Botany
Duhat-matsing is a shrub or small tree growing to a height of 2 to 4 meters. Leaves are oblong to narrowly oblong-obovate, 5 to 11 centimeters long. Flowers are solitary, pale-yellow, about 1 centimeter long or less, on slender pedicels 1 to 2 centimeters long. Sepals and petals are slightly hairy. Fruits are numerous, ovoid or globose, 4 to 5 millimeters long, purple, fleshy and edible.

Distribution
- In the Philippines, common in thickets at low and medium altitudes in Luzon (Cagayan to Laguna) and Mindanao.
- Also occurs in India, China, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

Parts utilized
Fresh roots.

Constituents
• Study yielded an azaanthracene alkaloid, kalasinamide, from the stems of P. suberosa., together with the known N-trans-feruloyltyramine and N-trans-coumaroyltyramine.
• Study isolated two new 2-substituted furans from the stems of P. suberosa.
• Leaves contain alpha- and beta-amyrin, lupeol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol. Stems and leaves contain triterpene, suberosol, which have shown anti-HIV replication activity. Stem bark yields alkaloids, oxostephanine and lanuginosine, which has shown antibacterial activity.

Properties
• Anti-HIV replication activity and antibacterial activity.
• Adaptogenic.

Uses
Folkloric
Decoction of fresh roots used as abortifacient.

Studies
• Furans / Antiviral Activity: 2-substituted furans from Polyalthia suberosa: Two new 2-substituted furans, 1-(2-furyl)pentacosa16,18-diyne and 23-(2-furyl)tricosa-5,7-diynoic acid, were isolated from the stems of P. suberosa. These compounds, with kalasinamide, N-trans-feruloyltyramine and N-trans-coumaroyltyramine showed anti-HIV activities.
• Anti-HIV Activity: Anti-AIDS Agents, 9. Suberosol, a New C31 Lanostane-Type Triterpene and Anti-HIV Principle from Polyalthia suberosa: In the course of searching for anti-HIV agents, a new triterpene, suberosol, was isolated and studied for anti-HIV activity. (Publ.1993)
• Cytotoxic: Study isolated four new styryl-lactones, crassalactones A-D together with seven known compounds from an extract of leaves and twigs of PC. Cytotoxic evaluation against mammalian cancer lines were done on all the new isolates.
• Natural Excipient: Study showed the extracted mucilage from the leaves of Polyalthia suberosa is non-toxic, with a potential as a suspending agent, binding agent and pharmaceutical adjuvant.
Availability
Wild-crafted.