SOME CULTURAL
MANAGEMENT &
HARVESTING PRACTICES OF
SELECTED PHILIPPINE
MEDICINAL PLANTS
TEN CLINICALLY TESTED PHILIPPINE
MEDICINAL PLANTS WITH THE
CORRESPONDING INDICATIONS:
• Akapulko (Cassia alata L.) – Anti-fungal
• Ampalaya (Momordica charantia L.) – Antidiabetic (Diabetes mellitus, mild, noninsulin dependent)
• Bawang (Allium sativum L.) – Lowers
cholesterol level (Anti-hypercholesteromia)
• Bayabas (Psidium guajava L.) – Antiseptic
(mouth sores, swollen gums, dental
carries)
• Lagundi (Vitex negundo L.) – Expectorant,
bronchodilator
• Niyog-niyogan (Quisqualis indica L.) – Anthelmintic
(ascaris)
• Sambong (Blumea balsamifera L.D.C.) – Diuretic; Antiurolithiasis (dissolves kidney stones)
• Tsaang Gubat (Ehretia microphylla Lam.) Anti-colic; Antispasmodic
• Ulasimang Bato (Peperomia pellucida (Linn.) HBK) Anti-urecemic (gout)
• Yerba Buena (Mentha cordifolia Opiz) - Analgesic (pain
reliever)
SITE SELECTION

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
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
reliable water source
prevailing social conditions of the area
accessibility (road network)
pollution free
soil (well drained with sufficient soil
moisture)
 can be grown under partial shade & full
sunlight

PROPAGATION
 ease of propagation (primary
consideration)
with sexual or asexual method
 length of time by which plant part desired will attain
luxuriant growth & the required physiological
maturity
 Some physiological factors such as dormancy,
absence of endosperm, etc.
 Sexual method
Akapulco, Ampalaya, Bayabas, & Ulasimang bato
 Asexual method
* Bawang (Cloves)
* Lagundi, Niyog-niyogan & Tsaang Gubat
(pencil-sized stem cuttings with 2-3 nodes or
terminal stem cuttings), use of growth
regulators for woody types to induce more
rooting
* Sambong (plantlets 12-15cm tall, higher
chance of survival than bigger ones)
* Yerba Buena (terminal stem cuttings w/ about 4 pairs
of leaves)
* For cuttings (asexual)
* Initially planted in small containers as 4”
x 6” in. plastic bags
* Soil mixture of sand and soil (1:1) or soil, rice
hull and compost (1:1:1)
* At least one node of the stem cuttings should
be buried under the soil medium
* Cuttings are maintained under partial shade &
watered as needed
* Generally, rooting takes place in 3-4 weeks & ready for
transplanting 6-8 weeks after planting
LAND PREPARATION
 For newly opened areas, it starts with cleaning followed by plowing and
harrowing
 Intensity of operations depends on weed density & amt. of crop residues left
 Zero tillage is practiced for as long as soil structure is good (means good
drainage & good aeration)
 Differs in perennials & annuals
- For perennials, Land can be planted even with large clod of
soil. Small areas where the seedlings will be planted is tilled.
When established, only ring weeding is necessary.
- For annuals, They need excellent land preparation since they are easily
overcome by weeds.
- Advisable to add organic matter such as compost, dried animal manures &
other crop residues to clayey soil.
LAYOUT PREPARATION
• Follow recommended planting distances
• Row orientation is preferably in an east-west direction
• Wider spacing is recommended when there is an
intercropped or when a small tractor is available for
maintenance
• In sloping topography, direction of rows or plots are
made across the slope.
• Mark individual hills with stakes as guide for holing
• Depth and size of hole is generally equal to the depth
and width of the ball of soil where seedling is planted
HARDENING & TRANSPLANTING
 Hardened prior to transplanting (hardening is the
practice of acclimatizing seedlings to field
conditions for sometime prior to final field
planting)
 Lessen transplanting shock
 Transplanting is best during cloudy days or in
the late afternoon
 Cut most of the mature leaves into half (across
the length) to minimize transpiration
MAINTENANCE
 Watering
- Water the plants whenever necessary
- Shallow rooted species should always
be watered (Sambong & Yerba Buean:
7-10 days interval using furrow irrigation.
10-14 days interval for deep rooted).
 Weeding
- Weed control used in general (plowing in between
rows, cutting weeds close to the ground, uproofing,
off barring, ring weeding & mulching)
- Frequent weeding helps in minimizing pests aside
from lessening competition for nutrients and
moisture in the soil
- Mulching (process of covering agricultural waste
- For large cultivation, cutting the weeds close to the
ground once a month is sufficient to control weeds
 Fertilizer Application
- Added to the soil or applied to the foliage for the
purpose of supplementing the plant’s nutrient supply
- May be chemical (inorganic) or natural (organic)
- Organic fertilizers improve the physical structure of
the soil, improve aeration & water retention
- Fertilizer recommendations depend on the species,
unfortunately such are not yet established for all of the
10 medicinal plants under Philippine conditions except
for ampalaya and bawang
Harvesting and Postharvest Handling:
 Harvest only mature, healthy plant parts
specified.
- Niyog-niyogan normally bears fruit
2 years after planting and yearly
afterwards ( March to May).
AKAPULCO (Cassia alata L.)
WET AND DRY
leaf
5-6 mos. After planting and
Every 4 mos. thereafter
Cutting at 0.75 to 1.0m from
The ground
AMPALAYA (Momordica charantia L.)
Wet and dry
tops
2-3 mos. After planting and
Every 1-2 weeks thereafter
Cutting of tops 40 to
50 cm long
LAGUNDI (Vitex negundo)
Wet and dry
leaf
7-8 mos. After planting and
Every 3-5 mos. thereafter
Pruning at 0.75 to 1.0m
From the ground
Air
1 year
Polyethylene bags
SAMBONG ( Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC.)
dry
leaf
3-5 mos. After planting and
Every 3 mos. thereafter
Cutting of leaves as in
tobacco
air
2 months
Polyethylene
Bags
TSAANG GUBAT (Carmona retusa (Vahl.) Masam)
wet/dry
leaf
7-8 mos. After planting and
Every 4 mos. thereafter
Pruning at 0.75 to
1.0 m from the ground
air
1 year
Polyethylene bags
ULASIMANG bato ( Peperomina pellucida
HBK.)
wet
Whole plant
2-3 mos. After planting
Uprooting of whole plant
YERBA buena ( Mentha cordifolia)
dry
leaf
2-3 mos. After planting and
Every 3 mos. Thereafter;
Replant after 4 harvestings
Cutting of first 6 pairs of leaves
(12 cm fr. The ground)
air
2 months
Polyethylene bags
This is Timmy
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