Introduction

A rich cultural heritage abounds in the Philippines where there are approximately 110 ethnolinguistic
groups. They make up a large portion of the Philippine population, with more than 12 million people.
Alongside the three dominant ethnolinguistic groups - the Tagalogs, Visayans and Ilocanos, Philippine
ethnic groups are a rich resource of indigenous knowledge (IK). The diversity of IK cultural practices and
traditions in the Philippines includes indigenous health knowledge systems consisting of traditional
healing practices. At present, the Philippines has more than 12,000 species of plants, from which 1,500
species are used by traditional herbalists. It is common knowledge that indigenous peoples have known
the healing properties of several herbs for generations.

We discovered an ethnic tribe that uses indigenous plants for their daily life and that is the Agta tribe.
Agta is the generic term used in Bikol, Luzon to refer to its 40,000 natives with dark-colored skins, short
stature and kinky hair. Though some Agtas now live in permanent settlements, there are still some in
Camarines Norte who are semi-nomadic and who build temporary elevated shelters called “Butukan.”
The Butukan is made from tree branches and leaves. An area is believed to be ideal for building a
butukan if six tagbac tubers planted there will grow or where decayed organic matter is present or
where the desired spot for the Butukan can be reached by reflected light from a river. The light is
believed to prevent evil spirits from having access to the shelter and bringing death to its occupants. The
traditional attire of the Agta is the tapis/skirt for females and bahag/breech cloth for males. Their
clothing is made from the bark of the Gumihan tree. They also use medicinal plants like the Katmon
plant. Also they use a number of them now wears casual and modern urban attires, although they still
adorn their heads, however, with a multi-purpose container called “Takupis” made from the Kalagimay
plant where they keep their lime from burnt seashells, nganga/betel nut and pepper leaves called
“ikmo” or “lukmoy.”

In a country where people, especially in remote areas where a sizeable rural population live, have low
access to the formal health care system, traditional healing modalities provide the alternative.
Integrating traditional health knowledge systems into the formal health systems not only helps preserve
an invaluable and functional aspect of our cultural heritage, but also enhances the formal health
delivery system.

2 of the indigenous plant that we choose is:

1. Katmon plant - Dillenia philippinensis Rolfe

Dillenia philippinensis (katmon) is a favorite tree among Filipino garden enthusiasts. It is endemic to the
Philippines and can be used for urban greening. Its fruit is known as elephant apple. Katmon grows in
low to medium altitude forests throughout the Philippines, but does not survive the cold climates of the
uplands.

Botany/Description:

Katmon reaches the height of six to 15 meters. Its bark is smooth. The leaves are leathery, shining, and
broad and rounded at the base and tapering toward the end. The leaves are also about 12 to 15
centimeters long and coarsely toothed at the margins. The flowers are white, large, and about 15
centimeters in diameter. The fruit, about five to six centimeters in diameter, contains a soft, fleshy,
green, and edible pulp with a flavor somewhat like that of a green sour apple.
Distribution:

Katmon is found only in the Philippines, being common in forests of low and medium altitude
throughout the islands in primary and secondary forests. Endemic to the country, the tree can be found
in Babuyan Islands, Luzon, Polillo, Mindoro, Masbate, Leyte, Negros, Guimaras, Cebu, and Basilan.

Properties:

- Leaves and bark are laxative and astringent.

- Studies suggest antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hypoglycemic properties.

Parts utilized:

- Fruit, leaves, bark.

Uses:

Edibility:

- Fruit contains a soft, fleshy, green and edible pulp, with the flavor of a green, sour apple.
- Used for making sauces and jams; also used for flavoring fish.
- Fruit when cooked, used as vegetable.

Folkloric/Traditional:

- The acid juice of the fruit, mixed with sugar, is used for coughs. Fruit decoction used for cough.
- Also employed for cleansing the hair.
- In Sabah, young leaves or stem bark pounded and applied as paste on swellings and wounds.
- Elsewhere, sugared fruit juice used as cooling beverage for fevers; also, as cardiotonic.
- Leaves and bark used as laxative and astringent.

Others:

- Red dye: A red dye is obtained from the tree bark.

- The wood of the Katmon is suitable for furniture. Katmon provides good material for house framing,
flooring, posts, beams, rafters, flooring, sheathing, ceilings, and special woodworks.

Medical Constituents:

- Study of air-dried leaves of Dillenia philippinensis yielded betulnic acid

- Betulinic acid is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid which has antiretroviral,
antimalarial, and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as a more recently discovered potential
as an anticancer agent, by inhibition of topoisomerase. It is found in the bark of several species
of plants including the katmon plant.
Pictures:

Figure 1: large elliptic leaves Figure 2: immature fruit

Figure 3: young katmon fruits

References:

1) Antimicrobial triterpenes from Dillenia philippinensis / Consolacion Y. Ragasa, Agnes

Alimboyoguen, Chien-Chang Shen / The Philippine Scientist 01/2009; 46(1):78-87. /
DOI:10.3860/psci.v46i0.1454
2) Chemical studies on an endemic Philippine plant: sulfated glucoside and seco-A-ring
triterpenoids from Dillenia philippinensis. / Macahig RA, Matsunami K, Otsuka H. / Chem Pharm
Bull (Tokyo). 2011;59(3):397-401.
3) Dillenia philippinensis / Synonyms / The Plant List
4) Katmon's phytochemical constituents and biological activities studied / Agnes B. Alimboyoguen,
Sally A. Roguel and Jenny Q. Mojica / PCAARRD
5) Lim, Dr. T.K. 2012. Dillenia philippinensis in Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants. Norriss
Street 49, 2905, Chisholm, Aust Capital Terr, Australia: Springer Netherlands.