PHBIO 1101 - Group 2; Th 1:30-3:30PM

Names: Batoon, Divine Grace M. Manatad, Rigil Kent J. Marcojos, Rufamae Dheza A.
Batoon, Joshua Godwyl L. Maningo, Jyreen Maika G.

An Endemic Plant in the Philippines: Kalingag

Local name: Kalingag (Rizal, Bataan, Lanao, Laguna, Samar, Tayabas, Camarines,
Polillo, Pampanga); Kalingad (Pampanga); Canela (Spanish in
Pangasinan); Kanila (Lepanto, Albay); Kanilao, Kaningai (Camarines);
Kandaroma (Benguet); Kasiu (Calayaan Is.); Kuliuan, Uliuan
(Cagayan); Samiling (Bataan)

Common English name: Cinnamon Tree

Scientific name: Cinnamomum mercadoi

Plant family it belongs: Lauraceae

Distribution: Native in the Philippines, from the Babuyan Islands and Northern
Luzon to Mindanao; grows in forests at low and medium altitudes
that sometimes ascend to 2,000 meters (6,600 ft.); grows best in
subtropical and medium temperate forest conditions with high
humidity and stable mild temperatures

Approx. number of species

(population) in the country: 2000 - 2500 species

Ethnobotanical use in the local community:

Studies have shown that decoction or infusion of the bark of a Kalingag tree can be used treat
loss of appetite, bloating, vomiting, flatulence, toothache, headaches, rheumatism, dysentery, to help
expel flatus and to facilitate menses; colds, fevers, sinus infections and bronchitis. In Laguna, Philippines,
decoction of leaves is used for cough, nausea, vomiting, and hypertension. In Agusan Del Sur, it is used
for abdominal discomfort and stomach aches. It is also used for diarrhea, menorrhagia, and
dysmenorrhea.
Medicinal Properties:
It has been studied that crude methanolic extract of the leaves of Cinnamomum mercadoi for
secondary metabolites yielded flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and saponins, and showed cytotoxic
effects against the nauplii (Adedoja & dela Cruz, 2017). Leaf and bark methanolic extracts of C. mercadoi
were also evaluated for antioxidant and antibacterial properties and results show that the bark extract
contained high phenolic content, suggesting that it can be a potential source of antioxidant. (Fuentes et
al., 2010). A study conducted by Torres et al. (2003) showed the presence of saponins, condensed
tannins, an unsaturated lactone ring and leucoanthocyanins in a phytochemical screening of the crude
methanol extract of C. mercadoi. It also exhibited an analgesic activity and was examined using the
plantar test method. Moreover, methanol extraction of the bark has shown antidiarrheal properties that
are especially attributed to the presence of tannins (Fuentes & Gorgonio, 2011).

Commercial distribution:
● In what products is it in or is it an ingredient?
C. mercadoi can be used in culinary and food as a spice and flavoring agent. It is also
found in natural health products, pharmaceutical products, and cosmeceutical and
personal health care products such as perfume, mouthwash, lip balm, and facial packs.
● How much?
McCormick Cinnamon Ground (30g) - P54.00 ; SureBuy Cinnamon Bark (20g) - P15.00;
Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar All Natural Drink: Apple-Cinnamon Flavor (473 mL) -
P206.00; CDL Naturals Kalingag Essential Oil (10mL)- P1,460
● Are they easily available for the local community?
No, because in the Philippines, commercial harvesting, utilization and processing of
cinnamon is practiced in selected areas only.
● Where do you stand on raw local products turning out to be inaccessible when they are proven
to have medicinal properties and sold commercially?
Raw local products are not to be sold or accessible easily because they have to go
through proper quality control hence they are only sold commercially. But in my opinion,
I believe that it should be easily accessible since people from the rural areas or provinces
have been using those raw products for personal use since before. With proper
knowledge, checking the quality of those products could be done in the spaces of our
own homes.
 REFERENCES

Adedoja, M., & dela Cruz, N. (2017). Secondary metabolite screening and brine shrimp lethality assay of
cinnamomum mercado vidal leaf crude methanolic extract.
https://prezi.com/50fk4cls18oo/secondary-metabolite-screening-and-brine-shrimp-lethality
-assay-of-cinnamomum-mercadoi-vidal-leaf-crude-methanolic-extract/
Arquion, R.D., Galanida, C. C., Villamor, B., & Aguilar, H. T. (2015). Ethnobotanical study of indigenous
plants used by local people of Agusan del Sur, Philippines.
https://po.pnuresearchportal.org/ejournal/index.php/apherj/article/viewFile/102/93
CDL Naturals. (n.d.). Kalingag essential oil.
https://www.cdlnaturals.com/Kalingag-Essential-Oil-p273549251
Cinnamomum mercadoi. (n.d.). https://www.mindat.org/taxon-4182152.html
Fuentes, R. G., Diloy, F. N., Tan, I. L., & Balanquit, B. R. (2010). Antioxidant and antibacterial properties of
crude methanolic extracts of cinnamomum mercadoi vidal.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284502465_Antioxidant_and
_Antibacterial_Properties_of_Crude_Methanolic_Extracts_of_Cinnamomum_mercadoi_Vidal
Fuentes, R. G., & Gorgonio, S. P. (2011). Antidiarrheal activity of cinnamomum mercadoi methanolic leaf
and bark extracts. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299509458_Antidiarrheal_
Activity_of_Cinnamomum_mercadoi_Methanolic_Leaf_and_Bark_Extracts
Forest Foundation Philippines. (2017). Philippine cinnamon. http://www.forestfoundation.ph
GoRobinsons. (n.d.). SureBuy cinnamon bark 20g.
https://shopwise.gorobinsons.ph/products/surebuy-cinnamon-bark-20g-808-sw-circuit-makati
GoRobinsons. (n.d.). Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar All Natural Drink Apple Cinnamon Flavor 16OZ
https://supermarket.gorobinsons.ph/products/bragg-organic-apple-cider-vinegar-all-natural-drin
k-apple-cinnamon-flavor-16oz-603-rs-rp-cainta
Lazada. (n.d.). McCormick cinnamon ground 30g.
https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/mccormick-cinnamon-ground-30g-i317226393.html
NTFP. (n.d.). Kalingag. https://ntfp.org/2016/02/kalingag/
Some endemic plants of the Philippines. (2018).
https://seasia.co/2018/03/04/some-endemic-plants-of-the-philippines-one-eats-meat
Stuart, G. (2018). Kalingag/Cinamonum mercado/Cinnamon. http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kalingag
Torres, R. C., Sison, F. M., & Ysrael, M. C. (2003). Phytochemical Screening and Biological Studies on the
Crude Methanol Extract of Cinnamomum mercadoi, Vidal. https://web.archive.org/web/2
0150427203052/http://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/vol132no1/pdf/phytoche
mical%20screening.pdf