Gen info
- Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, is a large family of flowering plants. The family as a cosmopolitan distribution, with the greatest diversity of species in the tropics.
- The family Euphorbiaceae is the fifth largest flowering plant family, with about 7,500 species organized into 300 genera, 37 tribes, and three subfamilies: Acalyphoideae, Carotonoideae, and Euphorbioideae.
- Homalanthus is a genus of plants in the family Euphorbiaceae, first described in 1824. It is the only genus in the subtribe Carumbiinae. The genus comprises 23 accepted species. (11)
- When initially published, the generic name was spelt as Omalanthus, which derives from the Greek words homalos, meaning 'smooth' and anthos, meaning 'flower'. Omalanthus spelling being inconsistent with Greek transliteration rules, it was later changed to Homalanthus. (6)

Botany
• Homalanthus populneusis a small tree that can reach up to 6(-10) m tall, smooth and with watery latex. The bark is grayish and roughened. The crown is rather flat and with spreading branches.
The leaves are triangular-ovate to rhombic-ovate, measuring 3-12 cm x 2.5-10 cm and entire. The leaves base is almost truncate with two small glands at the base of the blade while the apex is acuminate. The blades are pale bluish-green beneath and withering into yellow to reddish. The reddish petiole is 2-7 cm long. The flowers are terminal with racemes 10-25 cm long. The male flowers are many, and with 6-10 stamens while there are 2-8 female flowers at the base of the raceme. They are long-stalked and with 2 long stigmas. The fruit is a slightly spherical capsule, measuring about 1 cm in diameter, two-lobed, pale bluish-green and with 2 cavities where each contains a single black seed. (10)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines. (2)
- In thickets, deserted clearings at low and medium elevation. (2)
- Also native to Borneo, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand. (1)

Constituents
- Study for secondary metabolites revealed presence of steroid, terpenoid, flavonoid, alkaloid, phenol, and saponin.

Properties
- Studies suggested potential HIV inhibitory properties.

Parts used
Roots, leaves, stem bark.

Uses
Edibility
- Leaves used for wrapping taro when cooking.
- Caution: Other than reported use of leaves for wrapping food, there is no report on actual edibility. There are reports on use of leaves as fish poison, cattle vermifuge, and as abortifacient.
Folkloric
- In Samar, Philippines, juice from pounded roots applied to wounds, snake bites, skin diseases, and rheumatism. (8)
- Ayta community in Dinalupihan, Bataan, drink root decoction to relieve spasms. (9)
- In Malaysia, Jah Hut people use apply crushed leaves for headaches, two to four times daily. (5)
- In Indonesia, paste prepared from stem bark applied to wounds. (7)
- Leaves used for treatment of rheumatism and diarrhea.
- Fruits applied to wounds to hasten healing.
- In Sabah, fruits used on wounds. Leaves, dried on a fire, are applied on the stomach after birth. Malays also apply leaves on the abdomen for fever.
- Terminal buds of 1-meter high plants eaten by women to induce abortion. (13)
Others
- Landscaping: Attractive foliage and vibrant backdrop for landscaping.
- Rituals: Roots used as medicine against evil spirits. (3)
- Dye: Bark and leaves are ingredients for a black dye. Used for dyeing rattan, pandan handicrafts, and cotton cloth.
- Poison: Pounded leaves mixed with ashes and pepper used as fish poison.
- Veterinary: Dried and powdered leaves used as cattle vermifuge.
- Fuel: Wood makes a good firewood, although perishing quickly.
- Agrofrestry: Sometimes used for afforestation; for stabilizing soil and preventing erosion.

Studies
• Effect on T-Cell Receptor / HIV Inhibition / Leaves: Study of evaluated the effect of 70% ethanol extract of H. populneus leaves on expression of CD4 and CD8, both important in body's defense mechanism against HIV, Results showed reduced expression of CD4 receptor in both peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and T-lymphoblast cell line (CEM). Extract increased CD8 expression in PBMC, and reduced percentage of protein gp41 and gp120 in CEM cultures. Results suggest potential as HIV drug. (4)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Homalanthus populneus / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
Euphorbiaceae: Homalanthus populneus / Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines
(3)
Homalanthus populneus / AsianPlantNet
(4)
THE EFFECT OF HOMALANTHUS POPULNEUS (GIESEL.) PAX. EXTRACT IN EXPRESSION OF T-CELL RECEPTOR: INHIBITION STUDY OF HIV INFECTION / E Sintya, N Wijayanti, A Noraeni / International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutics, 2019; 11(5SI): pp 134-137 / Source ID: 00000538 /
DOI: 10.22159/ijap.2019.v11s5.T0106
(5)
Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used by the Jah Hut Peoples in Malaysia / KW Lin / Indian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2005; 59(4)
(6)
Homalanthus / Wikipedia
(7)
Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of ethnomedicinal plants from Gayo Lues Highland, Indonesia / Hawa Purnama Celala Ary Cane et al / Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacognosy Research, 2023; 11(1): pp 117-128 / ISSN: 0-719-4250 / DOI: 10.56499/jppres22.1526_11.1.117
(8)
Inventory of Medicinal Plants in Northern Samar / Manuela Cecille G Vicencio, Maria Judy M Somoray / Journal of Coastal Life Medicine, 2023 / pISSN: 2309-5288 / eISSN: 2309-6152(9)
(9)
Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants used by Ayta Communities in Dinalupihan, Bataan, Philippines / Ourlad Alzeus G Tantengco, Marlon Lian C Condes, Hanna Hasmini T Estadilla, Elena M Ragragio / Pharmacogn J, 2018; 10(5): pp 859-870 / DOI: 10.5530/pj.2018.5.145
(10)
Homolanthus populneus / GLOBinMED
(11)
Euphorbiaceae / Wikipedia
(12)
Homalanthus populneus / eFlora of Thailand
(13)
Homalanthus populneus / Ken Fern: Tropical Plants Database / Useful Tropical Plants

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)