Tsaang-Gubat

 

Common name: Alangit (Bis.), Wild Tea, Scorpionbush, Putputai [4], Alangit (Bisaya); Kalamoga (Tagalog), [1] [9]

Scientific name: Carmona retusa (Vahl.) Masam.[2]

            

DESCRIPTION OF PLANT AND ITS PARTS:

•         A shrub with small, shiny nice- looking leaves that grows in wild uncultivated areas and forests [3]
•          Tsaang Gubat is a shrub that grows abundantly in thePhilippines [4]
•          The plant bears white flowers that developed into a fleshy, yellow-orange fruits when ripe. [2]
•          Tsaang gubat is an erect, very branched shrub growing up to 1 to 4 meters high. [1]
•          Leaves are in clusters on short branches, obovate to oblong-obovate, 3 to 6 centimeters long, entire or somewhat toothed or lobed near the apex and pointed at the base, short stalked and rough on the upper surface. [2]
•          Flowers are white, small, axillary, solitary, 2 or 4 on a common stalk, borne in inflorescences shorter than the leaves. Calyx -lobes re green, somewhat hairy, and linear, about 5 to 6 millimeters long. [2]

PICTURE OF THE PLANT AND PARTS

              

                                       Tsaang Gubat Shrub

           

                     Tsaang Gubat Flower                                                              

       

                             Tsaang Gubat Fruit

ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS

•         Phytochemical screening yielded alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, and saponins. [2]
•         Major constituents of leaves yielded an intractable mixture of triterpenes, namely a-amyrin, b-amyrin, and baurenol. [2]

TRADITIONAL USE

•          Traditionally, tsaang gubat is used as a disinfectant wash during childbirth. Newer studies showed that it has an anti-allergy component if used together with sambong and lagundi [6]
•          The leaves has been used as cure for diarrhea, ,as tea for general good health and because Tsaang Gubat has high fluoride content, it is used as a mouth gargle for preventing tooth decay [4]

PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

Use of plant with clinical basis:

•          Laboratory tests and evaluations, using white mice, show that with dosages of 100mg and 250mg/kg of mice, tritepenes exhibited 29% to 55% anti – diarrheal activity or effectiveness.  Tests further show that at a dosage of 100mg, there is no significant difference between the effectiveness of immodium (commercially known available drug) and triterpenes to diarrhea. [5]
•          Antidiabetic activity, the result of the laboratory tests show that a 150mg of triterpenes is more effective than the known commercially available anti – diabetic drug, Glipzide. [5]
•          Antibacteria activity, the laboratory results show that triterpenes activity against C. abicans and T. mentagrophytes bacteria is weak to moderate.  These bacteria cause 90% of dermatophyte infections (human and animal skin diseases).  Further test shows that triterpene is ineffective against a virulent/deadly bacteria, the E. coli, which causes severe diarrhea and typhoid fever. [5]
•          Antiallergic Activity: Tsaang gubat, together with Lagundi and Sambong, were studied for possible anti-allergic subtances to counter the histamine release from mast cells that cause type-1 reactions. From tsaang-gubat, rosmarinic acid and microphyllone were isolated. [8]
•          Antimutagen: An antimutagenic principle was extracted from the leaves of C retusa with ethyl alcohol [8]
•          Triterpene Bioactivities/ Analgesic / Anti-inflammatory / Anti-diarrheal / Antimicrobial: Study OF Carmona retusa leaves yielded an intractable mixture of triterpenes, a-amyrin (43.7%), ß-amyrin (24.9%) and baurenol (31.4%). The mixture exhibited analgesic activity (51%), some anti-inflammatory activity (20%), anti-diarrheal activity (29%), and moderate antimicrobial activity against S aureus, C albicans and T mentagrophytes. [8]
•          Anti-Tumor: Carmona retusa leaf extracts were tested for anticancer property and results showed it can be used as an anticancer agent. [8]
•          Carbon compounds – like simple sugars, fatty acids, amino acids, and nucleotides – all serves as energy sources and as building blocks of cells and body systems of living things.  Dr. Villaseñor stressed these biological attributes prompted her to evaluate and test bio-activity of triterpenes against common human ailments and diseases -- diarrhea, diabetes, and skin bacterial infections. [5]
•          4 Herbal leaves of the plant cure diarrhea, gastroenteritis, stomach pains, and antidote for poisonous and bleeding
•          Through a spectral analysis, Dr. Irene identified and isolated chemical compounds called Pentacyclic triterpenes from "Tsaang-Gubat" extract. According to her, Pentacyclic triterpenes are complex and very volatile biochemical compound which evaporates quickly. She added that this kind of chemical compound is rarely found in the oil extracts of trees. "Tsaang-Gubat" is one of the few kind of small trees that has the ability to produce this kind of chemical compounds. These chemical compounds are known to cure or remedy diarrhea, diabetes, skin infections. [10]
•          Dr. Irene and her group evaluated and tested the effectiveness of the triterpenes chemical compounds against diabetes. Using white mice, with dosages of 100mg and 250mg/kg, tritepenes exhibited 29 percent to 55 percent anti�diarrheal activity or effectiveness. This experiment further showed that at a dosage of 100mg, there was no significant difference between the effectiveness of immodium (commercially known available drug) and triterpenes to diarrhea. In addition, the results of these tests also showed a 150mg of that a 150mg of triterpenes is more effective than Glipzide (known commercially available anti�diabetic drug). [10]

TOXICITY

No toxicity researched.

REFERENCES

Author/date/year/title/name of book/URL

[1] Copyright © 2011.Medical Health Guide.http:. www.medicalhealthguide.com/articles/tsaanggubat.htm

[2] Stuart, G. .January 2014. Philippine Medicinal Plants. StuartXchange.http:// www.stuartxchange.com/Tsaang.html

[3] 10th Edition 2007. RNpedia.com.http:// www.rnpedia.com/home/notes/community-health-nursing-notes/herbal-medicine-tsaang-gubat

[4] RNspeak.com. February 26, 2012. The 10 Herbal Plant approved by the Department of Health-DOH. http://rnspeak.com/community-health-nursing/philippines-herbal-medicine-plants-approved-by-doh/

[5] Carteciano, J..Extract of Common Garden Plant: A Good Source of Cure. http:// www.nrcp.dost.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=95:extract-of-common-garden-plant-a-good-source-of-cure-&catid=73:chemical-sciences&Itemid=11

[6] Konis, L. .November 25, 2008. How does Tsaang Gubat Herbal Plant Provide Health Benefits and Relieve Stomach Pain. http:// www.livinghealthy360.com/index.php/how-does-tsaang-gubat-herbal-plant-provide-health-benefits-and-relieve-stomach-pain-28385/

[7] April 4, 2014. Herbal plant Tsaang Gubat(Ehretia microphylla Lam). http://www.bubblews.com/news/2866042-herbal-plant-tsaang-gubatehretia-microphylla-lam

[8] Ibot, A..JULY 7, 2014. Tsaang Gubat - Halamang Gamot . Herbal Medicine. http://pinoyjuicing.blogspot.com/2014/07/tsaang-gubat-halamang-gamot-herbal.html

[9] http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:t8CJlF5n_ysJ:yakal2011g1.wikispaces.com/file/view/tan_p2-2.doc+&cd=14&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ph

[10] Mar 20 2011. Living in Cebu forums. Tsaang-Gubat (Carmona Retusa) Healing Powers Discovered by NRCP Research Project. http://www.livingincebuforums.com/ipb/topic/29009-tsaang-gubat-carmona-retusa-healing-powers-discovered-by-nrcp-research-project/