Philippine Medicinal Plant: Mahogany

Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylia)

        This is a more or less deciduous, erect tree growing up to 10 m or more in height, with a heavy, dark green dense crown. it sheds its leaves during summer. the trunk is more or less buttressed. the bark is dark grey and ridged. the leaves are alternate, smooth (with the upper portion shiny, brownish, or purplish), compound and about 15 cm long, comprising 3-6 pairs of leaflets.

Philippine Medicinal Plant: Mahogany

Medicinal value

- A decoction of the bark may serve as an antipyretic (reduces fever)
- It may serve also as an astringent
- It is also used as a tonic (increases body tone)
- It is suspected that in Africa , it is used as treatment for colon cancer.
- In Malaysia the seeds are chewed, or swallowed in powder form to treat high blood pressure.
- In India it is used to treat diabetes and diarrhoea
- In Indonesia a decoction of the seeds is given against malaria.

             In clinical trials the leaves have been found to have anti-diabetic properties and to have anti-diabetic properties and to have anti-inflammatory properties as well as the potential to help against hepatitis C, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties.

Source

Medicinal Plant: Dragon Fruit

This is a vining terrestrial or epiphytic cactus with succulent three-winged, green stems, reaching up to 20 feet long. Plants may climb trees via aerial roots. Flowers are fragrant, white, up to 35cm long, blooming at night. Fruit is round, red, pink or yellow, with prominent scales.

Dragon fruit is rich in vitamin C (where it boosts the immune system), phosphorus and calcium. Dragon fruit is believed to have some health benefits that includes preventing memoryloss, anti-cancer activity, control of blood glucose level in diabetes, anti-oxidant properties, aids in healing wounds and others.

Medicinal Plant: Dragon fruit

Dragon fruit is rich in fiber which aids in the digestion of food and promotes the growth of probiotics. Dragon fruit help lower blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes.

Dragon fruit prevents formation of cancer causing free radicals. Dragon fruit is rich in minerals and fibers that aids in digestion, cleans toxic ingredients thus preventing the occurrence of colon cancer.