Botany
Tiwi is a smooth tree, growing 5 to 15 meters high. Leaves are opposite, 30 to 40 centimeters long, pinnately compound with seven to nine leaflets. Leaflets are ovate to ovate-lanceolate or ovate-elliptic, 7 to 15 centimeters long, unequal at the base and pointed at the tip. Flowers are borne on short, terminal, few-flowered racemes. Calyx is 4 to 5 centimeters long, spathelike, and split down one side to the base. Corolla is white, with a rather slender, cylindrical tube 9 to 11 centimeters long, becoming funnel-shaped or bell-shaped above, 5 to 7 centimeters in diameter. Fruit is a capsule, somewhat cylindrical or slightly compressed, 30 to 40 centimeters long, 2 to 2.5 centimeters thick, with numerous, rectangular, winged seeds.
Distribution
- Along the seashore and tidal streams from La Union to Palawan, Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.
- Also occurs in India through Malaya to New Guinea.
Constituents
Phytochemical screening yielded triterpene and saponin compounds.
Parts
utilized
Bark, leaves, seeds.
Uses
Folkloric
• In the Philippines, poutice of fresh leaves and bark is applied against flatulence to women after childbirth.
• Seeds are powdered, and taken for nervous complaints.
• In Java, leaves are used for making mouthwash for thrush.
• Also, has a reputation as abortifacient.
• In Palau, for yaws (frambesia), bark is squeezed together with young stem and flower stalk of Croton sp., and the sap is poured in heated coconut oil; when cooled, applied to affected part of the body.
Others
• Fish poison: The bark used as fish poison. Some reports that a decoction of bark in dogs have no ill effects.
Studies
• Antibacterial / Methicillin-Resistant Staphyloccus aureus: Study of methanol extracts of stems and leaf showed inhibitory activity against MRSA clinicial isolates. Stem extracts showed better inhibitory activity which was attributed to triterpene and saponin compounds.
Availability
Wild-crafted. |
