BIO127 LEC Exam 1 (Survey of Philippine Medicinal Taxa)

• Biodiverse: It is rich in land and water resources.

• Hotspot: The islands are prone to calamities, as a result it is prone to extinction.

Philippines is considered as a biodiversity hotspot because?

• origin of species 

• evolutionary relationships

• establish how interspecific interactions are influenced by biotic and abiotic environments

• how selection and adaptation influenced spatiotemporal changes in distribution, abundance, and traits of species

Objectives of evolutionary ecology

Secondary Metabolites

Created from evolution, are used for survival of plants, but for humans they are only added benefits.

Molecular biology and biochemistry

Involves deciphering the chemical properties of plant molecules and their biosynthetic pathways.

Ethnopharmacology

Focuses on the biological activity of traditional or folk medicines based on Indigenous knowledge

1. Domestic Sources: Local relatives of medicinal plants may be explored

2. Better Drugs: Discovery of relatives of medicinal plants that might have a higher, safer, and more efficacious bioactive content

3. Cultural Understanding

Practical applications of evolutionary ecology and ethnopharmacology

1. Homoplasy: Secondary metabolites do not necessarily diverge from the same ancestral gene (may have evolved independently) vs. Homology

2. Environment: Some plants may or may not produce secondary metabolites depending on their surroundings

3. Understudy: Research is still recent and sparse

Limitations of evolutionary ecology and ethnopharmacology

Native

Naturally occurring species in a particular geographical location and have evolved there without human intervention

Exotic

Species not native to a particular area (introduced by human activity), and are often referred to as “alien” or “non-native” species

Introduced

Species that humans have brought into a region where it is not originally found (intentionally or unintentionally)

Naturalized

An originally exotic species introduced to a new area but has 1) adapted, 2) established self-sustaining populations in the wild, much like a native species

Cultivated

Species that humans intentionally grow for food, ornamental purposes, or other uses. Depending on their origin, they can either be native or exotic.

Lanceolate

Looks like a lance; Very narrow; The lamina is the widest part and tapers to the tipt

Ovate

Egg-shaped; Narrowest at the tip

Obovate

An inverted ovate

Linear

Very narrow, parallel sides

Oblong

Similar to linear but is broader

Sagittate

Resembles an arrowhead

Cordate

Heart-shaped

Elliptical

Oval-shaped

Bisexual/Perfect

Having both male and female parts

Unisexual/Imperfect

Has a reproductive structure that is either functionally male or functionally female

Monoecious

Male and female reproductive units are on the same plant

Dioecious

Male and female reproductive units are present on separate plants

Magnoliids

Next clade of angiosperms after eudicots and monocots who have retained primordial states or characteristics

Magnoliids: Piperales
Piperaceae - Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth

Common name pansit-pansitan or ulasimang-bato, NATIVE.

• Annual herb, erect, usually grows wild in damp clusters

• Succulent round stem (5mm thick)

• Alternate, heart-shaped leaves (broadly obovate)

• Medium green on upper surface (adaxial), whitish green lower surface (abaxial)

• Spike inflorescence

• Joint pain in arthritis patient

• Lowers uric acid level in blood

• Flavonoid compounds, tannins, saponins, steroids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpene

Medicinal properties of Peperomia pellucida

Monocot: Asparagales
Amaryllidaceae - Allium sativum L.

Common name bawang, CULTIVATED.

• Perennial herb (30 to 60 cm high)

• Leaves are linear and flat (linear-lanceolate, scattered along the pseudo-stem)

• Real stem is short, flattened, a disk at the base of the bulb

• Inflorescence is umbel

• Globular to ovoid bulb (has several bulbels covered with protective bulb-coat leaves)

• Cuts

• Regulation of blood pressure by controlling level of cholesterol

• anti-inflammatory supplement

• Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, protein, carbohydrates, tannins, cardiac glycosides, allicin, reducing sugars, and flavones

Medicinal properties of Allium sativum L.

Eudicots: Asterales
Asteraceae - Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC.

Common name is sambong, NATIVE.

• Half-woody, strongly aromatic shrub (1-4m high)

• Leaves are simple, alternate, elliptic, to oblong-lanceolate

• Toothed margin leaves and pointed or blunt tip, narrow short petiole

• Inflorescence is head (discold) with stalk;

• Peripheral and central flower

• Fruits are achenes (dry, one-seeded)

• Kidney problems

• Hypertension

• Cuts or infected wounds

• Diarrhea

• Rheumatism

• Muscle spasms

• Colds and coughs or any respiratory infection

• stomach pain, and improves urinary tract

• Steroids or 2-deoxysugars, flavonoids, tannins, polyphenyls, and alkaloids

Medicinal properties of Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC.

Eudicots: Lamiales
Lamiaceae - Clinopodium douglasii

Common name is Yerba Buena, CULTIVATED.

• Prostrate, aromatic herb

• Leaves are elliptic to oblong-ovate

• Short-stalked

• Toothed margins, and round or blunt tipped

• Native in Europe

• Cold and cough

• Insect bites

• Headache and stress

• Gout and rheumatism

• Nausea and fainting

• Tannins, carbonyls, and flavonoids

Medicinal properties of Clinopodium douglasii

Eudicots: Lamiales
Lamiaceae - Vitex negundo L.

