, Mezoneurum latisiliquum
and (3) Atangen, Toddalia asiatica
Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. is an accepted name The Plant List
Other vernacular names
AFRICAN: Ranklemoentjie.
CHINESE: XIiao jin teng, You po le, Hua mei tiao, San xue fei, Wen dan, Yi lei, Jian xue fei, Huang jiao
gen, Xi jiao, Huang jiao gen, Ci mu teng, Huang rou shu, Da jiu jia, Niu ma le, Ji zhao le, Ru shin hu, Fei
long zhang xue.
HINDI: Kanj, Jangli mirch.
KANNADA: Kaadumenasu, Inasingi.
SANSKRIT: Sauvarnitvak

Botany
Dawag is a rather large, spiny woody vine which is pungent in all its parts and provided with sharp,
recurved prickles. Leaves are 3-foliate. Leaflets are stalkless, sessile, ovate-elliptic, obovate or obovate-
oblong, 3 to 8 centimeters long, 5 to 25 millimeters wide, and rounded at the base, pointed at the apex.
Flowers are small, greenish-white, 5 millimeters across, and borne on terminal cymes or from the upper
leaf axils. Fruit is small, nearly spherical, less than 1 centimeter in diameter, borne in fairly large clusters,
3- to 5- grooved, and with as many cells, and orange-red when ripe. Seeds solitary in each cell.
Distribution
- In thickets at low and medium
altitudes, ascending to 1,700 meters,
only in Benguet, Bontoc, Rizal,
Laguna, and Nueva Viscaya Provinces
in Luzon; and in Palawan.
- Also reported in India to southern
China and Malaya.

Constituents
- Volatile oil, 0.08% - toddalolactone,
citronella, linalool.
- Stem bark - aculeatin; aculeatin
hydrate; colorless substance, m.p.239.
- Yields 0.08% oil by steam distillation,
largely linalool. Oil has an odor
suggesting a mixture of camphor and
lemon grass.
- Study of twigs yielded two
new geranyloxycoumarins, 7-
geranyloxy-5-methoxycoumarin (1)
and 8-geranyloxy-5,7-
dimethoxycoumarin (2). (9)
- Various extracts of stems yielded
sugar, protein, alkaloids, flavonoids,
sterols, coumarins, and glycoside. (16)
- Stems yielded four new triterpene
acids: (1) 2α,3α, 19α-trihydroxy-11-
oxo-urs-12-en-28-oic acid, (2) 2α,3α,
11α, 19α-tetrahydroxy-urs12-en-28-oic
acid, (3) 2α, 3α-dihydroxy-19-oxo-18,
19-seco-urs-11, 13 ( 18)-dien-28-oic
acid, and (4) 2α, 3β, 19α-
trihydroxyolean-11, 13( 18)-dien-28-olic acid, along with the known compounds euscaphic acid, arjunic
acid, toddaculin, toddalolactone and β-sitosterol. (19)
- Preliminary screening of solvent extracts of leaves yielded the presence of alkaloids, phenols, flavones,
tannins, coumarins, reducing sugars, xanthoproteins, and glycosides. (26)
- Study of essential oil of leaves yielded 42 compounds. The major compound was ß-phellandrene
(21.35%). (see study below) (28)
- Leaves yielded major phytoconstituents viz. 2,2,6- Trimethyl- 2H, 5H pyrano (3,2-C) quinolin-5-one;
Butylated hydroxytoluene; Cycloheptasiloxane tetradecamethyl; Nerolidyl acetate; Spathulenol; Acetic
acid, dodecyl ester; 2-Napthalenemethanol, decahydro alpha; n-Hexadecanoic acid and Dibutyl
phthalate. (30)
- Ethanolic extract of roots isolated seven new prenylated coumarins (1-7) and 14 known analogues (8-
21). Compounds 1-5, named toddalin A, 3‴-O-demethyltoddalin A, and toddalins B–D, represent an
unusual group of phenylpropenoic acid-coupled prenylated coumarins. (see study below) (35)
- Study of stems yielded carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and
phenols, phytosterols , glycosides, and coumarins. GC-MS analysis yielded 25 compounds, major
compounds were 2,3-diphenyl-4- acetoamidothiophene (39.80 %), 2-(4-Pyridyl)-4-methylquinoline
(19.14%) and Pyrido[2,3-b]indole (16.48%). (38)
- Methanolic extract of stem yielded carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids, alkaloids, flavonoids,
saponins, steroids, glycosides, tannins, and coumarins. (see study below) (41)
- GC-MS study of essential oil of leaves yielded 45 components. The main constituents were linalool
(10.67%), β- sesquiphellandrene (9.86%), spathuleno (8.37) and caryophyllene oxide (6.29%). (see
study below) (44)

Properties
- Bitter-tasting, minty, warming-natured.
- Activates blood, dissipates contusions.
- Considered antiphlogistic, analgesic.
- Root bark considered antimalarial, antiperiodic, antipyretic, tonic and carminative.
- Volatile oil from the leaves have a pleasant odor resembling verbena of basilicum.
- Studies have shown antiplasmodial, antimicrobial, antiviral, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic,
repellent, antioxidant, anti-diarrheal, antihyperglycemic properties.

Parts utilized
· Root bark, roots, leaves, fruits.
· May be collected the whole year round.
· Rinse, cut into sections, sun-dry.

