Botany
A climbinhg, somewhat woody, perennial vine, stems attaining a length of 10 meters. Leaves are alternate, ovate to oblong-ovate, with cordate base, serrate margins, up to 14 cm long. Flowers are borne in racemes ath the upper axils of the terminal parts of the branches. Flowers are pale to deep pink, 2 cm long, with 5-parted and persistent perianth. Fruit is ovoid, about 1 cm long, broad at the base, narrowing towards the tip, loosely surrounded by the persistent lobes of the flower.

Distribution and propagation
Widespread in the Philippines.
Garden cultivation.
Propagated by seeds or cuttings.

Parts used
Bark, fruit, leaves and seeds.

Constituents and properties
A methanol extract of the aerial part of the flower yielded (1) n-hentriacontane (1), ferulic acid (2), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (3), quercetin-3-rhamnoside (4), and kaempherol-3-glucoside (5) along with ?-sitosterol, ?-sitosterol-glucoside and d-mannitol.
COX inhibitory properties and antithrombin activities.

Uses
Folkloric
Not known for its medicinal properties in the Philippines.
In Trinidad and Tobago, used for diabetes, low blood pressure, and as a heart tonic.
In some countries, the tubers and flowers are consumed as food. The aerial portion of the flowers used in decoctions as a cold remedy.
Others
Flower clusters popular for use in flower and foliage arrangements for social functions.
Studies
(1) A methanol extract of the aerial part of the flowe inhibited lipid peroxidation (LPO) by 89% and cyclooxygenase enzymes, COX-1 and COX-2 by 50.4% and 72.5%, respectively. Studies yielded (1) n-hentriacontane (1), ferulic acid (2), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (3), quercetin-3-rhamnoside (4), and kaempherol-3-glucoside (5) along with ?-sitosterol, ?-sitosterol-glucoside and d-mannitol. This is the first report of the isolation of compounds 2–5 from A. leptopus and their LPO and COX inhibitory activities. (Abstract and text at Science Direct. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/>

(2) A chromogenic bioassay was utilized to determine the antithrombin activity of methylene chloride and methanol extracts prepared from 30 plants of central Florida. Extracts of Ardisia crenata, Tetrapanax papyriferus, Lagerstroemia indica, Callistemon lanceolatus, Antigonon Leptopus, Magnolia virginiana, and Myrica cerifera demonstrated activity of 80% or higher in this bioassay system.

Availability
Wildcrafted.