Medicinal plants, cure for swine and cattle diseases?

Using the anti-bacterial assay, the bark extract of Garuga floribunda (bogo) was found to have the highest zone of inhibition against gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and gram-positive bacteria, Staphyloccocus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Likewise, the bark extract of Trema orientalis L. (hanagdong) also inhibited the growth of S. aureus and B. subtilis.

These are some of the results of a study conducted by Central Mindanao University (CMU) researchers on medicinal plants’ efficacy in treating the swine and cattle diseases using morpho-histochemical test and bioassay of some different plant localities in Bukidnon.

Funded by the National Research Council of the Philippines and CMU, the project aimed to collect the medicinal plants used in treatment of swine and the cattle diseases; assess its conservation status; determine the active principles present in their various tissues; evaluate the biological activity of their crude extracts; and assess some of the communities’ ethno-veterinary practices.

According to the CMU researchers composed of Dr. Luzviminda T. Simborio, Dr. Lorelei A. Samaniego, Mr. Dave Buenavista, and Dr. Cecilia B. Amoroso, the alkaloids, tannins, saponins, fats, and oils found in the bark tissues have antibacterial property.

Also, the CMU researchers said in their report that there is a scientific basis on the use of the following medicinal plants: Garuga floribunda (bogo), Trema orientalis L. (hanagdong), Macaranga tanarius (Binunga), Tinospora crispa (panyawan), and Ficus septic (lagnob).

For instance, the presence of active principles like alkaloids, arbutin, saponins, oxalic acid, formic acid, fats, and oils were found in tissues of the bark of Garuga flouribunda (bogo). Likewise, the stem of Trema orientalis L. (hanagdong) contains alkaloids, formic acids, oxalic acids, fats, and oils. Further, the stem extract of Tinospora crispa (panyawan) was found to have an anti-inflammatory effect.

The results of the study validated the ethno-veterinary practices of the local communities in Bukidnon in treating swine and cattle diseases. However, the researchers recommended testing the toxicity level of the plant extract to isolate and identify the specific compound present in the tissues of plants and to subject it to further testing by a biochemist and veterinary drug companies.

Incidentally, CMU is the base agency of the Northern Mindanao Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development, one of the 14 regional R&D consortia of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). SAlpas and LMRazalo, CMU/NOMCARRD S&T Media Service