Uses
Edibility
· Fruit is edible with a taste between an orange and a lemon.
Folkloric
· In the Philippines, decoction of root used as antidiarrhetic and dynamogenic during convalescence from
fevers.
· Infusion of root bark used as bitter stomachic, tonic and febrifuge.
· Leaves chewed for stomach disorders.
· Used for rheumatic arthritis, sprains, contusions, intercostal neuralgia, cough, malaria, dysentery and
gastralgia.
· Used for poisonous snakebites, nausea, bronchitis, wounds, contaminated ulcers, epilepsy, gonorrhea
and general debility.
· Root bark used as antimalarial, antiperiodic and antipyretic. Fresh root bark, as infusion or fluid extract,
used as stimulating tonic and carminative.
· Pounded fresh leaves applied as poultice on furuncles.
· Dosage: 6 to 9 gms dried material in decoction. Pounded fresh leaves or bark may be used as poultices
over afflicted areas.
· In East Africa, used most often for stomach problems. Also used for malaria, cough, chest pains, food
poisoning and sore throat. (1)
· In India, used in treatment of various ailments: cough, malaria, indigestion, influenza, rheumatic fever
cholera, diarrhea, and stomach ailments. (15)
· In East Africa, used in treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions.
· In Siddha herbal medicine, the root of Toddalia asiatica (Milagaranai Ver Chooranam) is used for its
antimcrobial properties. (see study below) (27)
Others
· Perfume: Oil used in making low-grade perfume.
· Dye: Root bark yields a yellow dye.

