Botany
Salasik-lupa is a spreading, diffuse, branched herb, with branches 15 to 45 centimeters long. Leaves are stalkless, rough, rigid, slender, elliptic- or linear-lanceolate, 3.5 to 6 centimeters long, 2 to 5 millimeters wide, and pointed at both ends. Flowers are borne in clusters in the axils of the leaves. Calyx-teeth are triangular. Capsules are smooth, ovoid, and 2.5 to 3 millimeters long.

Distribution
- In open places, old clearings, and thickets at low altitudes, from northern Luzon to Mindanao, in most islands and provinces.
- Also occurs in India to southern China and Malaya.

Parts used
Whole plant.

Uses
Folkloric
- Plant used for making poultices; applied for headaches; in small children applied to abdomen for stomachaches.
- Decoction of plants drunk for dysentery.

Studies
• Antioxidant / NO Inhibitory Activity: In a study of the methanol extracts of seven Malaysian medicinal plants, including Hedyotis verticillata, all showed strong antioxidant activity comparable to or higher than a-tocopheraol, BHT and quercetin in the FTC and TBA methods. In one assay, H verticillata was one of five that showed strong NO activity inhibition in LPA and IFN-g-induced RAW 264.

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Evaluation of antioxidant and nitric oxide inhibitory activities of selected Malaysian medicinal plants / K Saha, N H Lajis, D A Israf et al / Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol 92, No 2-3, June 2004, Pages 263-267 / doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.03.007