Common name is Lagundi, NATIVE.

• Erect shrub or small tree

• Leaves are 5-foliate and palmately arranged,

  • Central leaflet largest and possessing a stalk

• Leaf toothed or serrated and the bottom surface is covered in hair

• Inflorescence panicle, numerous

• Blue to lavender

• Hairy calyx, and 5-toothed

• Hairy corolla in the throat

  • Middle lobe of the lower lip is longest

• Cough and asthma

• Pharyngitis

• Rheumatism

• Boils

• Diarrhea

• Dyspepsia or indigestion

• Phlobatannins, carbohydrates, tannins, glycosides, volatile oils, resins, balsams, flavonoids, and saponins

Medicinal properties of Vitex negundo L.

Eudicots: Fabales
Fabaceae - Senna alata

Common name is Akapulko, NATURALIZED.

• Erect, branched shrub

• Pinnate leaves

• Orange rachis on stout branches

• Inflorescences terminal, at the axils, in panicle or racemes

• Pod, dark brown or nearly black,

  • a wing that runs the length

  • triangular seeds

• Skin diseases such as eczema or pruritus

• Constipation

• Insect bites

• Scabs and ringworm

• Ointment, shampoo, soap, and lotion

• Alkaloids, lectins, glycosides, and isoflavones

Medicinal properties of Senna alata

Eudicots: Boraginales
Ehretiaceae - Ehretia microphylla

Common name is Tsaang Gubat or Alangitngit, NATURALIZED.

• Erect, very branched shrub

• Leaves are in clusters or short branches, obovate to oblong-obovate

• Entire, somewhat toothed near the apex, pointed at the base

• White, small, axillary, solitary flower

• Calyx lobes somewhat hairy

• Corolla is wide, divided into oblong lobes

• Drupe, rounded, yellow when ripe, fleshy with 4-seeded stone

• Skin allergies like psoriasis, itchiness, scabies, eczema

• Stomach ache, abdominal pain, diarrhea

• Alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, and saponins

Medicinal properties of Ehretia microphylla

Eudicots: Cucurbitales
Cucurbitaceae - Momordica charantia L.

Common name is Ampalaya, NATURALIZED.

• Climbing annual vine with simple tendrils

• Leaves are toothed, heart shaped at the base, 5 to 7 lobes

• Monoecious

  • Solitary, male flower, yellow with long peduncle, bract approximately at the middle

  • Female flower, yellow with long peduncle, bracts at middle or toward base of stalk

  • Fruit is green, fleshy, oblong, cylindric, ribbed and wrinkled

• Coughs

• Hemorrhoids

• Scalds and burns

• Reducing agent in fasting blood sugar (leaves)

• Improvement of tolerance in glucose intake

• Saponins, glycosides, phenolic constituents, and 5-hydroxytryptamine

Medicinal properties of Momordica charantia L.

Eudicots: Myrtales
Myrtaceae - Psidium guajava

Common name is bayabas, NATURALIZED.

• Leaves are opposite, oblong to elliptic

• Flowers are white, with in-curved petals, coming out solitary or two to three in the leaf axils

  • Numerous stamens

  • Inferior ovaries

• Round or obovoid green fruits, turns yellow ripe

  • edible, aromatic, seedy pulp

• Cleaning wounds, antimicrobial

• Antiplasmodial (malaria), anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antigenotoxic (mutagens or mutations)

• Cough

• Cleansing of rectum

• Phenolic compounds, isoflavanoids, gallic acid, catechin, epicathechin, rutin, naringenin, kaempferol ascorbic acid, carotenoids (lycobene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin) and glycosides

Medicinal properties of Psidium guajava

Eudicots: Myrtales
Combretaceae - Combretum indicum

Common name is niyog-niyogan, NATIVE.

• Large climbing, woody shrub

• Leaves are oblong to elliptic, opposite

• Flowers are fragrant, tubular, showy, first white then becomes red, reddish-purple or orange

  • Seeds are pentagonal and black

• Deworming

• Fever

• Painful urination

• Ulcer

• Headache

• Diarrhea

• Anti-cancer

• Nephritis

• Rheumatism

• Quisqualic acid, anthelmintic tannins, rutin, pelargonidin-3-glucoside, and 25-O-acetyl-23,24-dihydro-cucurbitacin

Medicinal properties of Combretum indicum

Ethnobotany (Richard Evans Schultes)

The study of the relationships which exist between people of the primitive society and their plant environment

Ethnobotany (John Harshberger)

The use of plants by aboriginal peoples

Food botany

Topic of ethnobotany involving staple crops, fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, beverages

Economic botany

Topic of ethnobotany involving dyes and fibers, gums and latex, aromatic oils, handicrafts

Cultural botany

Topic of ethnobotany involving religious symbols or plants in rituals

Medicinal botany

Topic of ethnobotany involving decoctions, infusions, tinctures, poultices, compresses, tablets

Leaves

Most used plant part because of its accessibility and ease of use

Greeniopsis euphlebia Merr

Endemic species from Mindanao

Cinnamomum mercadoi S.Vidal.