Studies
• Antiplasmodial: A new antiplasmodial coumarin was isolated from Toddalia asiatica roots – 5,7-
dimethoxy-8-(3'-hydroxy-3'methyl-1'butene)-coumarin. The finding supports the traditional use of the
plant for treatment of malaria. (2)
• Antiviral: More than 200 Chinese medicinal herbs for antiviral activity against influenza A/PR/8/34
(H1N1) virus. Results suggest T. asiatica extract can be a candidate for anti-H1Ni virus agent for
treatment of influenza. (3)
• Antimicrobial: Antimicrobial activity of the hexane and methanol extracts of collected ethnomedicinal
plants: Methanol and hexane extracts of Toddalia asiatica showed antimicrobial activity. The essential
oils from the leaves were most active against E. coli, K. pneumonia, P. aeruginosa and S.
aureus. • Antimicrobial: In a study of 18 ethnomedicinal plants for antimicrobial activity, T asiatica was
one of the six that showed most activity against nine bacterial strains: B subtilis, S aureus, S epidermis,
E faecalis, E coli, K pneumonia, P aeruginosa, Ervinia sp,, P vulgaris. (7)
• Antibacterial / Chemical Composition: A. marmelos, T. asiatica and Z. budrunga were hydrolyzed for
its essential oils. The essential oils exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli, P.
aeruginosa. Todalia asiatica showed strongest activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Results
suggest a potential for large scale production and development of a medicinal essential oil industry.
• Analgesic / Anti-Inflammatory: Study showed anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the crude
alklaloids of T asiactica. Furthermore, there was no long-term effects to the liver. (8)
• Tumor Selective Cytotoxicity: Study isolated three benzo[c]phenanthridine derivative: DHN
(dihydronitidine) NTD (nitidine), and DMN (demthylnitidine). NTD and DHN selectively reduced the
growth of murine and human lung adenocarcinoma in vitro. (10)
• Larvicidal / Smoke Repellency Effect Against Dengue Vector, A Aegypti: The LC50 of T asiatica
was 47.893, 50.992, 54.461 and 61.278 on first to fourth instars. Smoked exposed gravid females
hatched a lower percentage of eggs compared to unexposed females. (11)
• Antioxidant: Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Toddalia asiatica exhibited significant in vitro and in
vivo antioxidant activity. (12)
• Larvicidal: Hexane extract of fruits of T. asiatica showed highest larvicidal activity against fourth instars
larvae of Dengue vector, Aedes aegypti and Filarial vector, Culex quinquefasciatus. Results show TA as
a promising larvicide against both targeted mosquitoes. (13)
• Ulopterol / Antimicrobial: Study of various extracts of leaves isolated a coumarin, ulopterol, besides
Flindersine, a major active antimicrobial principle. Ulopterol showed activity against bacteria viz. S.
epidermis, E. aerogenes, S. flexneri, K. pneumonia, E coli and fungi viz. A. flavus, C. krusei and B.
cinerea. (15)
• Radical Scavenging Activity / Antimicrobial: Study evaluated the antioxidant activity through
inhibition of hydroxyl radical of Toddalia asiatica polysaccharides. Results showed that TA
polysaccharides hydroxyl radical scavenging was positively correlated with its concentration. TA is a
promising natural source of antioxidants. (17)
• Antinociceptive / Anti-Inflammatory: Study in a mice model showed significant antinociceptive and
anti-inflammatory effects using the carrageenin-induced paw edema and formalin-induced pain tests,
and supports the anecdotal use for painful and inflammatory conditions. (18)
• Larvicidal Against Two Mosquito Vectors: Study of various extracts of mature fruits and leaves was
studied for bio-control potentiality against fourth instars larvae of Dengue vector, Aedes aegypti and
Filarial vector, Culex quinquefasciatus. Hexane, acetone and methanol extracts of leaves showed
potency against Aa and Cq. Results were promising for T. asiatica as larvicide against both targeted
mosquitoes. (20)
• Anti-Malarial: An ethyl acetate extract of fruits was active against chloroquine resistant Plasmodium
falcifarum as well as Plasmodium berghei. Studies suggest the potential of TA for further testing for a
prototype antimalarial medicine. (21)
• Antibacterial / Antifungal: In a study of various plant extracts, Todavia asiatica stem bark methanol
extract showed the highest activity against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and an ethyl
acetate extract against Microsporum gypseum. (22)
• Anti-Diabetic / Antioxidant: Study of ethyl acetate extract of leaves showed significant antidiabetic
and antioxidant effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Histopathology of pancreas in the treated group
showed regeneration of ß-cells. (23)
• Larvicidal / Anopheles gambiae: Study evaluated extracts of T. asiactica and Ekebergia capensis for
potential larvicidal activity. Extracts showed larvicidal activity. Fractionation isolated several compounds.
Sibricin from T. asiatica showed the highest level of larvicidal activity. (24)
• Antimicrobial / Roots : Study sought to validate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of Milagaranai
Ver Chooranam extract against various microorganisms (gram negative and gram positive bacterial
activity and antifungal activity against Candida albicans). Results showed the minimum inhibition of
growth of all microorganisms at 100 µg/ml concentration, confirming its use as an antimicrobial
agent. Activity may be due to the presence of constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, isoflavonoids,
tannins, coumarins, glycosides, terpenes and phenolic compounds. (27)
