1. 10 HERBAL PLANTS APPROVED BY DOH
1. Plant Name: Lagundi (Five-leaved chaste tree)
Taxonomic Account
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Vitex
Species: V. negundo
Specific epithet: Vitex negundo Linn.
Description:
Lagundi is an erect, branched tree or shrub, 2-5 m high. Leaves are usually 5-foliate, rarely
with 3 leaflets only and palmately arranged. Leaflets are lanceolate, entire, 4-10 cm long, slightly
hairy beneath, and pointed at both ends, the middle leaflets being larger than the others, and
distinctly stalked. Flowers are numerous, blue to lavender, 6-7 mm long, borne in terminal
inflorescences (panicles) 10-20 cm long. Calyx is hairy, and 5-toothed. Corolla is densely hairy in
the throat, and the middle lobe of the lower lip is longest. Fruit is a succulent drupe, globose, black
when ripe, about 4 mm in diameter.
Distribution
- Widely distributed in the Philippines.
- At low and medium altitudes, in thickets and waste places.
- Flowering year round. It is best propagated by use of mature, leafless stem cuttings.
- Also occurs in tropical East Africa, Madagascar, India to Japan, and southward through Malaya to
western Polynesia.
Treatment
- Cough, colds, fever, asthma, pharyngitis, rheumatism, dyspepsia, boils, diarrhea
Phytochemicals
Phytochemical screening of ethanol leaf extract yielded alkaloids, iridoids, phenolic acids,
flavonols and flavonoids.

2. 2. Plant Name: Yerba Buena (Peppermint)
Taxonomic Account
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Mentha
Species: M. arvensis
Specific epithet: Mentha arvensis Linn.
Description:
Hierba buena is a prostrate, smooth, much-branched, usually purplish, strongly aromatic
herb, with stems growing up to 40 cm long, with ultimate ascending terminal branches. Leaves are
elliptic to oblong-ovate, 1.5-4 centimeters long, short-stalked with toothed margins, and rounded or
blunt tipped. Flowers are hairy and purplish to bluish, borne in axillary headlike whorls. Calyx teeth
are triangular or lanceolate and hairy; the corolla is also hairy.
Distribution
- Native of Europe.
- Introduced by the Spaniards.
- Widely cultivation to some extent in all parts of the Philippines.
- Thrives well at high elevations; rarely flowers in lowlands.
Treatment
- Cough, colds, insect bites, rheumatism, gout, body aches, indigestion, menstrual/gas pain
Phytochemicals
Phytochemical screening of powdered plant samples (root, stem, and leaves) yielded
alkaloids, polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and diterpenes.

3. 3. Plant Name: Sambong (Blumea camphor)
Taxonomic Account
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Blumea
Species: B. balsamifera
Specific epithet: Blumea balsamifera Linn.
Description:
Sambong is a half woody, strongly aromatic shrub, densely and softly hairy, 1-4 m high.
Stems grow up to 2.5 cm in diameter. Leaves are simple, alternate, elliptic- to oblong-lanceolate, 7-
20 cm long, toothed at the margins, pointed or blunt at the tip, narrowing to a short petiole which are
often auricled or appendaged. Flowering heads are stalked, yellow and numerous, 6-7 mm long,
and borne on branches of a terminal, spreading or pyramidal leafy panicle. Discoid flowers are of
two types: peripheral ones tiny, more numerous, with tubular corolla; central flowers few, large with
campanulate corolla. Involucral bracts are green, narrow and hairy. Anther cells tailed at base.
Fruits are achenes, dry, 1-seeded, 10-ribbed, hairy at top.
Distribution
- Common in open fields, grasslands and waste areas at low and medium altitudes.
- Flowering from February to April.
- Propagation by cuttings and layering.
- Also occurs in China, Hainan, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam.
Treatment
- Kidney stones, wounds, cuts, rheumatism, diarrhea, spasms, cough, colds, hypertension
Phytochemicals
Phytochemical yields flavonoids, terpenes (borneol, limonene, camphor, a-pinene, b-pinene,
3-carene, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, triteroenes, and cryptomeridiol), lactones (blumealactone
A, B, C)

