The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines Part 27

Leadwort Family.

_Plumbago Zeylanica_, L. (_P. viscosa_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Sagdikit_, Tag.; _Bagbag_, _Talankaw_, Iloc.; _White-flowered Leadwort_, Eng.

Uses.--The root is vesicant and is used by the natives for this purpose. (_P. rosea_, L., common in India, is more powerful. The Pharmacopoeia of India states that both species are worthy of further investigation.) According to the Sanscrit authors it increases the appet.i.te and is useful in dyspepsia, piles, dropsy, diarrhoea and skin diseases. The Filipinos use the infusion locally for itch with good results. A favorite medicine of the Hindoos for flatulence is the old recipe of Susrutas, composed of equal parts of the following substances in powder:

Leadwort root, root of _Cissampelos Pareira_, _Picrorrhiza kurroa_, [6] _Aconitum heterophyllum_,1 and _Terminalia Chebula_ in dose of 4 grams a day.

Dr. Oswald has employed the alcoholic tincture of leadwort in the intermittents, with satisfactory results, and claims that it is a powerful diaph.o.r.etic. [7] The mashed root is mixed with rice flour and made into a caustic paste to apply to buboes, destroy warts, etc. Women also use the sc.r.a.ped root to induce abortion, introducing it through the v.a.g.i.n.a into the _os uteri_. This practice should be strongly condemned on account of its dangerous consequences--metritis, peritonitis and often death.

The chemical composition of the root has been studied by Dulong. [8]

It includes a non-nitrogenous principle, plumbagin, existing in the form of orange-yellow needles, bitter, acrid, volatile, neutral, slightly soluble in cold water, more soluble in ether, alcohol and hot water. The aqueous solution becomes cherry-red on the addition of an alkali, which color is changed to yellow by acids. Basic acetate of lead causes the same color change.

Botanical Description.--Plant with stem declined, angular. Leaves lanceolate, entire, rather downy. Petioles at their base embrace the stem. Flowers white, in axillary spikes. Individual involucres, 3 oval leaflets, the lower larger. Calyx long, cleft almost to the base in 5 lineal parts thickly set with small glands, exuding a sticky gum. Corolla salver-shaped, the tube long, square, throat bare, limb divided into 5 obovate parts, ending in stylets. Stamens 5, inserted near the base of the corolla, almost as long as the tube. Style a little shorter than the stamens. Stigma, 5 parts. One long seed enclosed within the calyx, pentangular, covered with a membranaceous skin.

Habitat.--In Tanauan (Batangas).

SAPOTACEae.

Sapodilla Family.

_Achras Sapota_, L.

Nom. Vulg.--_Chico_, Sp.-Fil.; _Tsiku_, Tag.

Uses.--The _chico_ is one of the popular fruits of the Philippines, much appreciated by Europeans as well as the natives. When not entirely ripe it yields a resinous juice that sticks to the lips and affords a disagreeable taste; but when once thoroughly ripe it has a slightly vinous, sweetish taste and is easily digested. Therapeutically its seeds are used as a diuretic, but large doses should be avoided as they contain a small proportion of hydrocyanic acid. The proper dose is 5-6 mashed seeds in sweetened water. They contain, in addition to the above, a fatty substance of the consistency of b.u.t.ter.

The trunk bark is tonic and febrifuge; Mr. Bernon [9] has isolated from it a crystalline alkaloid, _sapotine_, soluble in ether, chloroform or alcohol, but not in water; a large per cent. of _sapotanic acid_ and two resins.

The trunk exudes, when incised, a milky resin, closely resembling guttapercha and possibly susceptible of the same uses.

Botanical Description.--Trees, about 11 high, with leaves lanceolate, keeled, entire, glabrous. Flowers pure white, solitary or by twos, terminal, very long peduncles. Calyx, 6 sepals, 3 within the others, inferior persistent. Corolla jug-shaped, the border divided into 12 parts, the 6 smaller ones alternating and within the others. Stamens 6, inserted near the border of the inner petals and opposite the outer circle. Filaments very short. Style long. Stigma obtuse, fruit globose, resembling a small pear, russet brown, crowned with the hardened style, more than 10 compartments, each containing a seed. Seed oval, flattened, joined to a central fleshy axis.

Habitat.--Common all over the Archipelago. Blooms in April.