• Antigenotoxic / Cytotoxic / Antioxidant / Essential Oil / Leaves: Essential oil of leaves of Toddalia
asiatica showed DNA protecting activity against H2)2 induced genotoxicity in human lymphocytes. It
showed cytotoxicity against breast (MCF-7) and colorectal (HT-29) cancer cells and considerable DPPH
free radical, hydroxyl radical scavenging, iron chelation and inhibition of lipid peroxidation activities.
Results suggest potential use in food and drug preparation. (see constituents above) (28)
• Ulopterol / Antimicrobial / Leaves: Study of leaves of T. asiatica yielded the coumarin Ulopterol, and
the quinolone alkaloid Findersine. Ulopterol exhibited antimicrobial activity against bacteria ciz.
Staphylococcus epidermis Enterbobacter aerogenes, Shigella flexneri, Klebsiella pneumonia and E. coli
and fungi viz. Aspergillus flavus, Candida krusei and Botrytis cinerea. (29)
• Antiviral / Influenza type A Virus: Study investigated the antiviral activity of Toddalia asiatica against
Influenza virus type A in vitro. Results showed TA compound could be a candidate for anti-H1N1 virus
agent in the treatment of influenza. (31)
• Anti-Diarrheal / Leaves: Study investigated the anti-diarrheal effects of an ethanolic extract of leaves
of Toddalia asiatica against castor oil-induced diarrhea model in rats. Results showed an anti-diarrheal
effect with reduction in number of diarrheal stools and reduction in weight and volume of intestinal
contents and reduction of intestinal transit. (32)
• Toddaculin / Osteoporosis Benefits: Study showed toddaculin derived from Toddalia asiatica not
only inhibited the differentiation of osteoclasts via activation of the NP-kB, ERK 1/2, and p38 MAPK
signaling pathways, but also induced differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts by regulating
differential factors. Results suggest potential benefits for the prevention and treatment of
osteoporosis. (33)
• Antiplasmodial / Larvicidal / Root Bark: Study of extracts of root bark isolated 8 compounds. The
compounds showed moderate in vitro antiplasmodial activity against D6 (chloroquine sensitive) and W2
(chloroquine-resistant) strains of Plasmodium falcifarum and larvicidal activities against Aedes aegypti.
Coumarins were identified as active compounds. (34)
• Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitors / Prenylated Coumarins / Roots: Study of roots yielded seven new
prenylated coumarins and 14 known analogues. Compounds were tested for inhibitory activity against
phosphodiesterase-4, the drug target for treatment of asthma and COPD. Compound 8,
Toddacoumatone was the most active compound. (see constituents above) (35)
• Insecticidal / Repellent / Fruit: Study showed a diethyl ether fruit extract of Toddalia asiatica showed
mortality and repellency against three insects viz. Callosobruchus maculatus, Sitophilus oryzae, and
Tribolium castaneum adults. Results suggest the fruit extract can be an ecofriendly fumigant and
repellent against the three major stored product pests. (36)
• Antihyperlipidemic / Antioxidant: Study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic
activity of Toddalia asiatica leaves in Triton WR-1339 and high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. On
DPPH, hydroxyl and NO assays, the leaf extract showed very good scavenging activity. An ethyl acetate
extract showed significant reduction in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, with significant increased in
HDL-C in comparison with hexane and methanol extracts. (37)
• Antinociceptive / Models of Central and Peripheral Pain:Study evaluated various extracts of T.
asiatica for antinociceptive activities in Swiss albino mice in acetic acid-induced writhing, tail-flick, and
hot plate tests. A root bark extract showed greater potency than leaf extract, with highly significant
activity (p<0.001) in the hot plate and tail flick tests. (39)
• Analgesic Property / Toxicity: A crude extract of T. asiatica showed better analgesic effect
(28.2±13.16) than acetylsalicylate as control (4±0.31). However, the crude extract induced nephrotoxicity
and liver enzymes modulation and elevated total cholesterol in test organisms compared to untreated
negative control. (40)
• Antimicrobial / Stems: Study evaluated a methanolic extract of stem for antimicrobial activity against
various microorganisms viz. S. aureus, K. pneumonia, E. coli, P. vulgaris, P. aeuriginosa, B. anthracis,
and B. subtilis and fungi viz. F. oxysporum, A. flavus, Penicillium sp. and C. albicans. (see constituents
above). (41)
• Antihyperglycemic / Leaves: Study evaluated methanolic and PE extracts of leaves for
antihyperglycemic activity in STZ-induced hyperglycemic rats. Results showed increased utilization of
glucose by a-amylase inhibition assay suggesting inhibition of digestion and absorption of glucose
through the intestine. (42)
• Germicidal / Herbal Antiseptic Detergent: In the background of skin dryness and irritation caused by
alcohol-based sanitizers, study evaluated a T. asiatica stem-bark extract formulated into a germicidal
herbal antiseptic detergent. Results showed high antimicrobial activity with inhibition zones of 24 mm (S.
aureus) and 22 mm (M . gypseum) compared to 22 mm and 14 mm respectively by commercial hand
wash. The remarkable potency showed promising potential for use of the non-synthetic germicidal
ingredients for formulation of antiseptic ingredients. (43)
• Essential Oil / Fumigant / Repellent / Leaves: Study of essential oil of leaves of Todalia asiatic
showed fumigant toxicity and repellency against Callosobruchus maculatus, Sitophilus oryzae, and
Tribolium castaneum. (see constituents above) (44)

