Common Philippine Medicinal Plants

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering common Philippine medicinal plants, their scientific names, taxonomic families, medicinal uses, and notable chemical constituents or notes based on Pharmacognosy with Plant Chemistry Module 2.

Abukado

A plant of the family Lauraceae (scientific name: Persea americana) used for rheumatism, neuralgia, and characterized by an increased fat content.

Adelfa

A plant belonging to family Apocynaceae (scientific name: Nerium oleander) used for herpes zoster and congestive heart failure (CHF) as a source of cardiac glycoside.

Alugbati

A plant belonging to family Basellaceae (scientific name: Basella alba) used as a rubefacient, mild laxative, and for swelling and boils.

Atis

A plant of the family Anonaceae (scientific name: Anona squamoza) used for dyspepsia, diarrhea, dysentery, and as an astringent.

Atsuwete

A plant belonging to family Bixaceae (scientific name: Bixa orellana) used for headaches and as a red food coloring.

Balatong

A Fabaceae plant (scientific name: Glycine soja) used for food and cuts; noted as a source of stigmasterol, lecithin, and phosphatidylcholine.

Balimbing

A plant of the family Oxalidaceae (scientific name: Averrhoa carambola) used for chicken pox, ringworm, and headache; identified as a source of calcium oxalate.

Banaba

A Lythraceae plant (scientific name: Lagerstromia speciosa) used for diabetes mellitus and as a diuretic.

Bunga

An Arecaceae plant (scientific name: Areca catechu) used for tapeworm infestation and as a tooth whitener; source of the constituent arecoline.

Comfrey

A Boraginaceae plant (scientific name: Symphytum officinale) used for internal hemorrhage, cough, respiratory ailments, and sprains; noted for being hepatotoxic.

Dilaw

A Zingiberaceae plant (scientific name: Cucurma longa) used as an antiseptic and yellow coloring.

Dita

An Apocyanceae plant (scientific name: Alstonia scholaris) used for boils, diarrhea, malaria, and fever; recognized as a local source of ditamine.

Darak

Derived from Oryza sativa (family Poaceae), used for beriberi and as a laxative; noted as the source of Tiki-tiki.

Duhat

A Myrtaceae plant (scientific name: Syzygium cumini) used for diarrhea, gingivitis, wounds, and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Gogo

A Fabaceae plant (scientific name: Entada phaseoloides) used for abdominal pain and as a hair wash; noted as a source of saponin.

Kalamansi

A Rutaceae plant (scientific name: Citrus microcarpa) used for cough, nausea, and as a bleaching agent.

Kalatsutsi

An Apocynaceae plant (scientific name: Plumeria acutifolia) used for arthritis and itching; contains plumerid as an active component.

Kampanyero

An Apocynaceae plant (scientific name: Thevetia peruviana) used as a cardiotonic and cathartic; noted as a source of cardiac glycoside.

Kampanilya

An Apocynaceae plant (scientific name: Allamanda cathartica) used as a purgative and cathartic; noted as a source of cardiac glycoside.

Kamoteng-kahoy

An Euphorbiaceae plant (scientific name: Mannihot esculenta) used for fever, headache, and rash; noted as a source of cyanogenic glycoside.

Kapok

A Bomabacaceae plant (scientific name: Cieba pentandra) used for cough, fever, diuretic, and demulcent purposes; noted as a source of cellulose.

Kintsay

An Apiaceae plant (scientific name: Apium graveolens) used as an emetic, for anti-asthma, hypertension, and flavor.

Linga

A Pedaliaceae plant (scientific name: Sesamum indicum) used for constipation; noted as a source of stigmasterol and sesamol, and used as a solvent for intramuscular (IM) injection.

Luya

A Zingiberaceae plant (scientific name: Zingiber officinale) with antibacterial properties, used for antiseptic purposes, rheumatism, sore throat, and as a condiment.

Makabuhay

A Menispermaceae plant (scientific name: Tinospora crispa) used for scabies, topical ulcers, and as an antifungal.

Malunggay

A Moringaceae plant (scientific name: Moringa oleifera) used as a laxative, for snake and dog bites, and as a galactagogue (Prolacta®) that stimulates milk production.

Mani

A Fabaceae plant (scientific name: Arachis hypogaea) noted for its use as a solvent for injections.

Moras

A Poaceae plant (scientific name: Vetiveria zizanoides) used in aromatic baths, and as a carminative and diuretic; source of vetiver oil.

Munggo

A Fabaceae plant (scientific name: Phaseolus radiatus) used for beriberi.

Niyog

An Arecaceae plant (scientific name: Cocos nucifera) used for constipation, dandruff, dry skin, vehicle, and food; noted to reduce cholesterol and possesses antiviral activity (currently tested for COVID).

Oregano

A Lamiaceae plant (scientific name: Coleus amboinicus) used for cough, gas pain, headache, and flavor; noted for containing thymol.

Papaya

A Caricaceae plant (scientific name: Carica papaya) used for wound debridement, laxative, meat tenderizer, and food; contains chymopapain and papain.

Pinya

A Bromeliaceae plant (scientific name: Ananas comosus) used as an anthelmintic, purgative, and diuretic; contains the enzyme bromelain.

Romero

A Lamiaceae plant (scientific name: Rosmarinus officinalis) used for cough, gas pain, rheumatism, and as a diuretic.

Sabila

A Liliaceae plant (scientific name: Aloe barbadensis) used for alopecia, falling hair, burns, cuts, abrasions, skin irritations, and as a purgative.

Siling-labuyo

A Solanaceae plant (scientific name: Capsium frutescens) used for arthritis, rheumatism, and dyspepsia; contains capsaicin.

Takip-kuhol

An Apiaceae plant (scientific name: Centella asiatica), also known as Gotu-kola, used as a counterirritant.

Talumpunay

A Solanaceae plant (scientific name: Datura metel) used for asthma.

Tanglad

A Poaceae plant (scientific name: Cymbopogon citratus) used as a diuretic, for headaches, and in aromatic baths.

Tangan-tangan

An Euphorbiaceae plant (scientific name: Ricinus communis), commonly known as the castor plant, used for hemorrhoids and skin ulcers.

Tsitsirika

An Apocynaceae plant (scientific name: Cathranthus roseus) used for toothache, as a purgative, and as an anticancer agent; source of vinblastine and vincristine.

Tubang-bakod

An Euphorbiaceae plant (scientific name: Jatropha curcas) used for cough, cuts, and skin diseases; contains toxic curcas oil and serves as a biodiesel source.

Tugi

A Dioscoreaceae plant (scientific name: Dioscorea esculenta) used for swelling, rheumatism, and as a diuretic; noted as a source of saponin glycoside.