_Mimusops Elengi_, L.

Nom. Vulg.--_Kabiki_, Tag.

Uses.--Its flowers are fragrant and generally well known. The trunk bark is astringent, and in decoction is given by mouth for fevers and diarrhoea. Locally is used as an injection for blenorrhoea, as a gargle for sore throat or relaxed uvula, and a mouth wash to harden the gums. Horsfield states that the Javanese use it as a tonic and antiperiodic. In India an aqueous distillate is employed as a perfume and therapeutically as a stimulant. In Concan they chew the green fruit for toothache and to harden relaxed gums. The decoction of the green fruit serves the same purpose and besides is used to wash wounds and ulcers.

Botanical Description.--A large ornamental tree with leaves alternate, oblong, coriaceous, green. Flowers small, straw-colored, star-shaped, very fragrant. Calyx, 8 sepals. Corolla gamopetalous, 16 oblong, lanceolate divisions. Stamens 8, free, short, alternating with 8 petaloid, conical, p.u.b.escent staminodia. Ovary free, many ovules. Fruit fleshy, oval, smooth, yellow when ripe, with one or several locules according to the number of matured seeds. Seeds solitary, oblong, flattened.

Habitat.--Cultivated in the gardens.

OLEACEae.

Olive Family.

_Jasminum Sambac_, Aiton. (_Nyctanthes Sambac_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Sampaga_, Tag.; _Sampaguitas_, Sp.-Fil.; _Arabian Jasmin_, Eng.

Uses.--The flower is the most popular and beloved of any in the Philippines (and is commonly referred to as the national flower). In decoction it is used as an eye-wash in catarrhal conjunctivitis. In India the flowers and the leaves have a merited reputation as a lactifuge; 2 handfuls of flowers bruised and applied without moistening, once or twice a day, sometimes checks the secretion of the milk within 24 hours, but generally 2 or 3 days are required for a complete effect.

Botanical Description.--Stems scarcely climbing, flattened, p.u.b.escent. Leaves opposite, cordate base, lanceolate-ovate, entire, glabrous. Flowers in small, close cl.u.s.ters, white, fragrant. Calyx-teeth 8-9, long and awl-shaped. Corolla, long tube, 7-8 rounded lobes. Stamens 2. Style 1. Stigma cleft in 2 laminae.

APOCYNACEae.

Dogbane Family.

_Allamanda cathartica_, L.

Nom. Vulg.--Not known.

Uses.--As this plant has no common name in the Philippines it is most probable that the natives do not use it. The Portuguese introduced it into India from Brazil. A decoction of the leaves is purgative and is used in lead colic. The milky juice of the plant is emetic and cathartic in large doses, but simply laxative when given in doses of 8 or 10 drops. On account of its possible violent cathartic action great prudence should be exercised in prescribing it.

Botanical Description.--A twining shrub with leaves in fours, bright green, oblong, covered with rough hairs. Flowers in compound spikes, yellow. Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla 5-lobed, funnel-form. Stamens 5, inserted in throat of corolla, which above them is closed by a crown of hairs. Ovary 1-celled with 2 many-ovuled placentae. Style cylindrical, terminating in a bilobulate cone. Capsule globular, about the size of a pea, black, coriaceous, th.o.r.n.y, bivalvate. Seeds numerous, each encircled by a broad membranous wing.

Habitat.--In Calauang and other parts of Luzon and Panay.

_Thevetia nerifolia_, Suss. (_Cerbera Thevetia_, L. and Blanco)

Nom. Vulg.--_Campanelo_, Sp.-Fil.; _Exile or Yellow Oleander_, Eng.

Uses.--This shrub is very common in gardens, well known by its pretty yellow, bell-shaped flowers. The trunk bark possesses antiperiodic properties first described by Descourtilz and confirmed later by Dr. G. Bidie and Dr. J. Short. Both the latter used the tincture in 10-15-drop doses 3 times a day. This tincture was prepared by macerating for one week in 150 grams of alcohol 30 grams of fresh bark finely divided. This preparation operates as an emetic and purgative in doses of 30-60 drops. It is evident that the plant possesses very active, even poisonous properties and should be employed with great caution. The decoction of the bark is given as an emetic and cathartic, but very imprudently because there is no means of determining the quant.i.ty of active principle, shown by chemical a.n.a.lysis to be a dangerous product.