Availability
Wild-crafted
 Gabi-gabihan
Monochoria hastata (L.) Solms
ARROWLEAF FALSE PICKERELWEED
Jian ye yu jiu huo

Scientific names Common names

Calcarunia hastata (L.) Raf. [Invalid] Gabi-gabi (Bis.)
Carigola hastata (L.) Raf. Gabi-gabihan (Tag.)
Monochoria chinensis Gand. Kosol-kosol (Bis.)
Monochoria dilatata (Buch.-Ham) Kunth Payau-payau (Bis.)
Monochoria hastifolia C.Presl. Arrowleaf false pickerelweed (Engl.)
Monochoria hastata (L.) Solms Arrow leaf pondweed (Engl.)
Monochoria sagitata Kunth Leaf pondweed (Engl.)
Pontederia dilatata Buch.-Ham. Pickerel weed (Engl.)
Pontederia hastata L. Water taro (Engl.)
Pontederia sagitata Roxb. [Illegitimate]
Pontederia vaginalis Blanco [Illegitimate]
Monochoria hastata (L.) Solms is an accepted name The Plant List

Other vernacular names

CAMBODIA: Chrach.
CHINESE: Jian ye yu jiu hua, Tzu ku, Shui ping, Yu jiu hua shu.
BENGALI: Nukha.
HINDI: Launkia.
INDIA: Chichiri, Kichiri.
INDONESIA: Bia-bia, Eceng gede, Kerkerlen, Keteme, Oppuoppu, Wewehan.
LAOS: 'ii hin.
MALAYSIA: Chacha layar, Kankon ayer, Keladi agas.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Maoa.
THAILAND: Phakpong, Phaktop, Phaktop-thai.
VIETNAM: Rau m[as]c.
Botany
Gabi-gabihan is fast-growing perennial herb. Leaves
are long-petioled. Petioles are stout, up to 60
centimeters long, sheathing below. Blade is broadly
ovate, 10 to 30 centimeters long, the base prominently
hastate, the sinus very broad, the lobes spreading and
oblong-ovate. Inflorescence is spicate, many flowered,
4 to 5 centimeters long. Flowers are blue, about 1
centimeter long, the lower ones with elongated
pedicels. Fruits are ellipsoid 3-valved capsules, about 1
centimeter long. Seeds are numerous, oblong, with 8 to
12 longitudinal ridges.

Distribution
- In open wet lands, swamps, along freshwater pools,
etc., at low and medium altitudes from Luzon to
Mindanao.
- Also occurs in India, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam, New Guinea and parts of
Australia.

Constituents
- Particularly rich in protein, 39.5%.
- Various fractions of leaf protein concentrate show protein content ranging from 47.4 - 89.4% of dry
matter and digestibility ranging from 40.2 to 85.4% of protein. (6)

Properties
Alterative, cooling and tonic.

Parts utilized:
Leaves.

Uses
Edibility
- In Malaya and Java, the leaves are eaten
as vegetable, raw or cooked.
- In Bengal, tender stalk and leaves eaten as
vegetable.
- Inflorescence is edible, eaten raw or
cooked as vegetable.
- In India, stems and leaves are ingredients
of a special dish of the Gudak tribe.
Folkloric
- The leaves are used for poulticing boils
after they have burst.
- Juice of roots used for stomach pains,
asthma, toothache.
- Juice of leaves used for cough.
- Leaves used for insanity.
- Root bark used for asthma.
- Juice of leaves applied to boils.
- Rhizomes pounded in charcoal used for
scurf.
- In India, used in a herbal mixture to
strengthen uterine tone.
- In Bangladesh, used against diarrhea and
dysentery; also, as an aphrodisiac.
- In Indonesia, rhizome is pounded with
charcoal and the mixture applied to itches.
- In Ayurveda, leaves and flowers used for
wounds, general edema and papules.
Considered diuretic, blood purifier, and to
reduce pitta dosha. (7)
Others
• Aquafeed: Roots and tender leaves used for grass carp fingerlings. (2)

Studies
• Anti- and Pro-Lipase Effect: Malaysian study evaluated the effect of aqueous methanolic extracts of
98 medicinal, herbal, and aquatic plant materials for their effect on procine pancreatic lipase (PPL)
activity. The degree of inhibition was quantified as relative to orlistat activity against PPL (orlistat
equivalents). Monochoria showed moderate inhibition, 43.3%. It was noted that while the leaves inhibited
PPL activity, the root enhanced the activity slightly. (8)
• Phytoaccumulation of Arsenic: Phytoaccumulation study of three plant species viz., Eichhornia
crassipes, Echinochloa crusgalli and Monochoria hastata showed the plants can be used as arsenic
accumulator in arsenic contaminated soils. (10)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Guyong-guyong
Cratoxylon sumatranum Jack (Blume)
Cratoxylon sumatranum subsp. blancoi (Blume) Gogelein

