06/08/2026
๐ฟ New Publication Alert!
Congratulations to Mark Lloyd G. Dapar, Jason C. Alcano, Joryll D. Pulmones, Noel E. Lagunday, Victor B. Amoroso, Lovelle Mae Galia-Marasigan, Genevieve Dable-Tupas, and Veneracion G. Cabana on their newly published research in Discover Plants!
"Integrated taxonomic, phylogenetic, and metabolomic characterization of Uncaria lanosa (Rubiaceae) from Mindanao, Philippines"
For generations, indigenous communities in Bukidnon have used the vine known as "Kawilaw" to treat coughs, colds, wounds, and skin ailments โ but its exact scientific identity had never been definitively confirmed. This study finally settles the question.
Using DNA barcoding (nrITS phylogenetics) alongside high-resolution UPLC-QTOF-MS metabolomics and GNPS molecular networking, the team:
๐ฌ Confirmed the plant's identity as Uncaria lanosa Wall., resolving long-standing ambiguity in local vernacular naming
๐งฌ Mapped its chemical fingerprint, dominated by oxindole and corynanthe-type alkaloids (including mitraphylline and uncarine C), along with flavonoids like epicatechin and procyanidin B2
๐ Found dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity (protein denaturation inhibition) and moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli โ lending scientific support to traditional uses
This work is a great example of how combining molecular taxonomy, chemistry, and ethnobotany can validate indigenous knowledge while documenting the Philippines' rich โ and still under-explored โ botanical heritage.
The authors are grateful for the support received from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the
National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), under the project entitled โMolecular Taxonomy of Indigenous
Medicinal Plants from Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines.โ The authors also acknowledge the Philippine Council for Health
Research and Development and the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care
(PITAHC) of the Department of Health for the SEARCH Bukidnon Research Program. Special thanks
to the CMU Administration and CMU-Research, Development, and Extension (RDE) for the fieldwork, laboratory work,
seminar-workshops, and write-shops. Acquisition of UPLC-QTOF-MS was funded by DOST-Grants-In-Aid under the
ReDMatCH NiCeR Program implemented at the Davao Medical School Foundation Inc. (DMSFI).
๐ Read the full open-access paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44372-026-00794-8