Threatened species from Mindanao

MINDANAO
Eudicots: Fabales
Fabaceae - Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit.

Common name is Ipil-ipil, Santa elena, or Lead tree, NATURALIZED.

• Small tree

• Compound leaves, with hairy rachis.

• Heads are solitary, at the axils of the leaves, long-peduncled, globose, with many flowers

• Fruit is an oblong or linear pod, strap-shaped, papery, green turning to brown and splitting open along two edges (capsule)

• Traditional healers in Zamboanga del Sur, use leaves to treat parasitic worms.

• Seed contains mimosine, toxic nonprotein amino acid

  • major constituent of the tropical legumes Leucaena and Mimosa

  • removed after adding heat

Medicinal properties of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit.

MINDANAO
Eudicots: Asterales
Asteraceae - Chromolaena odorata L.

Common name is Hagonoy or Devil weed, NATURALIZED

• Bushy herb or subshrub

  • hard and woody base while branch tips are soft and green

• Leaves arrowhead-shaped, three characteristic veins in a pitchfork pattern

• Flowers are in clusters of 10 to 15, tubular, pale pink-mauve or white

• Seeds are dark, narrow and oblong, with a parachute of white hairs which turn brown as the seeds dry

• Crushed leaves used for kulebra or shingles, boils and tumorous inflammatory conditions.

  • emit a pungent odor.

• Antimicrobial, wound-healing, hemostatic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and platelet-protective properties.

Medicinal properties of Chromolaena odorata L.

MINDANAO
Eudicots: Malpighiales
Euphorbiaceae - Euphorbia hirta

Common name is Tawa-tawa or Malagatas; NATURALIZED

• Slender-stemmed, annual hairy plant

• Many branches from the base to the top

• Prostrate to ascending growth habit

• Reddish or purplish hairy stems, and milky latex

• Usually blotched with purple in the middle, toothed at the margin.

• Small, unisexual flowers, clustered in dense, axillary cymes

• Seeds are capsules that are broadly ovoid, hairy, three-angled,

• mixed with Datura metel leaves and flowers in the preparation of "asthma-cigarettes"

• used to treat sore eyes, cough, diabetes, gastritis, and diarrhea in the Cordillera, India, Africa, Fiji, Cameroon, Spain, and Bangladesh

• Herbal remedy for febrile illnesses particularly dengue, malaria, and typhoid fever.

Medicinal properties of Euphorbia hirta

VISAYAS
Monocots: Zingiberales
Zingiberaceae - Curcuma longa

Common name is Luyang dilaw, NATURALIZED.

• Perennial herbaceous plant that grows up to - 2m without stem

• Leaves grow up to 1 m and are oblong or lanceolate

  • Dark green from the upper path and pale green from beneath

  • Peduncle is 15 centimeters or more in length, borne within the tuft of leaves

• Spikes

• Rhizomes are bright yellow inside, thick and cylindric.

• Yellow flowers

• Cures sinda by rubbing the rhizome’s extract on the head or sliced rhizome along with other plants on the forehead

• Muscle pain

• Stomachache, bloating

• Tooth decay

• Typhus, typhoid fever,

• Memory loss

• Cancer

• Cuts/wounds, and tetanus.

Medicinal properties of Curcuma longa

LUZON
Monocots: Zingiberales
Zingiberaceae: Zingiber officinale

Common name is Luya, Garden ginger, True ginger, NATURALIZED

• Protection from evil spirits. Sliced rhizome placed inside a person’s pockets to bring success in life and prevent death

• Kabayan, Benguet, rhizome in an empty coffin prior to putting the dead body to disinfect it.

• Colds and head-related illnesses.

Medicinal properties of Zingiber officinale

LUZON
Eudicots: Rosales
Rosaceae: Rubus rosifolius

Common name is Sampinit or Sagmit, NATIVE

• Used during funerals, leaves and thorns of this plant placed in the grave before placing inside the coffin to ward off bad spirits

• In Benguet and Ifugao for the treatment of stomachache, sore eyes, urinary tract infection, cough, wounds, and diarrhea. - Leaves of this plant are found to possess antioxidant properties and aqueous leaf extracts are a potential anti-diabetic remedy, and moderate antibacterial activities.

Medicinal properties of Rubus rosifolius

LUZON
Monocots: Acorales
Acoraceae: Acorus calamus

Common name is Lubigan, Sweet calamus or sweet flag, NATURALIZED

• Recorded to have been used as an amulet to drive away evil spirits.

• Important aromatic medicinal plant and is used by the Ybanag in Northern Cagayan valley for wound-healing.

• Used in Agusan del Sur for treating cold

• Muslim Maranaos in Iligan City uses for stimulation of menstrual period and cycle

• relieve headaches and stomach pain when someone passes by a cemetery and to protect against evil spirits

Medicinal properties of Acorus calamus