Scientific names Common names

Ancistrolobus floribundus Turcz. Alinggogon (Bik.)
Cratoxylon arboreum Elmer Bagatubang (S. L. Bis.)
Cratoxylon clandestinum Blume Bansilai (C. Bis.)
Cratoxylon floribundum (Turcz.) Fern.-Vill. Baringkokoron (Ilk.)
Cratoxylon hornschuchii Blume Barinkukuron (Pang.)
Cratoxylon hypericinum Merr Baringkukurung (Ilk.)
Cratoxylon racemosum Blume Gansilai (Sul., Yak.)
Elodea sumatrana Jack Goyong-goyong (Pang.)
Infraspecific taxa: Guyong-guyong (Tag., Bik.)
Cratoxylon sumatranum subsp. blancoi (Blume) Gogelein Kansilan (P. Bis.)
Cratoxylon sumatranum subsp. nerifolium (Kurz) Gogelein Kansilai (Tag., P. Bis., Sul.)
Oriñgon (P. Bis.)
Paguiliñgan (C. Bis.)
Paguligin (Tag.)
Paguliñgon (P. Bis.)
Paguriñgon (Bis.)
 Salinggogon (Bik.)
Ugiñgan (Ibn.)
Uling (Ig.)
Uring (Ig.)
In Quisumbing's compilation, guyong-guyong is a common names shared by two species of Cratoxylon: C. blancoi
and C. celebicum.
Cratoxylum sumatranum (Jack) Blume is an accepted name. The Plant List
Cratoxylum blancoi Blume is a synonym of Cratoxylum sumatranum subsp. blancoi (Blume) Gogelein The Plant List
Cratoxylum sumatranum subsp. blancoi (Blume) Gogelein is an accepted name, with two isted synonyms: Cratoxylum
blancoi Blume and Cratoxylum punctulatum Elmer ex Merr. (Invalid). The Plant List`

Botany
Guyong-guyong is a smooth, branched,
small- to medium-sized tree, up to 20
meters high. Leaves are opposite, ovate,
oblong or oblong-elliptic, 5 to 15
centimeters long, 3 to 7 centimeters wide,
smaller at the apex, entire, pointed at the
apex, blunt or rounded at the base.
Petioles are very short. Flowers are red
and small, borne on terminal or axillary
panicles, 5 to 7 centimeters long. Fruit is
smooth, dark reddish-brown, ellipsoid,
about 1 centimeter long, subtended at the
base by a persistent calyx, dehiscing
apically into 3 parts, containing numerous
small, thin, brown, winged seeds, each 5
millimeters long.

Distribution
- In thickets and secondary forests at low
altitudes.
- Widespread in Luzon; Babuyan Islands,
Catanduanes, Palawan, Masbate, Panay,
Negros, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Basilan,
Mindanao.
- Endemic species.
- Cratoxylum sumatranum species is
indigenous to Southeast Asia, including
Burma, Indochina, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Bornea, Philippines, and
Sulawesi. (3)

Properties
- Considered galactagogue and abortifacient.
Parts used
Bark and leaves.

Uses
Folkloric
- Crushed leaves placed on the forehead and breast for colds.
- Internally, decoction of bark and leaves used as abortifacient.
- Decoction of bark used as galactagogue
Others
- Wood: C. sumatranum wood is used for interior construction and implements.
- Fuel: Wood used for fuel; also makes a good charcoal. (6)

Studies
• Note: No specific studies found on C. sumatranum subs. blancoi. Studies below are on Cratoxylum
sumatranum and C. sumatranum subsp. neriifolium.
• Sumatraxanthone / Antioxidant / Rot Bark: Study of rot bark isolated a new xanthone,
sumatranaxanthone A. Preliminary study showed antioxidative activity with ascorbic acid as
standard. (1)
• Xanthones and Vismione B: Study of leaves, twigs, and stem bark yielded six new xanthones,
cratoxyarborenones A-F, along with known compound, vismione B, active constituents by fractionation
using KB human cancer cell line cytotoxicity assay. (2)
• Cytotoxic Prenylated Xanthones: Study isolated six new xanthones, cratoxyarborenones A-F from
the leaves, twigs, and/or stem bark of C. sumatranum along with known compound, visimone B, active
constituents by bioassay-directed fractionation using the KB human cancer cell line cytotoxicity assay.
(see constituents above) (5)
• Benzophenones and Xanthone / Antibacterial / Antioxidant / Roots and Twigs:Study of roots and
twigs isolated two new benzophenones (1 and 2) and four new xanthones (4-6 and 17) along with 24
known compounds (3, 7-16 and 18-30). Compounds 5 and 26 showed antibacterial activity against
Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus epidermis with MICs ranging from 4 to 8 µg/mL, while
compounds 7, 20, and 26 showed selective activities against S. aureus, S. typhimurium, and P.
aeruginosa. Compounds 11 and 21 showed potent activity against DPPH with IC50 of 7.0 ± 1.0 and 6.0
± 0.2 µM, respectively. (7)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Kadios
Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp.
 PIGEON PEA
Mu dou

Scientific names Common names

Cajan cajan (L.) Millsp. [Spelling variant] Gablos (Tag.)
Cajan indorum Medik. Kadios (Mang., Tag., P. Bis.)
Cajan inodorum Medik. Kagyos (Tag.)
Cajanus bicolor DC. Kagyas (Tag.)
Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth Kaldis (Ig., Ilk.)
Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. Kalios (Tag.)
Cajanus flavus DC. Kardis (Ibn., Ilk., Ig.)
Cajanus indicus Spreng. Kidis (Ilk., Bon.)
Cajanus inodorum Medik. Kusia (Ig., If.)
Cajanus luteus Bello Tabios (Bik., C. Bis.)
Cajanus obcordifolia Singh Congo pea (Engl.)
Cajanus obcordifolius V. Singh Pigeon pea (Engl.)
Cajanus striatus Bojer Red gram (Engl.)
Cytisus cajan L.
Cytisus guineensis Schum. & Thonn.
Cystisus pseudocajan Jacq.
Phaseolus balicus L.
Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. is an accepted name The Plant List