4. 4. Plant Name: Tsaang Gubat (Wild tea)
Taxonomic Account
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Carmona
Species: C. retusa
Specific epithet: Carmona retusa (Vahl) Masam.
Description:
Tsaang gubat is an erect, every branched shrub growing up to 1-4 m high. Leaves are in
clusters on short branches, obovate to oblong-obovate, 3-6 cm long, entire or somewhat toothed or
lobed near the apex and pointed at the base, short stalked and rough on the upper surface. Flowers
are white, small, axillary, solitary, 2-4 on a common stalk, borne in inflorescences shorter than the
leaves. Calyx-lobes are green, somewhat hairy, and linear, about 5-6 mm long. Corolla is white, 5
mm long, and divided into oblong lobes. Fruit is a drupe, rounded, yellow when ripe, 4-5 mm in
diameter, fleshy, with a 4-seeded stone, fleshy on the outer part, and stony inside.
Distribution
- Easily found from the Batan Islands and northern Luzon to Palawan and Mindanao, in most or all
islands and provinces, in thickets and secondary forests at low and medium altitudes.
- Also occurs in India to southern China, Taiwan, and Malaya.
Treatment
- Eczema, scabies, itchiness, wounds in child birth, gastroenteritis, dysentery, diarrhea,
stomatitis, stomach pain
Phytochemicals
Phytochemical screening yielded alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, and
saponins.

5. 5. Plant Name: Niyog-niyogan (Wild tea)
Taxonomic Account
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Family: Combretaceae
Genus: Quisqualis
Species: Q. indica
Specific epithet: Quisqualis indica Linn.
Description:
Niog-niogan is a large climbing; woody shrub reaching a length of 2-8 m. Brown hairs give
the younger parts a rusty appearance. Leaves are oblong to elliptic, opposite, 7-15 cm long,
rounded at the base and pointed at the tip. Flowers are fragrant, tubular, showy, first white, then
becoming red, reddish-purple or orange, exhibiting the range of colors in clusters, on the same
flower stalk. Fruit is narrowly ellipsoid, 2.5-3 cm long, with 5, sharp, longitudinal angles or wings.
Seeds are pentagonal and black.
Distribution
- In thickets and secondary forests throughout the Philippines.
- Ornamentally planted for its flowers.
- Also occurs in India to Malaya.
- Introduced in most tropical countries.
Treatment
- Intestinal worms and parasites, inflammation of kidneys, boils, skin ulcers, headaches, fever,
diarrhea, dysuria
Phytochemicals
Phytochemical screening yields major classes of constituents: alkaloids, carbohydrates,
protein, amino acid, saponins, glycosides, steroids, tannins, flavonoids and phenolic compounds.

6. 6. Plant Name: Bayabas (Guava)
Taxonomic Account
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Psidium
Species: P. guajava
Specific epithet: Psidium guajava Linn.
Description:
Bayabas is somewhat hairy plant reaching a height of 8 m. Young branches are 4-angled.
Leaves are opposite, oblong to elliptic, and 1-5 cm long, the apex being pointed, and the base
usually rounded. Peduncles are 1-3-flowered. Flowers are white, 3-3.5 cm across, with in-curved
petals, coming out solitary or 2-3 in the leaf axils. Numerous stamens form the attractive part of the
flower. Inferior ovaries develop into round or obovoid green fruits 4-9 cm long, turning yellow on
ripening and have edible, aromatic, seedy pulp.
Distribution
- Widely distributed throughout the Philippines in all islands and provinces.
- Common in backyards and settled areas.
- In thickets and secondary forests at low altitudes, ascending to at least 1,500 meters.
- Introduced from tropical America.
- Thoroughly naturalized.
- Pantropic in distribution.
Treatment
- Diarrhea, stomach parasites, toothaches, wounds, gum infection, tooth decay, skin diseases
Phytochemicals
Phytochemical screening yielded alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, polyphenols, reducing
compounds, saponins and tannins.

7. 7. Plant Name: Akapulko (Ringworm bush)
Taxonomic Account
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Cassia
Species: C. alata
Specific epithet: Cassia alata Linn.
Description:
Akapulko is a coarse, erect, branched shrub, 1.5-3 m high. Leaves are pinnate and 40-60
cm long, with orange rachis on stout branches. Each leaf has 16-28 leaflets, 5-15 cm in length,
broad and rounded at the apex, with a small point at the tip. Leaflets gradually increase in size from
the base towards the tip of the leaf. Inflorescences are terminal and at the axils of the leaves, in
simple or panicled racemes, and 10-50 cm long. Flowers are yellow, about 4 cm in diameter, at the
axils of thin, yellow, oblong, concave bracts which are 2.5-3 cm long. Pod is rather straight, dark
brown or nearly black, about 15 cm long and 15 mm wide. On both sides of the pods there is a wing
that runs the length of the pod. Pod contains 50-60 flattened, triangular seeds.
Distribution
- Abundant throughout the Philippines in settled areas at low and medium altitudes.
- Occasionally planted as ornamental or for its medicinal properties.
- Introduced from tropical America; now pantropic.
Treatment
- Ringworms, skin fungal infections, bronchitis, asthma, diuretic, cough, fever, stomach problems
Phytochemicals
Phytochemical studies of crude extract of stem bark yielded important secondary
metabolites - tannins, steroids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, terpenes, carbohydrates and saponins.