Other vernacular names

ARABIC: Bisillah hindîyah, Lûbyâ sûdânî, Shakul.
BENGALI: Tur.
CHINESE: San ye dou, Niu dou, Dou rong, Shu tuo, Mu dou.
DANISH : Ærtebønne, Ærteboenne.
DUTCH : Struikerwt, Katjang goedé,
ESTONIAN : Harilik tuvihernes.
FINNISH : Kyyhkynherne.
FRENCH : Ambrevade, Pois d'Angola, Pois du Congo, Pois cajan.
GERMAN: Straucherbse, Strauchbohne, Taubenerbse.
HINDI: Arhar, Toor, Tuur, Tur, Tuvar, Tuver.
ITALIAN : Pisello d'Angola, Pisello del tropico, Caiano.
JAPANESE: Pijonpii, Ki-mame.
KHMER : Sândaèk dai, Sândaèk kroëb sâ, Sândaèk klöng.
LAOTIAN : Thwàx h'ê.
MALAY : Kacang kacang dal, Kacang hiris, Kacang kayu, Kacang gude.
NEPALESE: Rahar.
PORTUGUESE : Feijão-guandu, Guandu, Guisante-de-Angola.
SANSKRIT: Adhaki.
SPANISH : Cachito, Fríjol de árbol, Frijol de la India, Frijol guandul, Frijol quinchancho, Gandul.
SWEDISH : Duwärt.
THAI: Thua rae, Thua maetaai, Ma hae.
VIETNAMESE: Cay dau chieu, Dau thong.
Botany
Kadios is an erect, branched,
hairy shrub, 2 to 4 meters high.
Stems are angled and covered
with fine hairs. Leaves are
oblong-lanceolate to
oblanceolate, trifoliate with two
lateral leaflets and a
central/terminal leaflet on a
longer petiole. Flowers are
yellow, occurring in sparse
peduncled racemes, about 1.5
centimeters long. Pod is hairy,
flattened, 4 to 7 centimeters long,
about 1 centimeter wide,
containing 2 to 7 seeds. Seeds
are smooth, 4 to 8 millimeters in diameter, green when immature, turning white, yellow, red or black on
maturity, entire or mottled.

Distribution
- In settled areas throughout the
Philippines, cultivated,
semicultivated, and in some
places, spontaneous, occurring
from sea level to 2,400 meters.
- Probably prehistoric
introduction from tropical Asia of
Malaya.
- Now pantropic.

Constituents
- Phytochemical screening
yielded carbohydrates, protein,
amino acid, fats and oils, steroid,
glycosides, anthraquinone
glucoside, saponin glycoside,
flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic
compounds.
- Pigeon pea is rich in starch,
protein, calcium, manganese,
crude fiber, fat, trace elements,
and minerals.
- Seeds are rich in carbohydrates
(58%) and proteins (19%).
- Studies yielded 2'-
2'methylcajanone, 2'-
hydroxygenistein, isoflavones,
cajanin, cahanones, among many
others.
- Leaves are rich in polyphenolic
compounds, i.e., flavonoids like
luteonin and apigenin, and also
stilbenes, saponins, tannins,
resins, and terpenoids.
- Roots yield genistein and
genistin, hexadecanoic acid, α-
amyrin, ß-sitosterol, pinostrobin,
longistylin A, longistylin C and
cajanol. (23)
- Physicochemical study of leaf powder yielded total, acid-insoluble and water-soluble ash values and
moisture content of 9.50%, 1.40 g/100 g, 4.15 g/100 g drug and 6.72%, respectively. Significant phenolic
and flavonoid content was observed. (see study below) (30)
- Comparative quantitative phytochemical analyses of bioactive compounds of C. cajan seeds and
leaves yielded: flavonoids (423.75 ± 57.81 and 31.08 ± 8.20 mg/100g), tannins (31.55 ± 2.67 and 17.30
± 0.47 mg/100g), alkaloids (3118.86 ± 79.35 and 385.54 ± 75.15mg/100g), saponins (51.21 ± 4.66 and
1.82 ± 0.29mg/100g), cyanogenic glycosides (43.91 ± 5.99 and 12.42 ± 1.84mg/100g), glycosides (3.55
± 1.98 and 3.80 ± 1.01mg/100g) and anthocyanins (8.35 ± 0.172 and 4.75 ± 0.174mg/100g),
respectively. (37)
- Nutrient analysis of mature seeds, cooked, boiled without salt, per 1 cup (168 g) yielded: (Proximates)
water 115.16g, energy 203, protein 11.36g, total lipid(fat) 0.64g, carbohydrate, by difference 39.06g;
fiber, total dietary 11.3g; (Minerals) calcium 72mg, iron, Fe 1.86mg, magnesium 77mg, phosphorus, P
200mg, potassium K 645mg, sodium Na 8 mg, zinc 1.51mg; (Vitamins) vitamin C 0.0, thiamin 0.245mg,
riboflavin 0.099mg, niacin 1.312mg, vitamin B6 0.84mg, folate DFE 186µg, vitamin B12 0.0, vitamin A
0.0, vitamin D 0.0; (Lipids) saturated fatty acids 0.139g, monosaturated fatty acids 0.005g,
polyunsaturated fatty acids 0.344g, total trans fatty acids 0.0, cholesterol 0.0. (38)
- Phytochemical analysis of leaves, seeds and stems of C. cajan yielded the presence of saponins,
tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and reducing sugars. Quantitative analysis of leaf, seed
and stems yielded phenolic compounds 16.61%, 3.82% and 14.19%; saponins 5.97%, 6.35% and
4.98%; tannins 0.49%, 0.23% and 0.22%; alkaloids 2.65%, 2.65% and 2.51%; flavonoids 4.77%, 2.11%
and 5.44%, respectively. (39)

Properties
- Roots are considered anthelmintic, expectorant, febrifuge, sedative, vulnerary.
- Studies have suggested antihyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-plasmodial, anti-sickling,
antihyperlipidemic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, hepatoprotective properties.