8. 8. Plant Name: Ulasimaang Bato/Pansit-Pansitan (Shiny bush)
Taxonomic Account
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Piperales
Family: Piperaceae
Genus: Peperomia
Species: P. pellucida
Specific epithet: Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth
Description:
Pansit-pansitan is an erect, branched, annual herb, shallow rooted, reaching up to 40 cm
high, with very succulent stems. Stems are round, often about 5 mm thick. Leaves are alternate,
heart-shaped and turgid, as transparent and smooth as candle wax. Spikes are green, erect, very
slender, 1-6 cm long. Tiny dot-like flowers scattered along solitary and leaf-opposed stalk (spike);
naked; maturing gradually from the base to the tip; turning brown when ripe.
Distribution
- An annual herb, favoring shady, damp and loose soil.
- Often grows in groups in nooks in the garden and yard.
- Conspicuous in rocky parts of canals.
- Propagation by seeds. Numerous tiny seeds drop off when mature and grow easily in clumps and
groups in damp areas.
- Pantropic species of American origin.
Treatment
- Rheumatism, gout, diarrhea, eye inflammation, sore throat, hypertension, wounds, burns, fever,
headaches, prostate problems, boils, abdominal pains
Phytochemicals
Preliminary phytochemical screening of methanol extracts of stems yielded carbohydrates,
alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, with the absence of saponins and proteins.

9. 9. Plant Name: Bawang (Garlic)
Taxonomic Account
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Tracheophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Genus: Allium
Species: A. sativum
Specific epithet: Allium sativum L.
Description:
Bawang is a low herb, 30-60 cm high. True stem is much reduced. Bulbs are broadly ovoid,
2-4 cm in diameter, consisting of several, densely crowded, angular and truncated tubers. Leaves
are linear and flat. Umbels are globose, many flowered. Sepals are oblong, greenish white, slightly
tinged with purple. Stamens are not exerted from the perianth.
Distribution
- Extensively grown in Batangas, Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Norte, Mindoro, and Cotobato.
- A native of southern Europe.
- Now widely cultivated in most parts of the world.
Treatment
- Infections, hypertension, rheumatism, toothaches, headaches, insect bites, athlete’s foot, fever,
cough, colds, sore throat, asthma, bronchitis, digestive problems
Phytochemicals
The most important chemical constituents are the cysteine sulfoxides (alliin) and the
nonvolatile glutamylcysteine peptides which make up more than 82% of the sulfur content of garlic.
Allicin, ajoenes and sulfides are degradation products of alliin.

10. 10. Plant Name: Ampalaya (Bitter Gourd/Bitter Melon)
Taxonomic Account
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Momordica
Species: M. charantia
Specific epithet: Momordica charantia Linn.
Description:
Ampalaya is a climbing vine, nearly or quite smooth, annual vine. Tendrils are simple, up to
20 cm long. Leaves are 2.5-10 cm in diameter, cut nearly to the base into 5-7 lobes, oblong-ovate,
variously toothed, and heart-shaped at the base. Male flower is about 12 mm long, and is
peduncled, with a rounded, green, and about 1 cm long bract approximately at the middle. Female
flower is yellow flower, about 15 mm long, long-stalked with pair of small leaflike bracts at middle or
toward base of stalk. Fruit, in cultivated form, is green, fleshy, oblong, cylindric, 15-25 cm long,
pointed at both ends, ribbed and wrinkled, bursting when mature to release seeds; in wild forms,
ovoid, about 2-4 cm long. Seeds are oblong, compressed 10-13 mm long, and corrugated on the
margins.
Distribution
- Year-round vegetable, extensively cultivated in the Philippines for its bitter edible fruit.
- Wild forms found in open fields, thickets, and waste places at low and medium altitudes.
- Probably of Asiatic origin.
- Pantropic.
Treatment
- Diabetes, cough, skin burns, hemorrhoids, stomach problems, scalds, wounds
Phytochemicals
Phytochemical study yielded alkaloids, glycosides, aglycone, tannin, sterol, phenol and protein.

11. References:
Rabago, L.M., Joaquin, C.C. Functional Biology Modular Approach. c.2003
Ching, J.A. General Biology Compendium Revised Edition (2009). c.2007
http://www.uniprot.org/
http://www.itis.gov/
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.medicalhealthguide.com/philippineherbalmedicine.htm
http://www.stuartxchange.com/CompleteList.html
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Dicot_vs_Monocot
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss8/monocotdicot.html
http://www.ijapbc.com/files/17.pdf
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19960697/10-approved-herbal-plants-by-DOH
http://stuartxchange.com.html