Parts used
Leaves, roots.

Uses
Edibility / Nutrition
- Used mainly for its edible young pods and seeds.
- Vegetable food crop ( seeds and pods) in South-East Asia.
- Fair source of calcium and iron; good source of vitamin B.
Folkloric
- Decoction or infusion of leaves for coughs, diarrhea, abdominal pains.
- Tender leaves are chewed for aphthous stomatitis and spongy gums.
- Pulped or poulticed leaves used for sores.
- Leaves used in the treatment of measles.
- Roots chewed for toothache; leaves used to clean teeth.
- In Peru, leaves are used as an infusion for anemia, hepatitis, diabetes, urinary infections and yellow
fever.
- In Argentina, leaves used for genital and skin problems; flowers used for bronchitis, cough and
pneumonia.
- In China, as vermifuge, vulnerary; for tumors.
- In Panama, used for treatment of diabetes and jaundice.
- In Bangladesh, used for treatment of diabetes.
- In Indian folk medicine, used for a variety of liver disorders.
- Used in the treatment of jaundice, bronchitis and cough; used as anthelmintic and in child delivery.
Others
- Forage: Used as forage or hay.
- Crafts: Branches and stems for basket and fuel.

Studies
• RBC Sickling Inhibition / Sickle Cell Anemia : Clinical studies
have reported seed extracts to inhibit red blood cell sickling and
potential benefit for people with sickle cell anemia.
• Sickle Cell Anemia: In a single blind placebo controlled study,
results showed CC extract may cause a reduction of painful sickle
cell crises and ameliorate the adverse effects of sickle cell anemia on
the liver.
• Sickle Cell Anemia / Phenylalanine: Paper reports that both
extract of C. cajan and the amino acid phenylalanine of which it is
rich, are good biochemical reducing agents and oxidative free radical
scavengers, and can be employed in the treatment not only of sickle
cell disease, but other conditions involving oxidative stress. (13)
• Antiplasmodial constituents of Cajanus cajan: Study isolated
two stilbenes, longistylin A and C and betulinic acid from the roots
and leaves of CC and showed moderately high in vitro activity against
Plasmodium falciparum strain. (2)
• Stilbenes / Neuroprotective / Alzheimer's Disease: Study of
stilbenes containing extract-fraction from C cajan showed significant
amelioration of cognitive deficits and neuron apoptosis. Findings
suggest SECC has a potential in the development of therapeutic
agent to manage cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's
disease through increase choline acetyltransferase activity and anti-oxidative mechanism. (9)
• Hypocholesterolemic Effect: Study on the stilbenes containing extract-fraction of CC showed a
hypocholesterolemic effect possibly through enhancement of hepatic LDL-receptor and cholesterol 7-
alpha-hydroxylase expression levels and bile acid synthesis. (3)
• Hyperglycemic Effect: Evaluation of traditional medicine: effects of Cajanus cajan L. and of Cassia
fistula L. on carbohydrate metabolism in mice: Contradicting its traditional use for diabetes, CC did not
have a hypoglycemic effect on sugar, instead at higher doses, it produced a hyperglycemic effect. (4)
• Antimicrobial: Study shows the organic solvent extracts to inhibit E coli, S aureus and S typhi and the
aqueous extract were inhibitory to E coli and S aureus. (5)
• Antimicrobial / Antifungal: Nigerian study on the antimicrobial effects of the ethanol and aqueous
extracts of locally available plants, including C cajan, showed inhibition against S aureus, P aeruginosa,
E coli and C albicans. The extracts of C cajan produced wider zones of inhibition against C albicans. (6)
• Hyperglycemic Effect / Leaves: Study of the aqueous extract of C cajan leaves showed a
hyperglycemic effect, suggesting a usefulness in controlling hypoglycemia that may be due to excess of
insulin or other hypoglycemic drugs. (7)
• Hepatoprotective / Alcohol-Induced Liver Damage: Study of the methanol-aqueous fraction of C
cajan leaf extract showed it could prevent the chronically treated alcohol induced rat liver damage and
presents a promise as a non-toxic herb for therapeutic use in alcohol-induced liver dysfunction. (8)
• Hepatoprotective / Carbon-Tetrachloride Hepatotoxicity: Study in mice with carbon tetrachloride-
induced liver damage showed the methanol extracts of B orellana, C cajan, G pentaphylla and C
equisetifolia showed significant decrease in levels of serum markers, indicating the protection of hepatic
cells in a dose-dependent manner. (10)
• Antioxidant / Hypolipidemic: Study of methanolic extract of CC in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats
showed a significant reduction in blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, and creatinine concentrations.
Antioxidant activity was confirmed with in vitro studies.
• Anticancer / Cajanol / In vitro Cytotoxicity: Cajanol, an isoflavanone from the roots of C. cajan was
investigated for anticancer activity towards MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Results showed inhibition
of growth of MCF-7 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner and induction of apoptosis via a ROS-
mediated mitochondria-dependent pathway. (16)
• Cajachalcone / Leaves / Antimalarial Potential: A bioassay-guided fractionation of a crude
methanolic extract of leaves yielded Cajachalcone, 2′,6′-dihydroxy-4-methoxy chalcone, as the
biologically active constituent from the ethyl acetate fraction. Chalcones and derivatives are small
bioactive synthesized molecules with a high potential as leads for discovery and development of
antimalarial agents. (18)
• Toxicity Study / Dose Related Hepatotoxic Potential: Study evaluated the effect of oral aqueous leaf
extract on electrolyte concentration and ALT, AST, and ALP activities in normal rats. Results showed the
aqueous leaf extract has a hepatotoxic potential when consumed at a daily dose of 0.5 g/kg BW or more
for 14 days, and suggests lower dosages for local use of the plant extract. (19)
• Effect on Litter Size and Serum Progesterone in Pregnant Rats: Study showed oral administration
of aqueous leaf extract increases litter size and plasma progesterone in pregnant rats. (20)
• Anti-Drepanocytosic Activity: Study evaluated four plants, including Cajanus cajan, for anti-
depranocytosic activity. C. cajan showed the presence of fatty acids, one of which was characterized as
an unsaturated fatty acid. Crude hexane and methanol extracts of Cajanus cajan showed in vitro anti-
sickling activity. (21)
• Anti-Oxidative Protection Against Iron Overload Induced Liver Damage / Leaves: Study
investigated a methanol extract of C. cajan leaf for antioxidative protection against iron-overload induced
liver damage in mice. The plant extract reversed the serum enzymes to approach normal value, and
counteracted the overwhelmed serum ferritin level. In vitro studies suggested potential antioxidant
activity. Histopath studies substantiated the ameliorative effects of the plant extract. (22)
• Anti-Drepanocytosic Activity: Study compared the protective antioxidant activity, total phenol content
and antihyperglycemic activity of a methanolic extracts of Cajanus cajan root and Tamarindus indica
seeds. Both plants showed high antioxidant capacity. Reduction efficacy of blood glucose was
proportional to their dose, but the methanol extract of C. cajan showed more potent reduction of blood
glucose. (24)
• Anti-Fertility Activity / Seed: Study of methanol extract of Bassia latifolia bud and Cajanus cajan seed
produced anti-fertility activity on mature female mice. The contraceptive action of both plant extracts is
not permanent and the ovarian activities return a few days after withdrawal of the extract. (26)
• Anti-Ulcer / Anti-Inflammatory / Leaves: Study evaluated various extracts of leaves for possible anti-
gastric ulcer properties and anti-inflammatory activity in mice. Results showed anti-ulcer activity in three
acute models: HCl/ethanol induce ulcer, immersion-restraint stress, and drug-induced ulcer. Study also
showed significant anti-inflammatory effect in cotton pellet granuloma and carrageenan induced paw
edema models. (27)
• Antihyperglycemic / Cytotoxicity: Study evaluated the antihyperglycemic and cytotoxic potential of
methanolic extracts of leaves and roots of C. cajan in mice. Results showed dose dependent and
significant reductions of glucose levels. On brine shrimp lethality bioassay, both leave and root extracts
showed high degree of cytotoxicity suggesting a promising source of anticancer compounds. (28)
• Antioxidant / Leaves: Study for in vitro antioxidant activity of various leaf extracts showed
concentration dependent activity. The aqueous extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in all the
assays tested (DPPH, reducing power, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and phosphomolybdenum assays).
The antioxidant activity of the leaf extracts were attributed to the presence of polyphenols. (see
constituents above) (30)
• Biosorbent for Ni / Pods: Study evaluated pods of pigeon pea as eco-friendly material for nickel
binding efficiency. Results suggest the pods to be a promising adsorbent for removal of Ni (II) ions from
aqueous solution. Findings suggest an economical alternative to the commercially available activated
carbon in the treatment of effluent containing Ni(II) ions. (31)
• Hepatoprotective / D-galactosamin-Induced Hepatitis: Study evaluated the hepatoprotective effect
of ethanolic extract of CC on hepatic antioxidant status is D-galactosamine-induced hepatitis in rats.
Results suggest a possible and potential antiperoxidative role for Cajanus cajan plant extract in hepatic
extract. (32)
• Antiulcer / Pylorus-Ligated Induced Gastric Ulcer / Leaves: Study of ethanolic extract of leaves of
C. cajan for antiulcer activity in pylorus ligation induced ulcer model in rats showed dose dependent
reduction of total acidity and ulcer index, and increase in pH of gastric juice. (33)
• Rust Prevention / Seed Hull Extract: Study evaluated the effect of pigeon pea seed hull extract
against rust. Results showed the combination of pigeon pea seed hull extract with turpentine or distilled
water is effective in preventing formation of rust. (34)
• Effect of Addition of Pigeon Pea Flour on Cassava Bread: Study showed cassava bread elaborated
with the addition of pigeon pea flour resulted in higher content of protein, fat, fiber, ash and resistant
starch, and lower contents of carbohydrates, cyanide, in vitro alpha-amylosis rate and calories compared
to counterpart without pigeon pea flour. Results may be of benefit in people requiring a low carb diet,
including diabetic and obese patients. (35)
• Pulp and Paper-making: Study evaluated pigeon pea plant for suitability in pulp and paper-making
Results showed the short fibered plant can be mixed with long fibered wood species for production of
paper with good properties and increased pulp yield. The addition of 0.13% anthraquinone to pulping
liquor reduced active alkali consumption and increased pulp yield. (36)

Availability
Cultivated, semicultivated, or wildcrafted.